Meet Jennifer Leney | Executive Director

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jennifer Leney and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jennifer, what do you attribute your success to?
It may sound corny but Jesus Christ is the most importantly thing behind our brand.

6 Stones was started out of a church that was 6 million dollars in debt. There’s a whole story called the miracle that brought us into existence.

We have clear had the hand of God on us from day one. There’s no other explanation that makes sense as to how we have support from key stakeholders including cities, businesses, churches and even a school district. These 4 distinct entities typically do not play in the same sandbox well together. At 6 Stones they do and all buy into the vision of being a Catalyst of Hope transforming individuals, homes, and communities.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
For two decades I’ve worked in faith based nonprofits. I have thoroughly enjoyed the other 2 ministries where I served and the reward of giving back. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, you are missing one of the most incredible feelings on the planet. When coming to 6 Stones though, it takes that to a whole new level.

I have many lessons learned but if I highlight just a few that were pivotal to me they would be:

1. Earn respect by working hard and not just because of the title you have.

2. Silence your critics by doing it bigger and better than anyone can imagine.

3. Under promise and over deliver.

4.Culture eats strategy for lunch. Focus your efforts on what you value most.

5. Integrity is doing the right thing always regardless of who is watching or who will ever know you did it.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m going to give a different answer than perhaps anyone has. There are many cool places to eat like and drink like BREWED in Ft. Worth. But if I were showing my friend around, I’d want to show off places that are truly making a difference in the communities around them. I’d goto some places that are more than just a cool vibe, I’d goto the places that are being reported in the news exhibiting real life transformation.

Catholic Charities – Ft. Worth

Bonton Farms – Dallas

Arlington Life Shelter- Arlington

Apartment Life Ministries- Euless

Christian Connection – Bedford

Community Enrichment Center- North Richland Hills

Also 7 churches that I think are making an incredible Kingdom impact who are more worried about the needs of others than their enrollment: First Colleyville, Freedom Church, 121 Community Church, First Baptist Hurst, Calvary Pentecostal, Cross City Church, and Central Bible Church.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There were so many people who were part of founding 6 Stones. The biggest shoutouts goto Cross City Church, Resurrection Church, the City of Euless and the HEB Independent School District.

6 Stones was started with 2 churches joining forces to fix a home. The project went so well that when they were completed they asked what else could they do. The City Manager of Euless attended Cross City Church and knew about a problem in which residence were given notices that they were out of compliance to code for their homes but they could not afford to fix them. Thus the next home the 2 churches fixed was one of these homes and more people joined in to help. This time there were local business owners as well.

Separately there were many kids on the free and reduced lunch program in the local school district that were having challenges.

HEB ISD is the 4th most diverse school district in the United States. Nestled in the middle of the DFW metroplex, HEB ISD has 119 different languages spoken with 72 distinct dialects. The DFW International airport has been called a modern day Ellis Island. People come here from all over the world, including some fleeing religious persecution and they cannot afford to travel much further than where they land. Because funds are lacking, they congregate in the areas surrounding the airport in which they cam afford. It goes without saying then that the district is not affluent. Many of the parents can’t afford basic backpacks and school supplies let alone niceties like gifts fir kids at Christmas time. 6 Stones jumped into to meet this need which has now translated into a whole program called school based initiatives.

Other: Sarah has provided