About Us
Background
The Cobblestone Project was founded in April 2008 by a small group of NW Arkansas families who were committed to putting their faith into action with the hope of making a meaningful difference in their community.
This action was based on the belief that every person has a unique and immeasurable value because of our shared human story. It is this story that is defined by a movement towards the renewal and restoration of the image that all people were created for a purpose. Every human heart deserves dignity, respect and the opportunity to fully realize this purpose.
Unfortunately, in situations of poverty this image becomes devalued and often unnoticed. It is this place that we begin our journey of being a part of the renewal and restoration of humanity.
Our Dream
The dream of the Cobblestone Project is to work towards “A Community Without Need.”
The strategy to take these ideas and turn them into action will be approached by 1) Identifying Issues of Social Justice, 2) Connecting Needs with Willing Resources and 3) Fulfilling Needs with Sustainable Solutions.
The dream or vision of the Cobblestone Project is likely considered unachievable. However, when the concepts of community are redefined to expose and frame the true needs of our neighbors, change is the only natural response.
Board of Directors
Dr. Jacob Kaler, MD
Jacob lives in Rogers with his wife Emily, their son & two daughters. Jacob is an Orthopedic Surgeon with Ozark Orthopedic Clinic and sometimes gets to work in third world communities. They love traveling & many outdoor recreational activities, particularly being on the lake with their family & friends.
Jacob is a founding member of the Cobblestone Project and currently serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
jacob(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Dr. Steve Graves, PhD
Steve Graves is a social capitalist, organizational strategist and pragmatic theologian. At any given time he is advising 5-6 high-profile CEO’s, Business Owners or Entrepreneurs along with 3-4 young energetic social entrepreneurs. He sits on a half dozen boards (currently: Relevate, Praxis, Paradigm Project, POTSC, Cobblestone Project, WorkMatters) and has been captivated with the idea of ‘multiple bottom line ROI’ for over 20 years. He writes often, speaks occasionally and is part owner in over a dozen businesses. Graves’ architecture for effective leadership coaching and building sustaining organizations has become legend. And if he doesn’t return your call quickly, there is a good chance he snuck off to the river…again.
Todd Stockdale
Corrie Rusch
Corrie is a former teacher and holds a degree in Human Development from the University of Arkansas. She is a passionate advocate for orphaned and vulnerable children, and serves on the leadership team for Arkansas Gladney Family Association. Corrie & her husband Mike live in Bentonville with their two sons and two daughters. She has an incredible eye for design & shares her gift of laughter with all.
Corrie is a founding member of the Cobblestone Project.
corrie(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Tim & Genessa Newberry
Tim and Genessa live in Springdale with their daughter and son who recently came home from Uganda. They serve together as pastors of missions at Keypoint Church and are passionate about serving the people in Northwest Arkansas and around the globe. Genessa is the former State Director for Not For Sale fighting to end Human Trafficking, and now works part time as a Nurse. Their philosophy: Go to school to get all of the education you can, then forget half of it and just love people.
Mark Bray
Mark Bray is an agriculturalist with University of Arkansas Division of Agriculture. Since 2005, he has worked as an extension agent to provide agriculture education to the citizens of Benton County, Arkansas.
Mark’s passion locally is built from of a foundation of agricultural expertise globally in orphan care through coffee development of Mama Carmen’s Coffee in Guatemala. In essence, he is a man of the soil who has accepted his calling to serve people through agriculture.
Jennifer Arkins
Jennifer lives in Rogers with her husband Josh and their three children. They are currently in the process of bringing their daughter home from Ethiopia. Josh works for Kellogg’s. Jennifer is blessed to be a stay-at-home mom. They both love coffee, travel and their community.
jennifer(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Ben Kirksey
Ben lives in Fayetteville with his wife, Rachel, and son, Rhett. They love traveling, being outdoors, and living with purpose.
Ben works at Northstar Partnering Group and is passionate about people development, faith-work integration, and serving people in practical ways. He is a graduate of the University of Arkansas, and alumnus of Teach for America, and co-founder and director of Kairos, a college internship-leadership program under Workmatters.
Operating Team
Mike Rusch
Mike Rusch is a husband, father of four, and often finds himself living between the extremes of the world seeing the great need they have for each other.
Mike and his wife Corrie live in Bentonville with their two sons and two daughters, and they are passionate about caring for orphaned and vulnerable children. Mike is employed by a large media company in Sales & Marketing, and has the privilege of serving on the Board of Directors for Downtown Bentonville Inc, Help End Local Poverty, and the Kidmia Foundation.
Mike is a founding member of the Cobblestone Project
mike(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Emily Kaler
Emily lives in Rogers with her husband Jacob, their son & two daughters. Emily stays busy leading public school volunteer efforts in Bentonville as well as helping oversee children’s ministry with their church family. They love traveling & many outdoor recreational activities, particularly being on the lake with their family & friends. Emily is a founding member of the Cobblestone Project and currently serves as Treasurer.
emily(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Katelyn Graves
Katelyn lives in Fayettevile & is a graduate from the University of Arkansas. Katelyn has a heart for the needs of this world and has served locally and globally for many, many years.
