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.
Neurodiversity, the Final Frontier in DEI, by Jesse Hester

Neurodiversity is the final frontier in workplace DE&I initiatives. It transcends race, gender, nationality and socio-economic levels. It isn’t usually physically immediately identifiable and all individuals with neurodiverse conditions aren’t alike. In addition, due to a lack of proper widespread awareness and training, it can be challenging for employers and policymakers to address.
 
Neurodiversity is an umbrella term used to describe variations in the brain. These conditions include ADHD/ADD, Autism, OCD, Dyslexia, Dysprexia, Dysgraphia and Tourette's Syndrome.
 
Nonetheless, there is a growing movement to better understand and include neurodiverse individuals and include them in the workforce. There has been a gradual expansion in initiatives from various corporations that want to recruit and retain such talent. Global companies such as Microsoft, E&Y, SAP, Walgreens etc have taken proactive steps with more robust accommodations, flexibility in interviewing and creating employee affinity groups. In addition, there is a budding scene of individual recruiting startups and agencies that specialize in placing neurodiverse talent into jobs. However, there is still much work to be done and we’ve only just begun.
 
From my perspective and experience, much of the effort in recruiting has been within large corporations that have the resources to devote to such programs and training. This is an important detail considering the majority of jobs are within small/medium sized companies that don’t have the resources for such programs. Oftentimes, even willing employers aren’t sure where to start or how to attract/retain neurodivergent talent. The main areas that have proved challenging is the interviewing phase (which can be stressful since so much importance is placed on cultural fit and communication) and retention. Ensuring companies that want to recruit have access to talent pools and support is critical.
 
Neurodiversity can also be a tremendous asset in regards to entrepreneurship. Having conditions such as ADHD, OCD and Autism can provide unique perspectives, a boost in passion and energy and stronger focus, all of which are key strengths when creating and running an enterprise.
 
Many of the world’s best known entrepreneurs and innovators are considered neurodivergent such as Elon Musk and Howard Hughes but oftentimes entrepreneurship isn’t pushed as an option amongst neurodivergent youth and there are few resources available for those wishing to create a business or get involved in the business ecosystem. There is only one Chamber of Commerce for the neurodivergent (right here in Denver actually) and only a handful of startup accelerators aimed for neurodivergent founders and oriented companies.
 
I firmly hold the belief that neurodiversity is an enormous untapped pool of potential and we’re only just beginning to realize what neurodiversity can offer employers and the world as a whole.
If you weren’t able to join us live, you can watch this event in 50 min segments (click on links below) by yourself or with colleagues over the next several weeks. Please share this with your networks!"
  • Rose Scott; Host and Reporter, WABE 90.1 FM interviews Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover; President, Tennessee State University, Dr. David Thomas; President, Morehouse College, and Dr. M. Brian Blake; President, Georgia State University
 
  • Dr. Raheem Beyah; Dean, College of Engineering, GA Institute of Technology, and Rontavious Coley, Recent graduate, Owner of The Early Way on Broad, introduce Dr. Jean Accius; SVP, Global Thought Leadership, AARP who interviews global hip-hop sensation, Michael Render (aka Killer Mike) of Run The Jewels, who shares his personal vision of Love & Respect, which is also the title of his new PBS talk show.

  • Kwame Johnson; President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta leads the panel with Errika Moore; Executive Director, STEM Funders Network, Dr. Maxine Cain; Founder & President, STEM Atlanta Women, Valarie Mackey; President & CEO, WrightNow Solutions, Michelle Arrington; Director, Government Affairs, Verizon, and Nettie Brown; Graduate Engineering Student, GA Institute of Technology

  • Eric Kelly; Chairman & CEO, Bridge 2 Technologies leads the panel with Kristina Newton; Founder & CEO, HYPE, Richard Hicks; CEO & President, Inspiredu, Jaycee Holmes; Professor, Spelman College, Co-founder, CODEHOUSE, and Bryan Cox; Computer Science Program Specialist, Georgia Department of Education

