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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Meet Feli Sola-Carter who is a trailblazer in so many capacities as a woman and as a Latina, inclusive leader. At OELA and GlobalMindED, we are honored to feature her on our panel this Thursday where you can meet her and learn more about her inspirational life and work. Sign up to attend below this story.
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Feli, you are a career Latina leader who has broken many thresholds personally and professionally. What is your personal story and how did you become so successful?
I was born in Caguas, Puerto Rico, blessed with parents who cared about education and community service. My mother’s motto was “Sé servicial”, meaning, “Be of service.” This was one of her core values and one that was inculcated in me from an early age. They also placed a high value on education, and in particular, on bilingual education. It meant mastery of both Spanish and English, something they had not been able to access in their youth and which they thought would be best attained by attending the best school in the area, graduating from Notre Dame High School at age 16.
In addition to academic excellence, I was both expected & encouraged to participate in social service activities and organizations. Thus, I joined virtually every school club, including the high school newspaper. This proved a wise choice, as I was able to attend a high school journalism conference at Columbia University, accompanied, of course, by our advisor, a nun. The opportunity to be at this campus led me to apply to colleges in the US. My parents’ requirement was that it be a Catholic women’s institution and that I receive a full academic scholarship, as I would have attended the University of Puerto Rico on an honors scholarship.
And, the combination of a high GPA and service also led to selection as a Presidential Scholar, an honor shared with my parents at the White House reception.
It was my great fortune to attend the College of Mt. St. Vincent in New York. The friendships and lessons learned continue to this day.
Upon graduation, in order to stay in NYC, which I loved, I needed a job. My family always believed in public service and valued Federal employment in particular. At that time, one took a test and I scored high enough to be offered a position as a Social Insurance Claims Representative with the Social Security Administration. It was the beginning of a wonderful and challenging career, one that made my parents proud as my bilingual and bicultural skills would be in use.
You were in one of highest ranking jobs for the Social Security Administration as Asst. Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources (Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer) for SSA. What forces produced your rapid rise into management?
Stepping out, from my early career days, to do more and to serve more, as a bilingual employee.
My first work location was the Washington Heights, NY District Office. It served a multicultural and multilingual population, including many Hispanics. As one of a handful of bilingual interviewers, I had a disproportionate percentage of the public to interview. Many were applying for disability benefits, and I began to hold group interviews to complete some standard paperwork. (This was long before privacy regulations and computers at every desk.) My Manager assumed I liked to do public speaking and assigned me to do a Spanish language TV appearance on Social Security. I was actually terrified to do public speaking but even more terrified to say no. Thus began a series of “yes, I will” opportunities that generated more work but also more skills, knowledge, exposure, and relationships.
It also began a series of “firsts” as either a woman or a Hispanic, in supervisory, managerial, and leadership positions. From Washington Heights to Jersey City, NJ to the NY Regional Office to Hunts Point, Bronx to Yonkers, NY to East Orange, NJ to Baltimore, MD, at headquarters. Note that most of these geographical locations were not deemed the “best neighborhoods” at the time. At some point I realized these were the locations with both the greatest needs and the greatest opportunities. And, it never occurred to me that I would fail.
You are a natural leader. What advice do you have for young leaders today, especially in this challenging time?
I am a firm believer and practitioner of Robert Greenleaf’s Servant Leadership philosophy: it is the leader’s role to invite, develop, and encourage the unlimited potential of each person. Of course, I was first introduced to this concept by my mother’s “Sé servicial.” Thus, it is essential to seek to understand those we seek to lead.
I also follow her dictum “No basta ser bueno, sino parecerlo.” One is always on and will be judged by how one chooses to appear or engage with others. At one time, this was a function of one’s placement in an organization. Today, with social media, we amplify this regardless of role.
It is important to know who you are and what you stand for. It will make it easier to navigate situations in which your values are challenged.
In the public sector, it is not about net worth but about self-worth. To succeed in public service, one must earn public trust by being a person of integrity.
As Chair of the Board at Howard Community College, what to you must want to see in faculty and professors as they open doors of opportunity to First Gen and underrepresented students from all backgrounds?
As Chair of the Board of Trustees, our role is not to manage the day-to-day activities of Howard Community College, but to set the strategic direction for the institution. We are blessed with a simply outstanding leadership team under the direction of Dr. Kathleen Hetherington, President.
We operate within a continuous improvement framework, guided by the values of servant leadership. To that end, we seek to educate, successfully, students of all backgrounds and ages. We are particularly proud of the work our superb, dedicated, and talented faculty and staff do to meet the needs of minority and First Gen students, as evidenced by receipt of the 2019 Malcom Baldridge National Quality Award as well as recognition by Excelencia in Education for our Ambiciones program and by the Association of Community College Trustees’ National Equity Award for our P.R.I.D.E program. And, for the 12th consecutive year, a “Great College to Work” by the Great Colleges to Work For program.
FELÍCITA (FELI) SOLÁ-CARTER BIO
Prior to her retirement in January 2009, Feli served as Assistant Deputy Commissioner for Human Resources and Deputy Chief Human Capital Officer of the Social Security Administration (SSA). She joined SSA upon graduation from the College of Mount St. Vincent. Her career began in New York City, moving rapidly into managerial positions and in 1991, to the Office of the Commissioner in Baltimore as Senior Advisor to the Principal Deputy Commissioner. In 1998, as Associate Commissioner for the Office of Training, she became the first Puerto Rican woman appointed to the Senior Executive Service at SSA. She is the recipient of both a Presidential Rank Award of Meritorious Executive and a Presidential Rank Award of Distinguished Executive.
Feli serves as an Executive Coach for the Excellence in Government program, Senior Executive Service Onboarding Programs, and as a Strategic Advisor to Government Executives with the Partnership for Public Service. She also serves as a facilitator and instructor on leadership for government agencies and non-profit organizations.
Leadership in a variety of community organizations led to Feli’s 2014 induction to the Howard County, Maryland Women’s Hall of Fame. In April 2016, she was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Howard Community College, where she currently serves as Chair of the Board.
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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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