2020 GlobalMindED
The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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Jeffrey Vargas is a Board Member of GlobalMindED and a former senior federal official. Today he serves as the founder and CEO of Generationology LLC where he gets to live out his vision of equipping the next generation of leaders. The photo below is of Jeff and his beloved grandparents with whom he opens his story. |
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You have had a number of challenges/tragedies in your life, how have they helped to shape your view of the world and inform your why?
Well for me, the greatest pivot of my life happened on April 12, 1995. My grandparents who had been married for 65 years, and who helped raise me, died in a tragic house fire. I got a call that their house was on fire and when I arrived it was clear that the flames and the smoke were overwhelming. Sadly my grandmother died near the front door of the house where she had tried to escape, my grandfather died in his bed. My life stopped on that day, I couldn’t hear, I couldn’t breathe, I couldn’t see, I couldn’t feel. They died in part due to missteps taken by their local fire department and the county they lived in. As a pondered what I was going to do with my life post their death I was reminded of my Grandmother’s desire for me to work in a place where I could help others. Hence I let my grief create a new vision for my life and decided to get into public service, my “why” happened not from a vision board but from real-life pain. I figured the best way to change a system was to make a difference from the inside out. I made a choice to turn the tragedy of their death into a triumph for others – I took a job with the Department of Energy (DOE) where I worked feverishly to help recruit, retain, train and promote hundreds of Hispanic and other minorities into STEM positions. My work at DOE led to additional leadership roles in the federal government and no matter what I was called to do, I knew that my “why” (helping others grow) would not only honor their death but give folks hope that they too can take something tragic that happens in their life and use it as fuel for a better tomorrow.
At one point in your federal career you were in charge of learning and development for the nation’s nuclear weapons program while also serving as the creator and founder of a leadership symposium for Hispanic youth - What advice do you have for leaders who want to both increase organizational diversity and improve their companies learning and development profile?
Organizations should look at diversity and inclusion and learning and development as an “everybody” responsibility and an “everybody” success. In the nuclear weapons program we had a number of learning engagements that had a zero fail rate. That meant that everyone who took or completed a training program/training exercise had to demonstrate and then use 100% of their learning. This required that the vision of success had to move beyond an individual, it meant that the collective body had to rise the tide of possibility and work together to ensure that every member of the training exercise had the tools, strategies and experiences they needed to not just pass the course but apply that knowledge in supporting the objectives of their training team. This philosophy ensured/continues to ensure that our nuclear weapons are kept safe and the same principles can/should be applied to companies that want a diverse talent pool of men and women. Everyone from support staff to CEO’s have to see Diversity and Inclusion as “our thing” and that includes matching intention with action in how an organization seeks, trains, develops, mentors and promotes a cadre of Hispanic college students and young professionals.
Today you are CEO and Founder of your own leadership development company - what advice do you have for individuals who are struggling to envision a positive future for themselves?
First, let me say, it’s totally ok, if you have had moments of doubt about your future. We know that there is no perfect script, no official playbook to excel during/post a pandemic. To gain confidence in seeing a better tomorrow I’d encourage you to embrace what we call “the power of pivot”. That means you 1) plant yourself in the soil of doing what’s ethically right, 2) you engage yourself in new and sometimes uncomfortable challenges 3) you make adjustments and apply what you have learned to increase the effectiveness and/or efficiency of what you do and finally 4) you report out and tell others about how you have pivoted and help them to pivot too. Engage your whole self, your authentic self and be open to living, working and thriving in an ever-evolving new world.
Bio:
Jeffrey Vargas loves empowering people and has devoted his professional life to helping individuals, corporate clients and government agencies cultivate talent and unleash leadership potential. In 2018 he founded Generationology LLC - a talent management and intergenerational leadership development consulting firm that equips leaders with the cutting-edge knowledge tools and strategies they need to excel in an ever-changing world. Before he started his firm, he spent 22 years as a senior federal leader in Washington, D.C. serving in the Department of Energy, The National Nuclear Security Administration and The Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Maryland College Park and Georgetown University. Before anything else in life he sees himself as a son, a father, a husband and a servant of the most-high.
