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.
Meet Diana Sofia Chavez - Banuelas, Bilingual Education Major from the University of Texas, El Paso - a Student's Perspective on the GlobalMindED Conference

My name is Diana Sofia Chavez-Banuelas, I am the youngest of 5 siblings and I come from a Mexican family. I was born in El Paso, Texas but raised in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua. In the summer of 2017 my family gave me the advice to change from attending school in Ciudad Juarez to attend school in El Paso, with the purpose to learn English and create better opportunities in the future for myself. So I joined a new school in 8th grade, in a different country, with totally different people than what I was used to. I struggled a lot when learning English and adapting to the school system. I also had a really hard time making friends. This affected my mental health - I was very sad and I missed my old friends. Then I found comfort in one of my educators, my ESOL teacher. She was the nicest person helping me learn English, giving me advice, and inspiring me to achieve more than what I thought I could. She inspired me to become an educator, to help other students who are going through the same struggles that I went through, and to educate and change the world. My dream is to be able to become the bilingual teacher I wanted to have, to be able to travel around the world teaching other children languages, to be able to make this a better world with educated people, and of course pursue higher education that could provide me with better opportunities. 

GlobalMindED has provided me with an amazing mentor who guided me through my first year of college. Being a first-generation student going through college alone it is not easy, and thanks to this program I was able to make connections, interact with my mentor, organize myself, interact with professors and get involved in my education. The GlobalMindED Conference gave me the opportunity to meet awesome people, to create connections, to be informed about ideas, projects and other helpful tools that many amazing people are creating to help education and to help other aspects that need to be fixed. I also got to know people that are first-generation latinos, who have struggled like me, and who are now amazing people and leaders inspiring me to grow and achieve more. 

My community has transitioned over the years to include programs with dual language classes, resources for first generation college students, and clubs where you can meet people with the same interests, experiences, and characteristics as you. If I could change something in my community, it would be to add conferences or panels locally where you gather people and show them how to make a successful career path, and guide them teaching them professional skills, training and more where they can get familiar and prepare themselves for a professional career path. Creating a safe environment where you are comfortable learning and you feel like you belong and deserve the space in that learning community would be something essential for that.

Having an inclusive community like GlobalMindED where you provide tools for students, and connections with professionals is something that we all need to continue to be inspired and to succeed.

Join us at GlobalMindED to provide programs for inspiring, courageous, and committed first gen students like Diana across the country.
Honoring the 2022 Inclusive Leader Award Winners. Please see their stories:
GlobalMindED | 303-327-5688 | contact@globalminded.org | www.globalminded.org
Stay Connected