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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Collaborating to Level the Playing Field for Socially, Culturally, and Economically Diverse (SCED) People, Communities, and Institutions that Deserve More: Meet Shatta Mejia
Shatta Mejia is an educational and Nonprofit consultant who grew up and lives in the Denver area. He has worked for over 28 years to level the playing field in education for BIPOC students as a teacher, administrator, and consultant. He owns Shatta-I Consulting LLC as well as Lopez Vanderhorst Mejia Educational Services. He has a daughter who will graduate from the University of Colorado Denver in December of 2023.
What is your personal/professional story?
I grew up in a large family in Denver, CO. We never celebrated anything cultural (always religious), but we ate rice, beans, and sopapillas. No one spoke any language other than English to me my whole life. I went to an all-white Catholic school on scholarship until 6th grade, and that education has stayed with me my whole life, serving by helping me understand the worlds I have to be in.
In Middle School, I started being a punk: shaved head, skateboarder, smoker. I liked the diversity of people and attitudes I was around. I always hung out with the outliers in whatever social group I found myself in.
In High School, I started playing tennis and lacrosse seriously, spending all of my time outside of studies on that. I still had no real sense of who I was, but I was good at sports so I fit in.
In college, my identity hit me in the face. To fight the racism I encountered, I hung out with UMAS and Oyate members and friends. I also took every class I could find on my history and the history of humans – African history. It changed my life and I never looked back: within a year I was playing in a band, opening for bands like Big Head Todd & the Monsters, The Samples, and others. I also joined Harambee, a West African Dance & Drum group from CU Boulder – within a year I was touring with them as well. In my senior year, I dropped out of college to go on tour, living in Lawrence KS, Madison WI, and ChiTown. After the band broke up, I moved back to Denver and became a Metro State College Road Runner. I finished my degrees in less than a year and started my teaching career at Escuela Tlatelolco Centro de Estudios.
After 26 years in education as a teacher, principal, Assistant Director of Learning, and a Global Solutions Specialist for Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, I created my own consulting company. I work in Indian Country, helping with nonprofit business development, and in the Dominican Republic helping private schools improve their structures and depth of teaching. I also work in the K-12 grade data landscape, helping companies large and small to make wise business decisions based on data.
Where do you find community?
I like to find community around ceremonies - Pow wows, Mexican holidays, and acts of resistance. I am much too busy to have a regular friends group and personal life so I fit in where I can.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
In middle school and a little in high school, I was homeless; that taught me to be careful, stay safe, and rely on others when I needed to. It also taught me to stop caring so much about money. In high school I fit everywhere and nowhere; I could hang with any group but I was not comfortable anywhere.
Another key moment was when I got laid off and decided to start my own business rather than go to work for someone else. I decided to work on those things that I have passion for and to not lose sight of being in service – always. I have had a few rough months but overall I have achieved that goal.
The last significant moment was when my father was no longer able to take care of himself. Since I was physically abused by him, it has been quite difficult to come to terms with that part of my childhood. I had to make a decision to forgive him, move closer to him so I could help out, and keep trying to make sense of the trauma I know he endured – maybe more than me.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
My passion to serve comes from not having the things my peers had growing up. I want all BIPOC children to be able to thrive by creating, thinking deeply, and feeling/being safe. It also comes from knowing that I can have a significant impact when I am creative and collaborate with people and organizations.
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Highlights from the 2023 GlobalMindED Annual Conference this past June:
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PBS12 Denver filmed and live-streamed the 2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Awards on June 7th as well as our main stage plenaries and presentations on June 8th. You can find them all individually on the GlobalMindED YouTube channel.
2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award Winners' introductions and acceptance remarks:
Miriam Calderon, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE: Inclusive Leader - Early Childhood Education
Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, Inclusive Leader - K-12 Education
Carrie Billy, CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium: Inclusive Leader - Higher Education
Afua Bruce, Founder & Principal, ANB Advisory Group: Inclusive Leader - Government
Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association: Inclusive Leader - Health & Wellness
Hassan Salem, Head of Commercial Banking, US Bank: Inclusive Leader - Banking & Finance
Greg Robinson, James Webb Space Telescope Project Director NASA (ret): Inclusive Leader - Space & Aerospace
Mary Nichols, Professor, UCLA Institute of the Environment, Inclusive Leader - Energy & Sustainability
Michael Campbell, General Manager, Education Division, Intel: Inclusive Leader - Technology
Diego Mariscal, CEO & Chief Disabled Person, 2Gether-International: Inclusive Leader - Entrepreneurship
Mario Carrera, President & CEO, CLLARO: Inclusive Leader - Media & Arts
Nasruddin Rupani, Chairman, Ibn Sina Foundation: Inclusive Leader - Foundations & Funders
Rosanna Durruthy, VP, Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, LinkedIn: Inclusive Leader -Global Impact
Kimberly Bryant, Founder & CEO, Black Innovation Lab; Black Girls Code: Inclusive Leader - Non-Profit
Click below to see Insights from GlobalMindED Leaders:
View the Main-stage Presentations:
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View the Sessions from our United Nations Event: Transforming Financial Boundaries |
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Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley and James Rhee, Founder/Owner, red helicopter
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Michael Maquet-Diafouka, Managing Director, Global Family and Institutional Wealth, UBS, Chris Marsh, Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, UBS,Janet C. Salazar, Chairman & President, Foundation for the Support of the United Nations
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Tyler Naha, Student, Denver East High School, Dr. Mary Papazian, Exec. VP, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Dr. Philomenta Mantella, President, Grand Valley State University, Dr. Yustina Saleh, Managing Director, Innovation Solutions, The Burning Glass Institute, Alfonzo Alexander, Chief Ethics & Diversity Officer, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
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Dr. D'Andre Weaver, Chief Digital Equity Officer, Digital Promise, Michael Woods, President, Woods Capital, the Honorable Dr. Kimberly McClain, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department HUD, Preston James, II, Co-Founder and CEO, Divinc, Gaby Rowe, Founding Principal, Grow Associates
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Dr. Craig Jonas, Founder and CEO, CoPeace, Victoria Vasques, Owner & Chairwoman, Tribal Tech LLC, Sachin Chaudhry, Founder and CEO, TrustCircle and BringChange Foundation, Kyle Hybl, President & CEO, El Pomar Foundation, Beth Cobert, Acting President, Markle Foundation
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Dr. Denise Lujan, Director, Entering Student Experience, University of Texas at El Paso, Javaune Adams-Gaston, President, Norfolk State University, Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, Gina Fratarcangeli, Managing Director, Google, Shital C. Shah, Sr. Advisor, Strategic Partnerships, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Education
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Sam Lalanne, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion |
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Would you like to give to support our student programs? You can scan the QR code below or go to our website to support our year-round programs. GlobalMindED is a 501(c)(3).
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Thank you to all of the Sponsors, Speakers, Students, and Attendees at GlobalMindED 2023
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