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.
Learning from the Native Matriarchy & Advancing Health Justice for Indigenous Peoples - Meet Christina Diego
 
 
I’m Christina Diego and I am Nimiipuu, Dinè, first-generation Mexican American and a member of the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation. I am currently the Policy Program Director with the Seattle Indian Health Board where I advocate for the Indian healthcare system and public health initiatives that support American Indian, Alaska Native, and underserved populations. Participating in the Arizona State University – Indigenous Leadership Academy helped me identify my leadership style as a teacher and learner. Education has always been my outlet and in my current role I’m consistently learning from my community, educating others, and supporting transformational systems to support my people.
 
What kind of community-driven projects have you spearheaded/participated in that you are personally proud of? What did you take away from these experiences?

Working at the Seattle Indian Health Board brings up many opportunities to support community-driven projects and part of advocacy is being able to share their incredible work with stakeholders and policy makers. This year, I’ve supported the extension of grant eligibility to urban Indian organizations from the reauthorization of the Violence Against Women's Act. Often, legislators and federal agencies will list funding opportunities to tribes and tribal organizations without realizing urban Indian organizations is its own federal designation. We did a lot of education to ensure policy makers include language of tribes, tribal organizations, and urban Indian organizations. This can support the majority of American Indian and Alaska Native people residing in urban areas.
 
Another project I am happy to support is the reimbursement of traditional health services. For the first time ever, Seattle Indian Health Board has created a billing and coding model for traditional health services and has entered it into our electronic health record system to replicate billing of these health services. This act advances health justice for American Indian and Alaska Native communities and I’m able to share it with legislators. My role in advocacy is to share the successful community-based health interventions that are supporting underserved communities and improving health outcomes.
 
How do you connect with your ancestral roots in your professional and personal life?

I am very fortunate to work somewhere where I get smudged daily. It reminds me to center myself and to carry the wisdom and truths of my community into my work. I believe part of advocacy and leadership is picking up and continuing the work of our elders and ancestors. I thank creator, mother earth, and my ancestors for giving me the responsibility to take care of my community. Advocacy is a cycle that continues to be passed from one generation to the next.

As an Indigenous leader, what motivates you to move forward in times of adversity? Where do you find your passion?
 
My motivation is my family and community. I was affected by many obstacles growing up including homelessness, poverty, and having a family member with substance use issues. The impact of these adversities is a result of the greater systemic issues that continue to harm underserved communities. By addressing some of these issues through policy I feel like I’m helping others who are impacted by similar events.
 
I am grateful to be learning from the Native matriarchy who inspires me to keep learning. Indigenous women are intelligent, planners, and warriors for our community. I am happy to be involved in the work that continuously fights for our community to ensure we are improving health outcomes, increasing resources for Indian Country, and enhancing community-based interventions to improve individual’s quality of life. 

What do you see yourself doing in the future? Next five years? Ten?
 
I see myself continuing to be a public servant for my people and community. In the next five years, I would love to move to D.C. to immerse myself in the fast-paced culture to learn the ins and out of policy and advocacy on a federal level. As a learner, I think the D.C. culture can teach me skills that I am unable to garner anywhere else. In the next ten years, I would like to be a CEO or Chief Public Affairs Officer and possibly run as an elected official – maybe that’s part of the 15-year plan. I want to utilize my skills, leadership, and knowledge to support communities affected by oppression, racism, and other systemic issues that continually impact underserved 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.  
Join us in Denver June 7-9 for GlobalMindED 2023
June 2022 Conference Summary in Photos and Videos
We had an inspiring conference in June after two years of virtual gatherings due to COVID. If you missed that, you can still be a part of the experience through the photos from the 2022 GlobalMindED conference, as well as seeing the completedto program for connections and inspiration.



Video remarks:
Honoring the 2022 Inclusive Leader Award Winners. Please see their stories:
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