ADVANCED ON PURPOSEAn educational blog with purposeful content. We welcome open and polite dialogue, and expect any comments you leave to be respectful. Thanks! Archives
February 2025
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During the COVID-19 pandemic, AdvancED Consulting, LLC hosted a suite of resources on our website to guide the Silicon Valley Community. Given the recent national and statewide political, social, economic, technological, AND weather challenges and catastrophes, our team is hard at work to make sure our community has what it needs to not just survive, but to thrive together.
First, we moved our Blog under the About Us menu. Second, we launched a new 2025 Resources page available right in our main website navigation for easy access. Third, we added a blurb about this page on our homepage.
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Originally published on January 1, 2025 and updated on January 8, this article was updated a second time as of January 15, 2025. ***** I am grateful to have served the state of California as a District-level Delegate for the 2024 presidential elections. I didn’t know what a Delegate was until Emerge CA explained their roles in presidential elections, and encouraged our 2024 cohort to run for a seat in our district. I heeded the call, followed the steps, leaned on my mentors and colleagues, and had the privilege of receiving votes from dozens of my district peers. The result was my first ever opportunity to serve as a District-level Delegate representing AD 18. My stint was short but jam-packed. We all know the results of the 2024 presidential elections. This article is to introduce you to the NEXT opportunity available to those who asked me “How did you become a delegate?” This article will answer the question, “What are the ADEMS and how do you become one?” According to the California Democratic Party, or CADEM, Assembly District Election Meetings (ADEMS) are held in each of the 22 CDP Regions in February of each odd-numbered year to elect 7 “self-identified female” and 7 “other than self-identified female” to be Assembly District Delegates (ADDs) to represent the Assembly District they are registered in. These elections are open to all California Democrats. (Source: CADEM) ADDs and the Democratic State Central Committee (DSCC) plan and attend informational meetings throughout the region. They represent their communities, collaborate with other DSCC delegates throughout California, and vote at meetings and the CA Democratic Party Convention. Why do ADEMs matter? Whether you are an ADEM candidate, encourage someone to become a candidate, or vote for ADEM candidates in your Assembly District, your voice matters. This is an opportunity to affect the priorities and direction of CADEM at the grassroots level, locally and statewide. Why? Because big decisions get made at the CA Democratic Party Convention, such as which ballot measures and candidates to endorse and what ends up on the CADEM platform. At CADEM, we are “Forever Organizing,” engaging in long-term coalition and community building because we know there are no “off-years” in building the Democratic base. Becoming an Assembly District Delegate is a fantastic opportunity for you to join these efforts, step up your political activism, and help us shape California’s future. (Source: https://adem.cadem.org/about/) The responsibilities you must commit to once elected as an ADEM are:
ADEMS have the option of:
If you are NOT interested in pursuing candidacy as an ADEM for your district… I still encourage you to participate in the ADEM election for your district. You can also encourage people you know to run who may be interested in civic leadership. If you ARE interested in pursuing candidacy as an ADEM for your district, read on. Note that deadlines and other instructions listed come from https://adem.cadem.org/deadlines/ and other subpages on the ADEM website. Note that as of January 15, 2025, the instructions on how to become an ADEM are at the BOTTOM of this article since the deadline to register interest has passed. Consider reading that content for the NEXT election cycle in 2027! New as of January 8, 2025! ADEM Key Dates January 8, 2025
STEP #1: Confirm your interest to register your candidacy. Note that you can explore current candidates, by district number, at https://adem.cadem.org/candidates/. Scroll down to the bottom of this article for these instructions. STEP #2: Register as a candidate for your Assembly District. Scroll down to the bottom of this article for these instructions. STEP #3: Register to receive a vote online ballot for the February meeting. To receive a vote online ballot in the Assembly District Election Meeting, you need to complete a separate registration form. This option is best for those who do NOT intend to register for candidacy. When you register for candidacy, you can check a box to confirm your interest in the ADEM ballot Online. The Registration form opens from Jan 6th 2025 12:00 PM to Jan 24th 2025 12:00 PM. After this time, if you have not registered, you will be unable to vote in the Assembly District Election Meeting in your region. STEP #4: Submit your candidate statement by the deadline. If you registered your candidacy, you will receive a confirmation email. This email will have:
