Creating a Capable, Diverse Talent Pipeline
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2020 GlobalMindED Conference
June 6-8
Sheraton Denver Downtown
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GlobalMindED is a 501(c)(3) innovation network that closes the equity gap through education, entrepreneurship, employment and economic mobility to create a capable, diverse talent pipeline.
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Often our career path and purpose stems from healing our deepest wounds.
Dr. Plashan McCune is one of the miracle workers helping trauma-impacted people heal their wounds, as she has, so they can contribute to the world at the greatest level. In her work and connecting with young African American girls, teachers, counselors, advisors and others, Plashan shows each person what they can become, no matter how major the obstacles in their path.
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"My childhood was filled with uncertainty, violence, and loss," says Dr. McCune. "My life message is: 'if I can make it so can you.'" She lives accordingly, acknowledging that but for the grace of God and those he placed on her path, she would not have the amazing life that she is fortunate to share with her husband, Bernard McCune, and two beautiful, service-minded daughters, Faith and Imani.
"Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. raised our awareness on the matter of justice," she shares. "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Dr. McCune takes that credo a step further insisting that educational injustice to any student is a threat to the well-being of students throughout the system. This realization has fueled her advocacy and empowerment work of all students, and her special commitment to the creation of the African American Young Ladies Summit Program.
How did your youth and early adult years influence how you approach equity?
I grew up on the South-side of Chicago, the oldest of three and the only girl. My parents separated when I was around four. My stepdad was an army vet who went to work every day as an AutoCAD designer and my mother didn't work. After separating from my stepdad, she managed to get food on the table and keep a roof over our heads most of the time. The external environment-the neighborhood where I lived (Englewood)-was and still is very tough. I often had to fight to make it home from school and was mugged and robbed on my way to school several times. My home environment was often just as tough. Due to challenges, I almost died from pneumonia in the fourth grade. After spending several months in the hospital, I returned to school to find out that I would be retained to repeat the grade. At first, I was very discouraged at the thought. But I was transferred to a new school with new teachers who believed in me (I call them my "angels"). They worked to get me caught up and back on track for the next grade. This helped me begin to understand the indelible value of caring teachers who invest in their students.
After graduating eighth grade, I was introduced to a handsome young man who I later found out was a leader in one of the largest gangs in Chicago. We began dating, and after months of chaos that included me failing in school, carrying a gun, coming close to being gang raped, and running away from home, my mother sent me to Kentucky to live with my aunt and uncle. Although my new environment was also wrought with violence, abuse, and drugs, I was engaged at school and able to thrive academically and as a cheerleader.
I returned to Chicago for my junior year of high school and was able to successfully navigate school despite the continuous chaos, confusion, and uncertainty at home. One of my angels during this time was my senior English teacher, Judith Bungert, who recognized something special in me. She nurtured and challenged me to be my best and to strive for something greater than even I could see. Her students were required to apply to colleges as a graded exercise in her class. By the grace of God, I was accepted to every college I applied to. I chose the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana with the hopes of eventually becoming a lawyer. I wanted to be like Perry Mason-people came to him for help and he offered aid to everyone making sure that justice was done!
I did well, academically, during my first year of college, this despite the unexpected assault of racism I experienced-being call the "N word" and told by an instructor that I would not be successful in that person's class. It was challenging, but I was successful, nonetheless. My sophomore year threw me a big curve ball, however, when I had to assume the role of "parenting" my then nine-year-old brother. He arrived to live with me bringing several challenges to both our lives. I ended up having to put him in special education due to an emotional and behavioral disorder. This experience helped me learn about the special education system very fast, as a 19-year-old single parent/big sister. I worked several jobs to support us and although my grades suffered, I was still able to earn my degree.
What allows others to truly be successful in overcoming huge economic challenges?
Hope! I believe that it is undoubtedly hope that allows us to make a way out of no way. And, of course, my faith has been a huge source of strength for me. But everyone needs hope to believe that they can make it. Hope is tied to "emotional wellness," which enables us to succeed beyond our obstacles. Having others (Angels) along the way to encourage, inspire, and believe in us and give us a helping hand is also an important part of our success that should not be underestimated.
Through my work at
Higher Learning U Inc.