Katelyn currently serves as the Operations Manager for the Cobblestone Project. She literally makes everything work!
katelyn(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Gary Davis
Gary is a civil/agricultural/environmental engineer with a more than 25-year record of success managing all phases of projects including planning, design, permitting, construction and implementation. His work has taken him all over the United States and into the Caribbean. Gary holds a degree in agricultural engineering from the University of Georgia. He has maintained a lifelong interest in farming and gardening from growing up in rural Arkansas to small scale gardening and farming in Arkansas, Georgia and Tennessee. He is a certified Arkansas Master Gardener. He holds professional registrations in engineering and land surveying in several states and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Gary has devoted the past 6 years involved in various community service projects that focus on helping people in need in Northwest Arkansas including the Children’s Advocacy Center, Restoration Village and now with the Cobblestone Project.
Gary is currently serving as the Operations Manager of The Farm in Northwest Arkansas
gary(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Hannah Campbell
Having traveled to 5 of the world continents, Hannah has been fortunate enough to see the extreme beauty, but also the extreme adversity that is overwhelmingly present in the world. As a result of her travels, it has become her life mission to help and love others unconditionally, no matter their circumstances in life. Choosing to be a part of the Cobblestone Project Farm team Hannah displays her belief that even acting locally can have a substantial impact on the world. Born and raised in Florida, she graduated with a degree in Communications from Jacksonville University. Hannah is now enjoying getting in touch with her outdoorsy side in the rolling hills of Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Hannah is currently serving on the Operations Team for The Farm in Northwest Arkansas
hannah(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Rachel Cox
TBD
Rachel(@)cobblestoneproject.org
Core Values
“What principles guide us and can also be used in times of uncertainty?”
Pursues an Image of Restored Humanity
Value: We believe there is a fundamental dignity in human life that must be restored and preserved so that we all may live.
Backstory: Among all of us there exists certain commonality. We all have value. We all have worth. We all have purpose. We all have potential. However, many live in the shadow of “life” that continually tells them otherwise. As we serve, we strive to engage others in the light of who they are created to be. Our hope is that they too embrace this vision of life restored and serve others in the same way.
Consistent Demonstration of Joy
Value: We believe that joy is the natural expression of a life lived in the pursuit of serving others.
Backstory: Our overall posture and demeanor through our service is one of sincere joy. Because we view our initiatives as valid investments in the lives of others, what appears to be a simple to-do list becomes an opportunity for life change. Life change sparks our joy which fuels our passion to invest more. We work not out of obligation or need for personal recognition, but from a genuine heart to see needs met. Our desire is that those who serve with us find joy in areas where they may not have passion and find passion in areas where they already have joy.
Selfless Advocate for the Voiceless
Value: We believe that those without voice can only be restored when it is our voice that is used to echo their cry.
Backstory: The cries of the voiceless can be heard in the places we pass by every day. The places that the orphan calls home, in the loneliness of the widow, and the coldness of the cardboard box of the homeless. We believe the world sees the heart of God when people come to their aid and plead on their behalf. Not for our recognition, but for their restoration.
Creative Expressions of Community Engagement
Value: As community forms and develops, we believe creative approaches to solving issues of social justice provide context, engagement and ownership.
Backstory: We believe a need can be met by encouraging relationships between those that are serving and those being served in order to build a community of concern and support. The best solutions will be expressed in an approach to these age old problems that is made relevant to our culture’s values and traditions.
Builds a Community, Family First
Value: A restored community begins with the continual reinforcement of the family foundation.
Backstory: Since community cannot fully exist without the meaningful contribution of its members, each initiative expression should be active in bringing people together in a manner that encourages participation and relationships that work toward the benefit of the whole. The core of each community begins with the family, and priority must always be given to establishing and maintaining the community’s core.
Storytellers of Hope
Value: We believe that all people share a common story of the pursuit of life. Hope propels us forward and so it must be shared so that others continue forward.
Backstory: The struggle to define what it means to be human is our common story. It is our contribution to this story that defines who we are and what kind of community we are building. As we progress in this story to pursue restored humanity; hope emerges. Therefore, It is our responsibility to share these stories where hope is real so others may know it exists.
Empowered Individuals
Value: We believe that every person can be a tremendous catalyst in contributing to meeting the needs of a community. It is only by supporting these efforts will people be motivated to become part of the solution.
Backstory: One person can make a difference. Whether you have a unique skill set or just a willing heart, you can be the difference for life change. When a need is met, a life has the opportunity to change, to break the cycle of self, and see a greater world that lies ahead. Our hope would be that the changed life is not just those that have their need met, but of those meeting the need.
Discrimination Policy
We are committed to maintaining a diverse workforce and an inclusive work environment. The Cobblestone Project will not tolerate discrimination in employment, employment-related decisions, or in business dealings on the basis of race, color, ancestry, age, sex, sexual orientation, religion, disability, ethnicity, national origin, veteran status, marital status, pregnancy, or any other legally protected status. We will work to provide an environment free of discrimination to our employees, volunteers, clients, community members, and suppliers.