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Click to view the most recent webinars: |
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Courageous Conversations: Catalyzing Change in Health: Dr. Monique Butler; Chief Medical Officer, Swedish Medical Center, Samuel Yamoah, Jr.; Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company, Dr. Georges Benjamin; Executive Director, American Public Health Association, Dr. J. Nadine Gracia; Exec. Vice President & COO, Trust for America’s Health, Dr. Karen McNeil-Miller; CEO, Colorado Health Foundation, Dr. Pierre Theodore; VP Global External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson, and Dr. Elena Rios; President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association.
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: Diverse College Presidents Talk About First 6 Weeks of School: Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System moderates. Panelists include Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston President, Norfolk State University, Dr. E. LaBrent Chrite President, Bethune-Cookman University, Dr. Annette Parker President, South Central College, Minnesota State, Dr. Miles Davis President, Linfield University, and Dr. Michael Torrence President, Motlow State College
Hispanic Language Heritage Language Assets for Career Preparedness: Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) and GlobalMindED, moderated by Lorena Orozco McElwain; OELA, Panelists include: Carol Carter; GlobalMindED, Felícita Solá-Carter; Excellence in Government Program, Oscar Fraire; University of Colorado Denver student, Patty Lopez; Intel Corporation, and Adrian Rosado; Cultural Clarity Experience.
Hispanic Language Heritage: Retention of Heritage Culture and Language(s) US Department of Education, Office of English Language Acquisition (OELA) and GlobalMindED, and panelists celegrate National Hispanic Heritage Month. Lorena Orozco and Supreet Anand of OELA, Cristina Alfaro; San Diego State University, Luis Benitez; VF Corporation, Clotilde Dedecker; Circle of Women, Joe Garcia; Ohkay OwinghTribe, and Dr.Joel Comez; Center for Applied Logistics
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: A Conversation on Race, Isms, Justice, Moving Forward and the Role White People Need to Play: Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor: Student Affairs, Equity, and Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the conversation with Clifton Taulbert; President and CEO, Freemount Corporation and Roots Java Coffee, Javon Brame; Dean of Students, Arapahoe Community College, Chelsea Williams; Founder & CEO, College Code LLC, and Representative Leslie Herod; Legislator, Colorado General Assembly
Equity in Engineering Programs: Priming the STEM Pipeline During and After COVID-19: Dr. Dora Renaud, Sr. Director of Academic Programs & Professional Development, SHPE: Leading Hispanics in STEM, Melanie Suarez, Student, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, Mechanical Engineering, Nicolas Valencia Diaz, Student, Florida International University, Biomedical Engineering, Sophia Plata, PhD Student, University of Southern California, Environmental Engineering
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To view the recent Rural sessions, please see our YouTube channel:
Native American Business Opportunities, Tribal Economic Development and Post-secondary Education/Workforce Participation: J.C. Whorton, Jr.; Consultant, Lecturer, Author and Adjunct Faculty, University of Colorado Boulder, Don Kelin; President, Fox Professional Services, Rocky Mountain Indian Chamber of Commerce, Matt Rantanen; Director of Technology, Southern California Tribal Chairmen’s Association, Tribal Digital Village Network Initiative, and Melvin Monette; CEO, Indigenous Education, Inc.
Fortifying Native Students, Faculty and Communities During and After COVID-19: Ron Lessard (Mohawk); Acting Exec. Director, White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education leads panel including Diana Cournoyer; Oglala Sioux Tribe, Executive Director, National Indian Education Association, Michael Chamberlain; Special Assistant for Rural Outreach, US Department of Education, Carrie L. Billy; President & CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium, and features a performance by Ava Rose Johnson; Student and Musician, Native American Music Awards Winner
Rural Innovations in Education During COVID-19: Anne Trujillo; Anchor 7News, Denver moderates the panel which includes Tina Goar; Executive Director, San Luis Valley BOCES, Dr. Robert Mitchell; Asst. Professor of Leadership, Research, and Foundations, UCCS, Luis Murillo; Principal, Skoglund Middle School, and Samantha Yocam; Superintendent and Principal, Kim School District
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THE FLYOVER NATION
Energy's Role in a Troubled Heartland
By J.C. Whorton
A unique and timely discussion of the challenging issues facing the country’s troubled Heartland.