You will also get another email that provides instructions for your candidate statement. On January 9, 2025 the Final Candidate List will be posted on the website. The Candidate Statement Submission Form will open at 12 p.m. on January and close on January 16, 2025 at 12 p.m. [Mer will add more information here once she receives her email.] STEP #5: Vote in person at the Assembly District Election Meeting. Register to vote for the Assembly District Election Meeting, in person. The Registration form opens from Jan 6th 2025 12:00 PM to Feb 23rd 2025 06:00 PM Your online voting credentials will be mailed to you on or before January 31, 2025 to the registered mailing address that you provided. Online voting will open on January 31, 2025 and will close on February 23, 2025 @ 6:00PM. Your voting credentials will include your PIN (Application #) and unique password. If your voting credentials are lost or you do NOT receive them by USPS on or before February 21, 2025, you should vote in person at any in-person voting location listed here. You may go to any ADEM voting location in the State to cast your ballot in-person. STEP #6: Confirm the results of your election. The ADEM meetings will be held across the state on Saturday, February 22, 2025. On Sunday, February 23 the electronic voting closes at 6 p.m. The ADEM results will be posted online by March 3, 2025. How do you become an ADEM? While all registered California Democrats are eligible, there are specific steps that need to be taken within a prescribed timeframe every odd year. The case study for this article is THIS year, 2025. There are SIX (6) steps to pursue candidacy as an ADEM and the first two steps must be completed by Wednesday, Jan 8, 2025.
STEP #1: Confirm your interest to register your candidacy. Note that you can explore current candidates, by district number, at https://adem.cadem.org/candidates/. If you recognize any names, you may want to reach out to ask questions about why they are running for additional insights. Whether you see a long or short list of candidates for your district, don’t let that deter you from registering your candidacy. If you know you do NOT want to register as a candidate, reviewing the list of candidates early may inspire you to vote and encourage others to join you. STEP #2: Register as a candidate for your Assembly District. The Registration form opened on Dec 9th 2024 12:00 PM and closes on Jan 8th 2025 12:00 PM. Per the website, “If you are unable to register to vote by reason of citizenship status and would still like to run as a candidate, please use this form: https://fs3.formsite.com/CADEM2011/deffrxyfak/index.” The Candidate Registration form is straightforward with 15 fields to complete before hitting submit, 12 of them are required. Note that you will also need to pay a $40 fee when you submit the form. The questions are:
I hope the information in this article answered your questions, directed you to resources, and helped you map out your steps according to the ADEM timeline. For additional information, check out https://adem.cadem.org/resources which includes the 2025 process, meeting procedures, and more.
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Host Your Own Song & Dance Party1/2/2025 This Saturday and Sunday, January 4-5, 2025, I have the honor and privilege of hosting a two-day Virtual Pop Up Healing Center with friends and colleagues that I love and admire. In addition, I am hosting a one-hour Song & Dance Party on Zoom called "Setting Our Souls FREE Through Song & Dance." This article is to support ANYONE in hosting their own Song & Dance party in person, online, or through a hybrid event that offers both options. Ready, Set, Party!
After hosting your first Song & Dance Party, consider Planning Another Party! Host another party for a holiday (e.g., Galetine’s Day, birthdays, reunions) or host a party just because! Finally, I encourage you to think of Song & Dance Parties as opportunities to bring people together. They should be more about QUALITY (who shows up) not QUANTITY (how many register or attend). Make It Your OWN!
Resources to SupportBelow are the resources I shared with attendees at the January 5th workshop, feel free to use them or gain inspiration from them for your own playlists!
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Originally published December 2021, this article was updated in December 2024, three years later. In October 2021, I learned that the California Cradle-to-Career Data System would not only become a real thing, it was going to hire it's first leadership team. I threw my hat in the ring, and decided to develop a student journey as part of my cover letter. The following is a Student Journey demonstrating the future success that I envision for California’s Cradle-to-Career Data System (C2C). It captures my actual story, and proposes what might have been different IF this longitudinal data system has been in place growing up. As the C2C launches its tools in 2025, I look forward to comparing what is true of the Data System to this original vision. Follow and learn more about the C2C at https://c2c.ca.gov/.
