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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Judy, you are the daughter and first generation-born U.S. citizen of two immigrant parents from Colombia. What brought your parents to the U.S.?
My parents came to the United States from Colombia to further their education. They met at the apartment building they were both living in New York. Both of them came to improve their lives and were eventually married in the United States. I am the second oldest of their 4 children. I am very grateful that they decided to take the risk and leave all of their family in Colombia to be here in the United States. Both were the only family members who left and came here.
How were you able to thrive throughout your childhood to where you are now in your career?
From as far back as I can remember, I have always found it very rewarding to accomplish what I want. I don't know what it is, but I never felt like there were any barriers I couldn't cross. For example, I used to like to play street hockey with my brother and his friends. I can remember being around 5 - 7 years old and his friends were my friends. I always hung around my brother and enjoyed playing the games and sports the boys played. I never felt excluded or felt that I didn't belong. It even got to the point where they would select me before they would select some of the other boys when choosing teams.
I was also very active in school. I was in sports, school plays, student government, and cheerleading. I am very social by nature, but it was also partially due to my desire to “fit in”. There was that element of growing up in a household with parents who did not grow up in the United States and always feeling “different”. As I reflect, that was a big motivator for me to have goals to ensure I would live a life better than we had growing up.
Another factor that impacted my life was the emphasis my father placed on education. As long as I can remember, he was always talking about doing well in school and earning a degree. He talked about it almost every week. By 10 years old, I had my sights on becoming an astronomer and going to college. That was the goal that I never strayed from; I envisioned myself in college and having a successful career. That was my goal throughout my entire childhood, and I knew that education would be the key to improving my life as an adult.
That feeling of doing what I enjoyed and wanted to do, followed me all through childhood, my teenage years, and adulthood. I just always knew what I wanted and took the necessary steps to get there. Any possible barriers that I identified, were more like challenges to overcome.
What was difficult about your childhood upbringing and how can others learn from your path?
Unfortunately, there was physical abuse in my family. My father was abusive and very controlling over our family. He was in and out of jobs and my mother was a homemaker. There were times when she would have to work to support our family of 5 just to get by, while he was between jobs. We didn’t have much money growing up, and the families around us always seemed to have more than we did. Knowing that we had less than our friends, our parents were still somehow able to provide our basic needs. Our household was not ideal; I always felt safer and more comfortable at school. I found comfort with my teachers and my friends. Staying at school felt better than home.
This all changed when my parents divorced when I was 14 years old. My mother had to work as a seamstress, and her salary classified us as “below poverty”. From that point on, I knew I would have to be self-reliant to get through school, go to college, and take care of whatever I needed to do to leave and live a better life.
I always took the initiative to work with my teachers and my school counselors to ensure I was following the right path to college. My school counselors were very helpful and supportive, and meeting with them allowed me to complete the necessary steps to apply for financial aid for college. I filled out all the paperwork and just told my mom where to sign. Fortunately, because of our social status, I qualified for federal and state grants and loans to get me through college.
You run the iLearnCollaborative which is front and center in the COVID crisis. Tell us about your work in Colorado, the US, and South America for personalized online instruction.
I founded iLearn Collaborative in 2013 following 25 years in education. It kind of landed in my lap as I never planned to start up an organization. However, it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life as we support equity and access. As a district leader, I was exposed to seeing the lack of access to quality technology resources in many districts. I was deeply impacted by the “technology divide" and the lack of access and options offered to students based on where they lived.
I also had two sons who were able to access technology resources, which allowed them to thrive and have their learning needs met. As a parent, I saw students and my sons greatly benefit from having access to technology, which enhanced their learning and improved their engagement. I had a strong desire to ensure that all students have the same access my children had, and that parents are aware of everything available for their own children.
From these experiences, I created our nonprofit. We focus on services that fill the gaps leading to greater access to technology and enhance instruction. We provide teacher training, leadership coaching, and digital technology resources for teachers, education leaders, and education organizations. The areas of greatest need in K-12 education include adequate teacher trainings focused on blended learning and instructional methodologies that support student-centered learning. Our consulting/ coaching services offer partnerships with district and school leaders to support the planning and successful implementation of quality instruction, supported with technology. Our digital technology resources offer the ability to provide quality curriculum and freely available digital content that can serve every student. The need for free digital resources is in very high demand. We truly feel that a trained teacher with access to quality digital resources will allow them to feel much more comfortable and confident teaching in a virtual environment, benefiting all students. It has been incredibly rewarding and satisfying knowing that we have been able to meet the needs of school districts and schools with teacher trainings and access to digital content. While summer has calmed down a bit, we are still working with over 90 school districts in Colorado and continuing with teacher trainings and digital resources to support schools.
What do you most want to say to Latino/a Leaders right now at this challenging time in history?
This may sound cliché, but do what you love and what brings you joy. Whenever I feel unsatisfied or in a rut, I know it is time for me to change and do something that brings me happiness and fulfillment. Be proud of who you are and know that you deserve to be happy.
Be sure to surround yourself with people who genuinely care for you and are there to offer support when you need it. I can't emphasize the importance of knowing I had a support group at all stages in my life.
Practice gratitude. All your life experiences, good and bad, have led you to where you are now. You are stronger for it and are capable of making decisions to continually improve. I am grateful for where I am today and to have to opportunity to help others, it brings me great satisfaction to be able to do so. To provide resources for others in need, I am fulfilled.
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Click to view the first recent webinars:
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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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