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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Over the last fifteen days, you have met and read about each one of our 2020 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award Winners. Today, on the Winter Solstice and the conjunction of the two largest planets, Saturn and Jupiter to form the brightest looking star shine in eight hundred years, we honor AJ Grant, ILA winner in the area of Energy and Sustainability. Read her inspiring story below and you will see why she is the bow on the gift of the humble humans we honor as 2020 ILA winners. You can meet all of them in the celebration at this link, where you will feel that each of these honorees is in your own living room or kitchen table. Happy Winter Solstice and may you all see the bright star light in the sky tonight- hope for what is to come out of this difficult year and a guiding light for all of us. |
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Imprinted by Nature
Much of AJ's drive and philosophy in life was shaped by her years on wilderness expeditions, especially with National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) when she was young. She found immediate comfort with the stillness, the huge scale of nature, the sense of the unknown, intensity and wonder. She has had a deep reverence for nature all her life and knows that nature is the greatest of teachers and mentors.
AJ merged two seemingly unrelated aspects of her life; her academic background in environmental science and years as a marketing advertising executive to become a pioneer in cause-related marketing in the 80s and specialized in communicating complex issues to the public. She is a change agent at heart, always looking to help others make an impact in their work, or redefining norms. Her company, Environmental Communications Associates, Inc., guided some of the best-known companies, government agencies and organizations in transforming their approaches to manufacturing, operations and sustainability. AJ attributes her path to the influence of her parents who were dedicated to their community and contributing to making the world a better place, especially the environment.
AJ supports and inspires students as they pursue their passions in sustainability and business. She currently serves on the Dean’s Board of Advisors for the University of Michigan’s School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS), The Board of Advisors for the University of Colorado’s Masters of Environment program, Board of Directors for The National Parks Foundation, among others. She believes that by helping the next generation elevate their talents and skills and connect to influential networks, the world will indeed become a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable place.
As AJ states: "Nature has informed the way I see the world and how I go about relationships business. Two lessons I carry with me to this day are:
1. I can do a lot more than I think I can". It was on a terribly frigid, snowy day. My feet were frozen and my pack was feeling exceptionally heavy. I knew we had four more miles to go to get to camp and I really didn’t think I could make it even a mile. The next thing my mind remembers though is sitting with a cup of hot tea having made it to my destination. All through life and in business, when I’d hear my inner voice say, “I can’t make it” or " I can’t do it” my experience knows better and overrides that sensation with that image of arriving at my destination. I can’t fool myself that I am not up to a task. The outdoors taught me grace and fortitude in the face of adversity.
2. Everyone gets over the pass. This is key when you are on an expedition - you make sure no one is left behind and the group learns to work together so that everyone succeeds and gets over the pass. This became a fundamental inclusive philosophy in all aspects of my life and business.
I also need to think outside the box as a woman in business: I’ve always been a good business strategist, especially when a roadblock appears. Starting my business in the 80’s, I knew I wanted to work with the giants in industry, but women were not very common or welcome in the boardroom or C-suite. That’s when I began using my initials AJ Grant in business. No one knew if I was female or male. When I sent a letter of request for a meeting and got a ‘yes’ response, it was often a surprise when I walked through the door and they weren’t expecting a young lady. ‘AJ’ was a neutral name, easy to recall, first in the phone book (remember those?) all in all – a productive marketing approach."
Overall, ALL other pressures, inequities, and stressed human conditions will grow exponentially if climate and the planet do not come first.
AJ's remarks from the Inclusive Leader Awards:
Giving voice to the voiceless is key to sustainability. The most disadvantaged, disenfranchised, excluded, voiceless entity, that I know..., that we need to listen to -- is our own life support system called planet Earth and nature.
There are literally thousands of places to engage and seek solutions to environmental and sustainability issues - just witness the incredible array of work in the GlobalMindED community. But I believe that at this profound point in time of massive geologic and societal change the solutions to our biggest challenges are right in front of us….if we could just take our cues from nature. When we look at what is truly sustainable and resilient, the only real model that has worked over long periods of time, and demonstrates true diversity and inclusion is the natural world.
If we focus on one thing the next few years, we need to take Nature's cues and redesign business and society to operate as nature does and with respect. There is a movement called Nature Needs Half -- in order for humans to survive, we have to make sure Nature can operate…and she needs half the resources left intact.
Three areas of focus ahead that can shift trajectory of environmental and climate impacts are:
1. Addressing Population - There is no way around this one
2. Support and elevate indigenous cultures - Therein lies many solutions with ancient knowledge that’s needed
3. Shift our unsustainable reliance on fossil fuels in order to avoid the worst impacts of climate change
And, the most important thing you can do is to Communicate the work you do effectively!
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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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Click to view the most recent webinars: |
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Courageous Conversations Catalyzing Change in Foundations & Funding: Janet Salazar; President, Foundation for the Support of the UN, Dr. Lisa Roy; Director of Program Development, Buffett Early Childhood Institute, University of Nebraska, Toya Wall; Senior Program Officer, Ascendium Education Group, Matt Horton; Director, Milken Institute Center for Regional Economics, and Luis Duarte; Partner, Imaginable Futures
Tech Leaders Driving Inclusive Work During and After COVID What is Needed and How to Measure Impact: Suraya Yahaya, Esq., Founder & CEO, Khazana, Inc, Dr. Jessica Rowland Williams; Director, Every Learner Everywhere, Helen Young Hayes; Founder & CEO, ActivateIT, Karen Worstell; Founder and CEO, WRiskGroup, Terrill Glass; Director of Engineering, Charter Communications, and Sarah Mark; Workforce Development Program Manager for People with Disabilities, Salesforce
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: The Higher Ed Experience for Veterans and Native Americans: Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, and Inclusion, Colorado Community College System, Leanne Wheeler; Principal Wheeler Advisory Group, Dr. Joseph Gladstone; Business Management Professor, University of New Haven, Dr. Aaron Cortes Minor; Director of STEM initiatives Northeastern Illinois University, and Dr. Michael Clement; Department Chair, Accounting University of Texas, Austin
Failure is Not an Option: Inclusive Leaders Tackle STEM Barriers Exacerbated by the 2020 Crises. Toi Massey President and CEO ANM Innovative Solutions, Tim Podkul Director, Principal Research Scientist SRI International, Lt. Col. Paul Deaderick (ret) Senior Project Leader The Aerospace Corporation, Christina Korp CEO & Executive Producer Purpose Entertainment, Dr. Calvin Mackey Founder & CEO STEM NOLA, and Clay Gloster Dean of the Graduate College North Carolina A&T State University
Inclusive Entrepreneurship: Funding First Gen and BIPOC Start Ups Launching with Investor, In-Kind, and Contest Dollars David Lopez; Co-founder/CEO, Internalyze, Juan Zavala; Senior Associate, New Markets Venture Partners, Monica Groves; Manager, XPRIZE, Dr. Murdoc Khaleghi; Medical Director, WellnessFX, and Praful Shah; Advisory Board Chairman, Principium Investments
Catalyzing Change in Health: Equity for Native, Rural, and Veterans During and Beyond COVID-19: Dr. Pierre Theodore; VP Global External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson, Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis; President & CEO, Craig Hospital, Jessica Rothenberg-Aalami, PhD; CEO, Founder, CELL-MED, Dr. Sriram Shamasunder; Assoc. Professor, UCSF Medical Center, Dr. Mary Owen (Tlingi); Dir., Center of American Indian & Minority Health, UMN President, Assoc. of American Indian Physicians
Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable: African American College Presidents Share Realities Part II: 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, and Dr. Michael Torrence President, Motlow State College
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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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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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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