Where Are They Now? In this series, we feature the stories of students who were in our First Gen Leadership class from 2015 forward, so that you can see their path over time and the impact the GlobalMindED Community has had on them, personally and professionally. Nima ShahabShahmir is an industrious leader from our 2019 Leadership class.
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Join us today at 4:00 EST for Driving Change Through Intersectional Philanthropy: Increasing Representation and Leadership with Dwana Franklin Davis from Reboot Representation.
Register below or all of this week's incredible leaders and programs, next week's Celebrating Educators, and see links to GlobalMindED 2021 events below, including yesterday's Student Leaders Speak To College Presidents, CEOs, and Government Leaders with Dr. Jessica Rowland Williams, Every Learner Everywhere. You will be inspired by what these First Gen student leaders have to share with all of us about their own strength, their generous leadership and their commitment to improve the world for themselves and others to emerge COVID-strong. Read the Student Leaders Speak report here.
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You are a First Gen Success who participated in the GlobalMindED Leadership Class. What is your personal story and what motivates you to be your best? What is your personal story and what motivates you to be your best?
I am originally from Tehran, Iran. My family and I immigrated to the United States 11 years ago. It is quite unbelievable how time passes by but during the past decade of living in the U.S. I had countless opportunities to learn and succeed as a First-Generation college student majoring in STEM. But more importantly, I am proud of being able to give back to my community by mentorship and inspiring other First-Generation students to get involved with research and STEM education.
While pursuing my bachelor’s degree in Information Systems at West Virginia University Institute of Technology I conducted an eco-friendly and a STEM outreach research in the fields of biology and computer science. Attending the GlobalMindED conference was possibly the most important highlight of my college experience. It allowed me to network with professionals from numerous Colorado based as well as government businesses which was an incredible experience to not only fuel my passion for STEM but also, support my research ideas.
What is your current job and what are your goals for it?
Currently, I am an Application Developer with TC Energy. This position is part of a fellowship program that I was accepted with Generation West Virginia. What makes this opportunity perfect is that it allows me to give back to the community in the form of volunteering with a non-profit organization. However, after the end of my fellowship program, I plan to stay with TC Energy and continue the developer position.
How has GlobalMindED helped you and the development of your leadership skills?
I remember during the GlobalMindED development session for First-Generation students we could feel the motivation as soon as the program leaders entered the room! I never forget the moment when I turned to my friends and they were as surprised as me. The lessons that these leaders taught us during this session have been the building blocks of the leader and mentor I am today. They presented a series of questions and issues that First-Generation students may face but at the same time, they taught us how such complicated scenarios can be broken down into simple steps one can easily solve. It was truly inspirational to learn about personal passions of each of the First-Generation leaders and how they have achieved their goals. And most importantly, how this passion exists among all First-Gen students since they are in tune and fully aware of their background and capabilities.
What did you most get from GlobalMindED and how would you like to give back now to pay it forward?d
I learned the value of leadership as well as being passionate about life goals both on educational and personal levels. Attending the student session was truly inspirational and have guided me to become a mentor for many Summer STEM camps in West Virginia. But also, networking with professionals and learning about their STEM career fields was fascinating and motivated me to pursue my educational goals.
What advice would you give to the next group of GlobalMindED Leaders?
If you could travel back in time to the year 2019, visit yourself, and tell them about all the hardships you have gone through within the year 2020 and the person you have become today, I am sure they would be so proud of you! Keep going, you are on the right track.
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Dr. Jessica Rowland Williams; Director, Every Learner Everywhere leads the discussion with GlobalMindED Every Learner Student Ambassadors Jair Flores; Student, Colorado State University Pueblo, Serita Liles; Student, North Carolina A&T State University, Hector Ramos Diaz; Student, University of Portland, and Kyra Welch; Student, Bethune-Cookman University
Advancing Equity in Highly Selective HS and College Admissions-Ed Equity Lab, Partners, and Students Alexandra Slack; Chief of Staff, National Education Equity Lab, leads this panel discussion with Asheley Siewnarine; Student Success Director - National Education Equity Lab, Di’Zhon Chase; Student, Columbia University, Michaell Santos; Student, The Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice, and Favi Olmedo; Student, Bronx Career & College Prep. High School
Dr. Michael Torrance; President, Motlow State Community College leads panel discussion with Elise Shea; Founder & President, Conversations Unbound, Robert Joseph; President, Team MindShift, Rishi Kanjani; Analyst, Data Insights, Salesforce, and Cala Estes; Director of Education, Blind Institute of Technology
Adrian Rosado; President, Zion Leadership Group leads panel with Mara Luna; Director, TRIO Upward Bound. Univ of Puerto Rico, Mitzi Damazo-Sabando; CEO, TinkerHouse Inc., Manila, Philippines, Tree Xu; Community Manager, Education First, Wuxi, China, Erika Aquino; Executive Director, Infinit-O Group Foundation, Raymond Cabrera; Director, TRIO Upward Bound, Univ. of S. Florida, Ayessa Weems; Student, TRIO Student Support, Purdue Univ. NW
Earth Week sessions:
Ash Pachauri; Co-Founder and Senior Mentor, Protect Our Planet Movement and Drishya Pathak; POP Movement, India lead this panel of international students including Summer Benjamin; POP Movement Peter Gruber International Academy, US Virgin Islands, Caroline Sandberg; Tahoe Expedition Academy, USA, Tsague Dongfack/Willy Endelson; POP Movement, Cameroon, Ricardo Delgado; POP Youth Mentor, Arturo Michelena Univ, Venezuela, and Zoe Ricardo Rivera; CEI Univ, México
Courtney Knight; Founder and Managing Member, Capstone Capital Advisors and Susan Kidd; Executive Director, Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College lead discussion with Anamarie Shreeves; Environmental Education Programs Manager, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Eriqah Vincent; Network Engagement Director, Power Shift Network, Dr. Dana Williamson; EPA Environmental Health Fellow, Assoc of Schools and Programs of Public Health, and Gwendylon P. Smith; Exec Director, Collier Heights Association for Revitalization, Resilience, and Sustainability.
Dr. Kyle Whyte; Professor of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, leads panel discussion with Ka’illjuus / Lisa Lang; Executive Director, Xaadas Kil Kuyaas Foundation, Dr. Kelsey Leonard; Assistant Professor, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Brittany Judson; Just Growth Consultant Partnership for Southern Equity, and AJ (Andrea) Grant; President, Environmental Communications Associates.
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We focus on short-term projects, 5-20 hours to complete.
Students have completed projects like:
- Designing PowerPoint decks
- Website Development
- Creating Infographics
- Social Media Creation, Management, Campaigns
- Online Research
- Virtual Assistant
- Writing Blogs
- Logo Design
- Lead Generation
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Click below to watch the Inclusive Leader Award Ceremony featuring inspirational messages from the diverse Award Winners
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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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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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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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