  • Dr. Sybrina Atwaters; Director, OMED: Educational Services, GA Institute of Technology leads the panel with Guy Primus; CEO, Valence Community, Founding Member BONDS Network, Petal Walker, JD; Managing Director, Deloitte & Touche, James Rhee, JD; Founder and CEO, red helicopter, and Dr. Loretta Ovueraye; Vice Provost, Miami Dade College

  •  Michael Steele, JD; Managing Associate, Thompson Hine LLP leads the panel with Mahogany Labor; Engineering Student, GA Institute of Technology, Ki’Andre Thomas; Student Government Association Undergraduate President, Clark Atlanta University, Angelique White; Student, Miami Dade College, and Jalene Hudson; Student, Georgia Highlands College
GlobalMindED 2023 Save the Date June 7-9


June 7 Inclusive Leader Awards Dinner,
First Gen Leadership Program

June 8, 9 GlobalMindED Conference
2023 Denver, Colorado

Watch the brief video below that The PhD Project produced highlighting the experience at GlobalMindED from several key demographics; students, faculty, and business leaders
Making Impact: Leveraging Collaborations and Partnerships to Advance STEM Equity

Moderated by Dr. Susan Swayze, Founder & CEO Diversity Think Tank. Dr. Swayze is a DEI strategist and expert researcher who created Diversity Think Tank to help organizations identify transformative solutions and accomplish audacious goals. Susan is a highly sought-after speaker on topics related to diversity, equity, and inclusion with special emphasis on holding conversations about bias, race, and gender pay equity. She has inspired audiences in Africa, Brazil, Canada, and across the U.S. An accomplished scholar, Dr. Swayze has authored three books and more than 50 scholarly works. Speakers include:

Melvin Stallings, President, Cyber Green Group
CGG is a workforce training non-profit for teachers and students in STEAM (Science, Tech, Engineering, Arts, and Math) that trains, educates, and creates innovators of the future. Mr. Stallings is also a Curriculum Development Specialist and has written many math and science curriculums for high schools throughout the US. He has presented professional development workshops at local and national conferences and managed various STEAM initiatives for over 1,500 students in subject areas like Cyber Forensic, Biomedical Engineering, Coding, and the Art of Green Science across the US.

Dr. Janelle M. Johnson, Associate Professor of STEM Education, Metropolitan State University
Dr. Johnson is co-editor of “STEM21: Equity in Teaching and Learning to Meet Global Challenges of Standards, Engagement, and Transformation” (2018). Her research focuses on interdisciplinary STEM equity and inclusive approaches to teaching and learning. Janelle taught K-12 math and science with English Learners primarily in Guatemala, and now teaches multicultural education and science methods at the university. Dr. Johnson is on the board of the Colorado Assoc. of Science Teachers, the Director of the Colorado STEM Ecosystem 2.0, and she served on the Council of State Science Supervisors ACESSE Network in the disrupting ableism affinity group.

Lisette Torres-Gerald, Senior Research Associate and Program Coordinator, TERC
Dr. Torres-Gerald is a scientist and disabled scholar-activist at TERC, a non-profit made up of teams of math and science education and research experts. Her academic research focuses on addressing racial and gender inequity in science and higher education. Lisette is an active member of Science
for the People and a co-founder and executive board member of the National Coalition for Latinxs with Disabilities. Dr. Torres-Gerald is also an advisory board member of Science Friday’s Breakthrough Dialogues Program and the Invisible Disability Project (IDP)

Rubi Amateco, Biology Student, Metropolitan State University
Highlights from the Resolve to Solve in Atlanta below. You can watch a YouTube video of the entire day,thanks to WABE/PBS Atlanta.
Rose Scott with Dr. Glenda Glover, Dr. David Thomas, and Dr. M. Brian Blake
Michael Render, AKA "Killer Mike"
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 complete program for connections and inspiration.



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