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Mer on the Mic5/7/2023 2 MIN READ I’m grateful to nonprofit organization LEAD Filipino for having a local open mic night that I could write for. Bahay! Home of the Kreatives is a community-made environment where local FilAm, AAPI, BIPOC, Queer, and Trans creatives are invited to shape what an unapologetic, safe, healing, and sharing space looks and feels like in the heart of the ever-changing San José. I encourage you to sign up for a future open mic as an audience member, vendor, or performer! On May 6th I joined LEAD Filipino at My Gypsy Soul for my first open mic performance in ages. There I read two pieces that I wrote in January 2023: “Turning 40” and “2023.” You can read both pieces below. Turning 40This year, I turned a few new pages Remembered that my body ages Remembered that the things it chases Have been things that lead to disgraces. This year, I upgraded my book Celebrated the risks I took Celebrated the folks I shook Caused good trouble, made them all look. This year, I shed unwanted fears Oiled up my chains, tightened my gears Oiled up my skin, braced for the sneers Pushed back hard for my family’s cheers. This year, I learned how untangled I Can become that which they decry Can become that which they deny Should have the power seen in my eyes. This year I turned 40, all the wiser More of a watcher, more of a fighter More of a speaker, more of a writer Unleashing all that hides inside her. This year, and the next year, watch out now I am no longer scared of how I am no longer backing down Untangled from them, watch them bow. 2023Tainted Coming out of 2020 Painted Red with tears in 2021 Waited For better days in 2022 Today Wondering if the pain and fear are done. Wondering Is 2023 the year that I Stop fearing if I’ll die Before I say my goodbyes Blundering About with fear still in my eyes Tired of all their lies Staring up at the skies Thinking that this year it just might be Bringing the positive energy that I need Blinking away all of the nightmares that feed The shrinking that’s happening inside of me. But maybe it’s because I’m wound and I’m riled up I’m bound and defiled up Straight dripping with stardust While knowing that I must Unleash what I’ve hidden Goodbye and good riddance To dusty old sleaze men Who think i’ve become them Lord no, it’s not within Me to forget herstory Sweet like cat purrs to me Unconscious but can see You kill my community Destroyed what was true in me Distilled what was good in me Til all that you could see Is what you now rue in me Dripping gold like a queen Shining bright, dynasty You cannot murder me Not in 2023.
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Why host a Galentine's Day Dinner? Ever watch the show "Parks and Recreation?" One of my favorite characters is Leslie Knope, who hosts an annual Galentine's Day dinner for her coworkers and friends. In early 2023, I felt like I was still trying to get back to a sense of ease and safety when it came to networking. I struggled in 2022 to travel and go to large group events again. I was exhausted trying to relearn how to be an extrovert, and after talking to womxn who I love and admire, I knew I was not alone in this. Thus, I was inspired to encourage my sisters to join me in coming out of our pandemic-formed shells. My personal mission is to build the capacity of people who build the capacity of others. I also endeavor to cultivate safe spaces and help others do the same. The lightheartedness of celebrating other womxn in your life, on a day that is traditionally focused on romantic rather than platonic love, felt like what I needed. So I figured, other women must need this too, and I was right. The response from both those who could and could not make our dinner was overwhelmingly positive. The goal of this blog is to inspire other womxn to host their own Galentine's Day events in their cities and counties. Note that the toolkit and templates provided can be adapted for any event theme or holiday. Planning My First Galentine’s Day EventI volunteered to project manage this event and recommended San Jose to be the focal spot for the first Galentine’s Day. I also suggested that the first event be intimate at 20 people or less, so that we could reserve a small room or a few tables at a San Jose establishment. Last, we provided a menu of light activities for folks to do together so that the event was not too structured but did offer ways for folks to engage (e.g. trivia, game, white elephant gift, peer share prompts).