Since the beginning of westward expansion into the Heartland’s vast regions, natural resource development has played a historic role in shaping its communities. Today, domestic oil and gas development offers one of the strongest prospects for the Heartland’s present and future prosperity as well as the nation’s re-emergence as a dominant player in the global energy economy.
The U.S. is now the world’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas, two circumstances that are universally disrupting international geopolitical order. The earth has a finite supply of natural resources and a rapidly growing and over consuming population.
As America positions itself for a very uncertain and constantly evolving global marketplace, will the Heartland become America’s “great connector” or “great divide”?
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J.C. Whorton is a senior level energy and financial professional with over forty years of essential experience. Having a ranching and Native American heritage, Mr. Whorton is a strong advocate for rural education and economic development initiatives.
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Links to read about Inclusive Leaders, many of whom are African American and people of color:
Curated sessions from GlobalMindED 2020 YouTube channel:
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From the Center for Positive Organizations:
From the Economist:
From Forbes:
From Harvard Business Review:
From the World Academy of Art & Science and UN; Geneva Global Leadership in the 21st Century econference:
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Listen here for an interview with Pam Newkirk, GlobalMindED speaker and author of Diversity Inc.: The Failed Promise of a Billion- Dollar Business.
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Responding to Crisis
The 30-Day Justice Plan
As the reset of America is underway, understanding the role you can play in a system of change can be difficult, but we encourage you to listen, learn and be active. To start, instead of, say, a juice cleanse, feed your brain and move yourself with this practical plan over the next month. Here's our guide of what to read, watch, listen to and do in order to be part of the solution.
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Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action)
Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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GlobalMindED and the SDG Impact Fund are delighted to announce GlobalMindED's Donor Advised Fund. 2020 is the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Women's Declaration and Action Platform. Many from around the world are thinking of 2020 as the gateway to our most vital decade for delivering equity, the Sustainable Development Goals, and a world where all can thrive. Our key time for these outcomes is 2020-2030.
GlobalMindED DAF and the SDG Impact Fund are a powerful combined force for good as the 2019 year comes to a close and we reflect on the gratitude and the commitments we make to the causes we care most about. The DAF offers immense power and flexibility for giving prior to the year's end as you plant seeds of generous intention for 2020 and the decade ahead.
When you contribute to GlobalMindED, you support First Gen students. We have served more than 400 students by connecting them to role models, mentors, internships and jobs. Your generous support will allow us to take our work 10x and reach these talented students at scale who lack the resources and support we provide. Your support also helps teachers who can't afford the conference fees, faculty at colleges which are under resourced and students who persist at those universities despite food insecurity and/or housing insecurity.
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Meet GlobalMindED Founder, Carol Carter as interviewed by Tim Moore on his podcast Success Made to Last: From Success to Significance
Listen to Part 1 of Carol's interview
Listen to Part 2 of Carol's interview
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Recent GlobalMindED Newsletter Profiles:
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Since 2006 when the flagship TGR Learning Lab opened its doors in Anaheim, CA, TGR Foundation has had a lot to celebrate, including its most recent milestone of one million students impacted by TGR EDU: Explore, alone.
Developed in partnership with Discovery Education, TGR EDU: Explore is a free digital resource library that offers interactive web experiences, lesson plans, training videos and tools for educators, students and families to explore new disciplines and gain skills for a modern and expanding workforce.
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As you start the New Year, are you looking for ways to re-engineer your classroom culture? Check out Designing the Future: How Engineering Builds Creative Critical Thinking in the Classroom. The associated website has lots of activities, projects, and resources you can implement immediately. Our fall workshops using the book as a roadmap for change have been highly successful. Start designing the future today - try using the customized Study Guide for a book study in your PLC. Or contact ProjectEngin or Solution Tree to learn how you can bring professional development based on Ann's book to your school, district, or conference.
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