Today we’d like to introduce you to Cati Diamond Stone, J.D..
Hi Cati, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I started my career as a litigation attorney and worked my way up to serving as Assistant General Counsel for a Fortune 500 company. Everything changed when I was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer when I was just 35. I did a lot of soul searching during my almost 2 years of treatment, which ultimately led to a decision to leave my law practice to follow my heart to build a career in the nonprofit industry. It was a risk, but I had a great excuse to be bold. I can still hear my dad in my ear saying, “You are doing what?!” Twelve years later, I’m still excited about my work (and my dad is a true believer now too).
Since committing to a nonprofit career path, I’ve supported incredible missions on both the local and national levels. A common theme in my work has been focusing on the unique and individualized needs of those who need support. As the President & CEO of CHRIS 180 – a standout nonprofit that supports the mental health needs of Atlanta’s children, youth, and families – I have a front row seat to long-overdue recognition of mental health being viewed in parity with physical health. Mental health support can change the direction of a person’s life, but it also strengthens the family and community as a whole. Talk about an impact multiplier! Who wouldn’t want to be involved in spreading that kind of goodness out into the world? I’m so lucky.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
Nonprofit leadership isn’t all rainbows and unicorns. Like any business, there are myriad stakeholder interests and regulatory complexities to navigate that take time to nuance and learn. But the biggest hurdle for me came at the very beginning. It was one thing to decide to change career paths; it was another to land my dream job and muster the confidence to walk through the front door as the leader of a new world I didn’t yet truly understand. I made mistakes, like showing up on my first day in my lawyer suit to present as the professional I was, even though all I needed to do was show up and be myself. I’ve learned so much along the way from mentors in all forms — teammates, board members, volunteers, community partners. And the biggest lesson has been that, no matter how hard it gets – and this work is tough – the world truly wants you to succeed.
As you know, we’re big fans of CHRIS 180. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
CHRIS 180 supports the mental health needs of Atlanta’s children, youth, and families. We provide critical mental and behavioral healthcare services, including therapy, counseling and school-based support within 80+ local schools. We also offer foster care and adoption placements, safe housing, and programs that create pathways to independent living for young adults. Our 200-person team delivers stability today while helping build thriving futures. Since our founding in 1981, we have proudly served more than 250,000 of our neighbors.
What really sets us apart is how we meet people where they are – offering care that looks at the whole person and supports the whole family.
We’ve always been leaders in this space. We launched Georgia’s first program for youth aging out of foster care in 1986. Since then, we’ve continued to break new ground – like creating the Southeast’s first program for LGBTQ youth experiencing homelessness and Georgia’s first foster home for sibling groups.
In 2024 alone, we provided more than 64,000 behavioral health sessions and served nearly 8,000 individuals, including 6,000 children. Our team worked with more than 2,200 students in 83 schools, supported more than 350 unhoused youth and helped eight families grow through adoption.
We’re incredibly proud of the impact we’ve made in our community over the past four decades—and even more grateful for the trust Atlanta’s families place in us every day. Because at CHRIS 180, we believe supporting mental health isn’t just important—it’s how we build stronger, healthier communities for the future.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
My best advice for those starting out or considering a change in their career path is to follow your heart, not your bank account. Choose work that resonates with you and brings you joy, and most days won’t feel like work at all.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://chris180.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/CHRIS180_Advocate/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CHRIS180Advocate/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/chris180/
- Twitter: https://x.com/CHRIS180_Change
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzHQgKaI_VjeGP83vkEcA9g/featured
