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.
Inspiring Women to Make A Change In The Navajo Nation: Meet Valerie Tsosie, Founder & President of the So'Tsoh Foundation


What key moments defined you as a leader?
 
I've always had an entrepreneurial spirit; it was a matter of time before it blossomed. I had to act when I saw the devastation to my people when the pandemic started and continued. I'm happy I did because we got over 60,000 pieces of PPE out to all 81 senior centers on Navajo.
 
Navajo is a matriarchal society; strong women in the community raised me. As I recall, my family supported my ideas and initiatives. Not to say I was catered to; blood, sweat, and tears made things happen. For example, I remember putting together annual firework shows for my housing area starting in 5th grade and charging 25 cents for entry.
 
However, what drove me to lead was hearing adults complain about the issues they were facing when I was little. Growing up, I kept hearing the same thing at every stage. My mom would encourage me to do well in school and life and help our people because of what was happening. 'Nihidaahnidoodaal' is the term to "come back' in Navajo.
 
What community-driven projects are you proud of? What did you take away from these experiences?
 
I love my Caregivers. They have the biggest hearts and are selfless in their work, whether paid or not. So as I was introduced to the Caregiver program, I was fascinated, and working for my Caregivers was a no-brainer for me. Especially learning what access and information we needed on the reservations. Providing training and conferences on Navajo, one of the leading issues I noticed is that many Caregivers kept asking if what they saw with their person was dementia or Alzheimer's.
 
It is an absolute honor to provide information, training, and memory screenings to Navajo, and helping Caregivers navigate in a place that still doesn't provide for our community in ways that it should.
 
I love all of my projects; one I was so excited about was our Prepare to Care workshop this past November for Family Caregiver month. I devoted a whole day to various Caregiver topics to get Caregivers ready for dementia care. The workshop introduced the caregiver to resources that can assist them, including complex issues, such as legal douments/implications and power of attorney. We encouraged our recipients to attend also, and the information was available in English and Dinè Bizaad to ensure understanding.
 
How do you connect with your ancestral roots professionally and personally?
 
Being Dinè is a way of life. It is ingrained in me to remember the teachings and examples of my mom, my grandma, and great nails (paternal grandparents); waking up early, having prayer, healthy eating, adaa'awholya (taking care of yourself, not just physically, but spiritually and mentally). So I bring that to my daily life and transition that to my business, which is for my Dinè people. Classes in English and Dine are essential because they ensure that what is being taught is fully understood. Our goal is to always have the Dine teachings in what we offer. I honor my ancestors by carrying these teachings to the present and utilizing them in a modern context.
 
As a leader, what motivates you to move forward in adversity?
 
My motivation is to give back to my people. With all the continued disparities, my people need me in a world that only gets noticed once it becomes your problem.
 
My mom/family encouraged me to go to school and learn to come back to help my people. That was my primary motivation. When school got complex as did life in general, I remembered that onion paper was my ticket to a better life, job, and opportunities.
 
When I finally returned to the reservation, learning and immersing myself back in my community wasn't easy either. I had to remember even more than what I learned wasn't our way. When the pandemic arose, it became clear I was still needed, there were still needs on the reservation, and I knew how to help.
 
My motivation is to have healthier communities to empower and inspire them for future generations. Our matriarchs have paved the way, and it's our time now to keep breaking down walls, ceilings, and stigmas and to support and provide resources for the benefit and well-being of our future.
 
How could GlobalMindED further support your efforts?

GlobalMindED can further support my efforts by amplifying the profiles of indigenous people in the creative industries.