AdvancED Tip: Once you have your first event under your belt, and your own adapted toolkit for your local nuances, you can plan this event easily, annually, offering a beautiful space for connection and affirmation for the womxn in your community. The Timeline for the 2023 Galentine’s Day The following is what it looked like to plan my first Galentine’s Day event, from start to finish. The event was planned and executed in 30 days by 3 hosts.
A Toolkit with Templates to host future Galentine’s Days One of my favorite artifacts after an event or project is a “toolkit.” For me, a toolkit includes answers to the 5 Ws and H:
You can access my resources here:
Have ideas for future Galentine’s Day events or feedback on our toolkit and templates? I look forward to your thoughts! Please post a comment.
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Big Dog Vineyard Wedding | Curry + Nuñez11/25/2022 Article by Marissa Martinez & Meredith Curry Nuñez 7 MIN READ The wedding of Meredith "Mer" Curry and Michael Nuñez began not the morning of Sunday, April 24, 2022, and not even a month prior when they had to last minute confirm a vineyard as the venue, not 2 years earlier when Mer proposed to Michael -- it all started 8 years earlier when Mer and Michael were set up on a blind date. Mer is currently the Executive Director of the Northern California College Promise Coalition (NCCPC) and is the founder of AdvancED Consulting, LLC. Michael works as a consultant working with local firms like AdvancED Consulting after previously owning and operating several health clinics around Silicon Valley. They are both dedicated to supporting college access and career development for Black Indigenous People of Color (BIPOC) students, young adults, and entrepreneurs in the local community and across CA. No wonder close family brought them together back in 2014! It started with a blind date at San Pedro Market in downtown San Jose, a place they both loved to frequent long before they met. That first date quickly blossomed as they toured the City of San Jose together, fell in love with its local parks, and even managed local and national events as consulting event coordinators. How fitting that 8 years later they would work together to coordinate the biggest event of all -- their own wedding! Credits: Miguel Ozuna Photography Engagement photos, Alum Rock Park in East San Jose, CA Fast forward to Spring 2022 and the happy couple was ready to exchange their vows in a San Jose park, looking forward to starting their new chapter in the heart of their city. Not unlike any wedding, theirs had a hiccup or two -- but when they found out that the park could no longer meet the needs of their big day, 42 days before their scheduled wedding, they had to pivot fast.
The wedding ceremony was hosted on the front lawn, overlooking the beautiful Silicon Valley. It was picture-Esque watching the wedding party walk down the aisle and see the bride and groom share their love in front of the majestic tree. Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography Throughout the ceremony, evening, and reception the theme of the night was not only Mer & Michael’s love for each other but also the love they have for their family and friends and the love their community has for them. They had their own logo which appeared on the invitations, wedding website, printed programs, and even coasters, thanks to Angel Trazo. The ceremony was officiated by Michael’s best man, cousin, and prior business partner JT White. The talented styles of Astralogik, a Queer Pinay Duo from the Bay Area, played all night with hits from the oldies to the 90s, including serenading Mer with “At Last” by Etta James as she walked down the aisle.
Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography (Left) Astralogik | (Right) Porras Solutions The wedding party’s boutonnieres and bouquets were all lovingly hand-made by Michael with help from his family and friends. The opening prayer was led by Adelina Tancioco, a friend of Mer’s who partnered with her in June 2020 to host a 7-day virtual Pop Up Healing Center. Roderick Bersamina, a long-time friend of Mer's, recited spoken word poetry written just for the occasion. Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography Succulent bouquets by Michael Nuñez After the couple said “I do,” guests were ushered to the back patio for the cocktail hour. The lumpia and empanadas were tasty and the sangria and wine were flowing. It was the perfect start to the evening as the emcee Susan Ramsey, host of The Sansu Show and long-time family friend of the Currys, introduced the wedding party and the married couple. The reception was hosted back on the front lawn just as the sun was setting. The handmade, local vibes continued as the dinner tables and gathering spaces were decorated with the wedding favors: succulent arrangements by Michael and his mother Rose, mini canvas paintings by Michael’s dad Ray and his uncle Richard, and lemon-scented custom candles by Michael’s aunt Ramona Cresci. Mer’s friends Alerie Flandez and Amparo Diaz graced the event with their own creative stylings, from Alerie’s gorgeous gift card box to Amparo’s crocheted ring pillow and flower child baskets. You could tell just by looking all around you from the tables to the decorations that everything was thoughtfully created. Thanks to Miguel Ozuna Photography, every beautiful moment from the rehearsal dinner to the wedding day was captured. Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography Centerpieces by Michael Nuñez, Rose & Ray Nuñez, and Ramona Cresci Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography (Bottom left) Ring pillow by Apple's Handmade Creations The entire day (and the weekend) was a literal labor of love. As a couple rooted in their passion for nature and commitment to serving their community, the local vineyard with the attention to detail by so many local caterers of color was the perfect setting for the first day of Mer & Michael’s next chapter. Mer & Michael send all of their love and gratitude to the family, friends, vendors, and community that made their wedding day, and their relationship, so special and unique. Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography Memorable Moments from Mer & Michael
Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography Mer & Michael’s Inspirations Michael has had a green thumb (more like his whole body!) since he was a young child. Throughout his life, he has had a passion and unique talent for growing succulents and crafting beautiful arrangements. That’s why everything from the bridal party flowers, to the table centerpieces, to the cupcakes, to Mer & Michael’s signature logo was adorned with succulents. The blending of various succulents and cacti mimic the blending of Mer & Michael’s families, both mixed: Mer a Black and Filipina, and Michael with Mexican, Native American, El Salvadorian, and Sicilian roots. Mer loves to plan events. And she loves to plan events with local small businesses that are women-, immigrant-, and/or BIPOC-owned. She was grateful to work with local vendors to design a wedding that was more beautiful than her wildest imagination, thanks to coordinators Beth Norber of BN Events and Victoria Hurly. She believes that when you take a breath, set an intention, and take a step back to let things fall into place as they will, as they certainly did in the 42 days it took to plan the wedding, it’s a sign that the universe is at work to manifest those intentions. Mer also believes that she was able to react with calm and composure to the drastic changes in her wedding plans because of her years-long meditation practice, which you can learn more about in her blog article One Thousand Days of Calm. Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography Our Tips (from Mer & Michael)
Coordinator Pre-Wedding: BN Events | Coordinator Wedding Weekend: Victoria Hurly | Venue: Big Dog Vineyards | Makeup Artist: Roan Make-Up | Desserts: K’s Desserts | Catering: Porras Solutions | Music: Astralogik | Photography: Miguel Ozuna Photography | Rehearsal Dinner: Mama Mia’s Restaurant | Wedding Logo: Angel Trazo Credit: Miguel Ozuna Photography Credit: Logo by Angel Trazo
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4 MIN READ We are not separate from each other. If we take a simple product, such as a scented candle - note that the wax, wick, and essential oils are manufactured in different parts of the world; the global political economy connects us all. In the community organizing circles I’ve been a part of in San Jose, CA the fantasy vision is an international working class revolution. Similarly to the candle, creating wide-spread change cannot happen without intention, hard work, and of course, time. One cannot decide who or what comprises a community, but it takes strategy, commitment, and honestly, all of us working together to protect the most vulnerable. A splendid example is the work being done by Filipino organizers in Santa Clara County on the Philippine Human Rights Act (PHRA). In September 2020, Susan Wild (D-PA-7) introduced The Philippine Human Rights Act (H.R. 8313) to the United States House of Representatives. In essence, the act suspends U.S. military aid to the Philippines until the Philippine Government addresses