The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED is an Inclusive Success NetworkTM dedicated to creating a capable diverse talent pipeline, closing the equity gap for women and people of color, and connecting underrepresented/ underserved students to role models, mentors, internships, and jobs.
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Women's History Month is celebrated annually by presidential proclamation in March to honor and recognize women's contributions, achievements, and struggles throughout history. GlobalMindED is proud to highlight the voices and work of influential women throughout this month.
Celebrating Swati Adarkar During International Month of Women, GlobalMindED's Inclusive Leader Award Winner for Early Learning
Read Swati Adarkar's story below and meet her in person at the Inclusive Leader Awards dinner on June 17th, and at the GlobalMindED conference on June 18th on the deeper dive discussion - Early Learning Determinants of Life Success from ILA Winners: Academic, Emotional, Social and Inclusive Pillars with fellow honorees:
- Ralph Smith, Managing Director, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading, 2022 ILA winner
- Swati Adarkar, Early Learning Advocate
- Miriam Calderon, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE, 2023 ILA winner
- Isabelle Hau, Executive Director, Stanford Accelerator for Learning, 2021 ILA winner
- Portia Kennel, Senior Advisor, Buffett Early Childhood Fund, 2020 ILA winner
- Dr. Pamela Harris, Senior President & CEO, Mile High Early Learning, 2019 ILA winner
My personal story is the story framed by three generations. I am the daughter of two parents who fell in love on board a ship leaving India, immigrated to the United States, and continued their education at Stanford University (my father earned his Ph.D. in engineering, my mother, her second master's in mathematics). I am the older sister of two accomplished brothers with successful careers in the private sector. And I am the proud mother of two wonderfully talented young adults, one a poet and activist, the other, a musician and videographer.
It is fair to say that my “purpose” found me. Family visits to India as a child and teenager exposed me to vast numbers of children in extreme poverty. Growing up in a town that lacked racial and cultural diversity it was the first time I saw so many kids who looked like me but whose life circumstances were so different. I recall wondering what it would take for those children to have the resources and opportunities that I had. Drawing on the experience of my own family, access to education seemed the answer and avenue to make a difference. Coming from a family of educators, I thought I would become a teacher. But ironically, it was my own education that moved me away from teaching as a career. As I learned more about the roots of poverty and listened more closely to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, I was compelled to lean in on a course of action and advocacy for changing the lives and trajectory of families with young children.
Although I didn’t realize it at the time, being an active student leader during both high school and college helped to prepare me for leadership on the social issues about which I care. Those experiences allowed me to build skills working with peers and adults. I learned how to build coalitions and how to frame a persuasive narrative around core messages. And most important of all, I learned to appreciate the value of mentors.
Early in my career, both before and following graduate school, I had the opportunity to work with and learn from leaders of several social sector organizations in Los Angeles. And then, a few years after moving to Oregon, I joined the startup that would become the Children’s Institute. As I look back over the 16 years I served with Children’s Institute as Co-founder, Executive Director, President, and CEO, my list of mentors would include business executives, civic activists, public officials, and philanthropists. To this day, the one that stands out as most relevant and impactful is my dear friend and big sister, the late Dr. Ruby Takanishi.
To this day I believe that her incisive observation captures what I saw as a young child in India but did not have the words or true understanding to articulate: “Talent is universally distributed. Opportunity to develop that talent, sadly, is not.”
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GlobalMindED’s 10th Anniversary Conference
Powerful Voices Across Generations: Past, Present, Future
Denver June 17-19
The 10th annual conference in Denver will gather national thought leaders across sectors including education, business, health, policy, tech, and more. If you have never been to a GlobalMindED event, you will be in for a treat, as this year will be a reunion for many of our graduates, speakers, and Inclusive Leader Award winners who have been honored throughout the years.
Please see:
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Would you like to give to support our student programs? You can scan the QR code below or go to our website to support our year-round programs. GlobalMindED is a 501(c)(3).
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Thank you to all of the Sponsors, Speakers, Students, and Attendees at GlobalMindED 2023
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