Over 100 Indigenous leaders will be at GlobalMindED June 7-9 in Denver. Join us!
Join us in Denver June 7-9 for GlobalMindED 2023
Early Bird Registration Open Now
Register here

To get a feel for the conference experience, please see this brief video by The PhD Project from the 2022 GlobalMindED Conference

  • GlobalMindED June 2022 DEI conference
  • Complete 2022 Program
  • Inclusive Leader Awards Program 2022
  • 800+ attendees
  • 140 students from 41 universities/colleges, 58 received scholarships
  • 300+ speakers from 65 universities/colleges and 47 businesses
  • 130 universities/colleges represented
  • Majority of panels featured at least one student
  • 74 % diverse speakers
First and Ten from the One Yard Line - Moving the Educational Justice and Reparations Ball Forward in the Black Community

Hear from champions and leaders doing the work to eliminate educational equity and exploring how to realistically attain the “Forty Acres and a Mule.”  Learn about efforts, obstacles, and opportunities to ensure educational and economic equity become a true element of the lived experience of Black and African Americans.
First and Ten from the One Yard Line - Moving the Educational Justice and Reparations Ball Forward in the Black Community, a Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable presentation
Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System
Eric McDonnell; Chair, African American Reparations Advisory Committee, City and County of San Francisco
Dr. Christopher Mathis; Visiting Assistant Professor, University of Iowa, College of Law Professor
Sadé Cooper; Co-Founder & CEO Collaborative Healing Initiative within Communities
The GlobalMindED Inclusive Success NetworkTM had another banner year of growth, impact, and outcomes for First Generation, poverty-affected and minoritized students. Here are some of the highlights: 
 
  • Return of in-person GlobalMindED conference with record attendance and the largest First Gen Leadership Class ever of 122 student leaders. See PhD Project brief video of the event. 
  • Our fourth annual Inclusive Leader Awards recognized 15 DEIB leaders across sectors.
  • Almost all our 100+ panels and sessions of 2022 featured a student. 
  • Of the 300+ speakers, 73% were diverse leaders sharing their thoughts. 
  • We held our first Industry Marketplace Career Exploration Arena at GlobalMindED 2022 with 40 companies, giving K-12, college students, educators, and leaders a way to learn about emerging fields and careers. Join us for the next one at GlobalMindED 2023. 
  • Our first satellite event at Georgia Institute of Tech was livestreamed via the Atlanta PBS affiliate. 
  • We became an official initiative of the Foundation for the Support the United Nations (FSUN) and will hold our first UN event on March 22, 2023. 
  • ·We served ten colleges with the GlobalMindED Success Collaborative connecting students at each HBCU, MSI, HIS and Tribal College with role models, mentors, internships, and jobs. 
  • We had partners/volunteers from Microsoft, Salesforce, Rubrik, HP, Stanford MBA and more. 
  • We spoke at the White House Initiative for HBCUs with sponsor Hewlett Packard. 
  • Our team, Board, Colorado Board and Executive Leadership Council are all majority diverse serving a majority diverse population of emerging leaders. 
  • We continued to publish our daily newsletter and conduct monthly virtual Equity events, led by people of color with majority diverse panelists and students. These are the role models for our students.
  • Our annual operating budget increased by 67% emerging COVID strong. 
  • We doubled our staff from four to eight as we grow to scale our impact. 
  • Our Young Professionals grew to 40 strong, with a ten-person leadership cabinet made up of, but not limited to, graduates of our programs who are now working professionals.  
  • Since 2015, we have successfully connected 1,200+ students to internships and jobs. 
  • Our founder, Carol Carter, was recognized as one of the Most Powerful Women in Denver by the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and one of the Most Admired CEOs by the Denver Business Journal. 
 
We are grateful for the support, inclusive leadership, and financial contributions of our community and sponsors who work tirelessly to open doors for the students we serve, the institutions who support them, and the businesses and non-profits who are committed to hiring a capable, diverse talent pipeline.  We look forward to seeing all of you June 7-9 at our best event yet, GlobalMindED 2023 - Transforming Boundaries: Creating Systemic Access and Equity. The Inclusive Leaders Awards Dinner is June 7, followed by the conference June 8- 9 at the Denver Downtown Sheraton.  
GlobalMindED | 303-327-5688 | contact@globalminded.org | www.globalminded.org
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