I educate and inform on
Trauma-Informed/Sensitive practices
(Trauma-I/S),
helping schools, districts, communities, and educators create healthy
and
healing learning environments. This is not a program, it's a way of thinking and being. Like equity work, Trauma-I/S work is about making sure people have what they need to succeed. In the case of Trauma-I/S work it is about all the things that work together to ensure people/children stay in their "learning brain" as opposed to their "survival brain" in order to navigate life optimally.
Dr. Plashan McCune is Executive Director of Higher Learning U Inc. & author of
Trauma and Postsecondary Success A Framework For Systemic Change.
She is a First Gen college student who went on to earn her Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Administration and assume key leadership roles within Chicago Public Schools, Denver Public Schools, and Oakland Unified Public Schools. She has always been driven by her passion to change the outcomes for children, all children, including those society most under-served.
From early childhood education to instructing at higher education institutions such as the University of San Francisco and University of Colorado-Denver, Dr. McCune's ability to love and envision a bright future for all children is prompted by her own challenging beginnings and the knowledge that all children have the ability to learn and succeed.
Connect and change the world with
Dr. Plashan McCune at Higherlearningu.org
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Join us to recognize the most inclusive leaders in key industries for their innovations and bold actions to promote access and equity for women, people of color, and underrepresented populations in their recruiting, development, senior management on their boards, and in their pipeline strategies from education to employment.
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If you would like to nominate a student from your institution for the
2020 GlobalMindED First Gen Student Leadership Program so that they can meet role models and mentors while networking for internships and jobs with companies who are dedicated to creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline
, please encourage them to apply
HERE.
If you are an educator, you can
attend
by yourself, a team or with your First Gen student delegates. If you come with more than 5 people from your institution, you are eligible for the discount.
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GlobalMindED and the SDG Impact Fund are delighted to announce GlobalMindED's Donor Advised Fund for your year-end giving and planning your 2020 investment goals. 2020 is the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and 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 students like Emanuel Walker whose story is below. He was in the class of 2018. Since 2015, we have served more than 300 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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The ILO is calling on individuals and organizations to share innovative ideas and solutions to address the skills mismatch challenge. The ILO Skills Challenge Innovation Call will recognise and support the development of solutions that aim to address the different forms and dimensions of skills mismatch.
Submission deadline: April 13, 2020.
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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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The climate crisis, rape culture, the wall-we think the patriarchy has done enough. Introducing "
When Feminists Rule the World", a new podcast series from the
Nobel Women's Initiative and producing partner
MediaStyle. Hosted by Nicaraguan-born comedian,
Martha Chaves, we're talking to badass feminist changemakers around the world about the future they are creating. It shouldn't be groundbreaking. But it is.
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Entertainment For Change creates original song and dance (#SDGGROOVE) to educate young people on the United Nations' 17 Sustainable Development Goals. Like any meaningful social change, the original song and dance is a collaborative effort between more than 20 singers, dancers, writers and choreographers. Lauded vocalists Natalie Weiss and Antonio Cipriano lend their voices to the powerful lyrics, while each SDG is danced by performers of all calibers.
To learn more about Entertainment for Change and #SDGGROOVE, visit our
website.
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Join the #NeedHerScience Campaign that is aimed at addressing journal-level gender bias. For decades, studies have demonstrated gender bias in publishing. This may occur at various stages in the process, including at the level of the
journals. The equitable inclusion of women editors at every level is long overdue. Addressing journal gender bias starts at the top.
The goal: To raise awareness about gender bias in publishing and share with stakeholders, including journal editors and owners, the overall number of scientists, healthcare professionals and others who have taken the pledge. The pledge can be taken anonymously. Educators and others are encouraged to take the pledge and share information about this issue with colleagues and trainees.
GET INVOLVED
Here are 3 quick and easy things you can do to join the #NeedHerScience Campaign: 1. Disseminate the infographic Tips for Publishing in Medical Journals.
2. Take the #NeedHerScience pledge.
3. Encourage others to take the pledge.
TAKE THE PLEDGE
PLEDGE: "As part of determining where to submit my manuscripts, I will look at the list of editors and consider whether a journal has equitably included qualified women at every level."
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The Conrad Challenge is an excellent opportunity for industry, government, research and academia to help support the youth of today and take an active role in shaping our future workforce. Students participating in the Conrad Challenge create innovative solutions to real-world challenges, while preparing for success in a global workplace. The competition encourages creativity, critical thinking and entrepreneurial collaboration among teams around the globe. Learn more and become a judge HERE.
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