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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Luis Benitez is an immigrant to the U.S. from Ecuador and he is a citizen of the world personally and professionally. Through his role as VP of Global Impact for VF Corporation, a GlobalMindED Sponsor and one of the largest holding companies of 40+ outdoor brands like North Face, Jansport, Dickies and others outfitting explorers, workers, adventure seekers, Luis lives the value of inclusion, access and equity every day. Read his story below as we launch Hispanic Heritage month with some of the most inspiring Latino leaders in the U.S. and globally. He will also be featured on the Department of Education Office of English Language Acquisition panel with GlobalMindED on September 17 at 4:00 EST. Sign up information is below.
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Luis, you are a Latino Leader who is VP for government affairs and global impact for the VF Corporation, a $23 billion holding company featuring the most popular global outdoor brands and GlobalMindED’s First Gen Leadership Program sponsor. What is your personal story and how did you rise to this position of influence?
I was lucky enough to grow up within the outdoor industry. My American grandfather owned a sporting goods store, and the Ecuadorian side of my family were ranchers and mountaineers. Being exposed to the conversations about small specialty owned family retail, public lands, agriculture, and a love of the mountains, indeed it is the only industry I could see myself being a part of professionally. So from climbing Mt. Everest to growing an industry nationally to engaging in policy dialogue about the impacts of our industry to educating our industry, I have again been lucky enough to connect the dots thru help from my family, friends and mentors.
In your role before VF, you were appointed by Governor Hickenlooper to lead the newly established Outdoor Recreation Industry Office in 2015, transforming the outdoor economy from $28 billion to $65 billion. What are your business, philanthropic and government success secrets that young leaders can learn from you?
The Governor always used to tell us, if you are the smartest person in the room, you are in the wrong room. Find people you know that are smarter than you, better than you, and choose to be uncomfortable learning from them. It isn't about making you feel less than that other person, quite the contrary, it's about finding people that will challenge your thinking. Without that, you run a very real risk of "groupthink" where no real and/or lasting change can come from. True change and growth require discomfort, and the best way to get uncomfortable is trying to work with people that don't think like you, look like you, act like you. Find that and engage. It may be tough, but you won't regret it.
VF is one the companies prioritizing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion the most. Why is this a corporate goal and how does your work support the overall mission?
Elevating inclusion and diversity at VF means aligning our strategy with our overall purpose to create a culture of belonging that encourages associates to thrive. This strategy serves as our roadmap and is focused on three key pillars
Associate and VF Culture
The associate and VF culture journey to belonging will focus on the entirety of the employee lifecycle. We want to ensure an authentic and inclusive employee experience across the globe.
Brand and Consumer
The brand and consumer journey to belonging will promote inclusivity and equal access for opportunities of self discovery across gender, ability, ethnicity, lifestyles and economics.
Society and Movements
The society and movements journey will launch our external movement to belonging. This will allow us to promote inclusivity and equal access to self-discovery across gender, ability, ethnicity, lifestyles and economics.
We are also proud of our leaders who are advocates and allies for inclusion and diversity.
They are using their voices to set our strategic direction through four Councils:
Executive Inclusion & Diversity Council (EIDC)
Sets global goals and strategic direction in alignment with the global Inclusion & Diversity strategy. These goals cover, but are not limited to, global partnership decisions, global brand campaigns to promote inclusion, firm-wide commitment on I&D goals and initiatives.
Global Women’s Activation Council (GWAC)
Responsible for building a comprehensive and targeted strategy to address gender parity within VF. The strategy covers both global and regional perspectives. GWAC also provides insights on gender-diversity goals and objectives.
Asia Inclusion & Diversity Council (AIDC)
Our regional council in APAC, is taking guidance from the global direction to discuss, form and own a regionally relevant action plan. This council provides insights into region-specific I&D goals and objectives.
Council to Advance Racial Equity (CARE)
Created to guide and inform VF’s strategy to combat racial inequity. This council is committed to developing short- and long-term strategies and actions that will address the issue of racial justice in meaningful and authentic ways.
Within all of this work, our role is partnering with our I&D leaders to support the mechanisms that create real and lasting change.
What are the greatest personal and professional contributions that you would like to make at this crucial time in history? What insights do you want inclusive young leaders to learn from you during this time of COVID-19, racial injustice, distance learning and economic challenge?
At this moment in time I think regarding the outdoor recreation industry we should be impelled to help connect the dots. What I mean by this is a shared responsibility to tell our greater story. It isn't about fancy gear going to remote places around the world just to have fun. Our industry supports over 7m American jobs and is responsible for over 800b in consumer spending. Now imagine if we start talking more about the places where we use outdoor equipment. How are these places protected? Is that protection pivotal to slowing the progression of climate change? Is there equitable access to these outdoor spaces and places? Is there diversity in our leadership?
Now consider the leadership of our industry. How is it educated? How do we expand our thinking of where our leadership comes from? What about greater public health? How can we impact green spaces in urban areas? Are those green spaces safe? Is the path to that green space safe? How is it maintained? During the pandemic there is much talk of spending more time outside. We know its "good for you", but imagine if we could quantify and qualify that? What does that process look like?
I think my personal and professional contribution is to seek answers to these questions and more, so that the next generation can build off of them.
If someone would have told me a long time ago, explained my path, I would have said "that makes no sense". What I would share with you is as a young leader, it doesn't have to. You SHOULD have more questions than answers right now, the path SHOULD be uncertain. In your journey of discovery hopefully you will find a way to connect the magic of who you are with what you get to do every day for work. Allow that journey to discover that answer to be messy. It doesn't need to make sense to be special.
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There are many benefits to being multilingual, multiliterate, and multicultural in today’s global society. Knowing more than one language from birth, acquiring a new language through school, or learning languages later in life can provide lifelong tangible benefits.
OELA, in collaboration with GlobalMindED is hosting a two-part webinar series. The purpose of the webinars is to inspire linguistically and culturally diverse students to cherish, nurture, and revere their primary culture, heritage, and language so they can realize the short- and long-term personal, educational, and professional benefits of being multilingual.
The first webinar – "Retention of Heritage Culture and Language(s)," is a discussion of the cognitive, economic, educational, and sociocultural benefits of multilingualism with expert panelists from a variety of fields and professions.
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Multilingualism opens career opportunities in the public and private sectors and can raise the occupational status and earning potential of individuals who are proficient in more than one language. Language skills also can serve as an important resource for learning and development of problem-solving competencies.
In the second webinar – "Language Assets for Career Preparedness," the panel will discuss how multilingualism can shape career paths and share how language skills have influenced their career trajectories.
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In case you missed the Back to School in Times Like No Other sessions, here are links to our YouTube channel:
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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