and responds to the human rights violations. The original cosponsors of the bill are local Santa Clara County representatives, congressional representative Ro Khanna (D-CA-17) and congressional representative Zoe Lofgren (D-CA-19). Over 90,000 Filipinos are living in Santa Clara County, many of them with families and friends still living in the Philippines. Recently, Santa Clara County’s Human Rights Commission (HRC) hosted a public hearing on whether or not to pass a resolution supporting the PHRA. On October 27, a warm pandemic Tuesday evening, Santa Clara County’s HRC voted unanimously in passing a resolution to support the PHRA; California State Assembly members Ash Kalra (CA-27) and Rob Bonta (CA-18) announced their support of the resolution and the PHRA. Community organizers from LEAD Filipino, Mayla Movement South Bay, and Kabataan Alliance initially approached Santa Clara County Board President, Supervisor Cindy Chavez to ask for her support of the PHRA. The collective worked with Dr. Justin Boren, the chair of Santa Clara County’s HRC for its next steps in writing and presenting a resolution to the commission for consideration. The pieces needed for the resolution to be written, PHRA created, and relationships mobilized is rooted in years of intention and work by activists in the United States and internationally. Most activists understand on one level or another, they are putting their bodies and lives on the line each time they take action in building momentum against an established government regime, even overseas. President Duterte’s Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 allows for the Duterte’s Administration’s Anti-Terror Council to designate individuals as terrorists and publish their names on government websites and newspapers. Under The ATL’s implementing rules and regulations, there is an inclusion on extraterritorial application that has led to a practice called “terror tagging” or “red tagging”. Shortly after the Santa Clara HRC’s public hearing, panelist and expert witness Adrian Bonifacio, chairperson of Anakbayan-USA, was terror tagged by the Facebook Page, “For the Global Public” (listen more in an interview at PFA 94.1 at 43:45 here). Anyone attempting to publicly criticize the Duterte Administration is labeled a communist terrorist and subject to defamation and targeting by the Philippine Government. As a Black and Filipina woman, Meredith Curry, owner of AdvancED Consulting has concerns that this article, written in partnership and in friendship with myself, will put unwanted attention on us and our loved ones. Because you don’t actually have to be Filipino to be in danger, as proven by countless victims including Brandon Lee, a Bay Area native who was critically injured after an attempted assassination in 2016. Duterte’s regime has targeted more well-known Filipinos as well, such as the red-tagging of Miss Universe 2018, Catriona Gray, and Santa Clara-born actress, Liza Soberano. If you read the linked article, you’ll see that threats of violence were made towards women who were taking part in an online discussion advocating for the rights of women and girls. General Parlade stated to Liza Soberano, a participant in the online discussion, “There’s still a chance to abdicate that group” otherwise she would “suffer the same fate” as Josephine Ann Lapira, a young activist killed in a 2017 battle between the military and the Communist Rebels, The New People’s Army (Oct 2020). According to Malaya Arevalo, the National Secretariat of the Malaya Movement and expert witness at the Santa Clara HRC public hearing, 13 human rights workers, 17 journalists, 50 lawyers and judges, 113 environmental activists, and 259 farmers have been killed since Duterte took office - without counting the 30,000 casualties with Duterte’s war on drugs. During the Santa Clara County HRC public hearing, a member of the committee asked how the PHRA would affect the lives of Filipino-Americans. There were several answers to this, one being that it would be safer for undocumented Filipinos to seek help without fear of being deported. Another would be freedom of speech, a right protected in America and yet unavailable to its brothers and sisters living in another country. America has long touted its reasons for military presence and occupation of other countries as defending democracy and freedom, but we won’t get into that here. The point is, the PHRA is in alignment with the American values of freedom, liberty, and justice, without needing to use its military force. The United States is a powerful country, not only because of their military resources but also because of its wealth and influence; it would be unpatriotic to witness the suffering of other Americans, their friends and family, without stepping in and supporting a non-violent response to stop a violent situation. The red tagging/terror tagging of other Americans without a response of support from the United States is a precedence we do not want to set. The Philippine sovereignty needs to be accountable to its people, especially if it is an ally of the United States as a defender of freedom; we should work together to make the world better for citizens living in both countries. The letter Susan Wild (D-PA-7) used to gather support for the PHRA from her peers succinctly gives information about the PHRA and how it will work, as well as previous legislative efforts made by Barbara Boxer, a previous California Senator. Effective community organizing involves everyone in the community. The diasporic Filipinx community has included in its organizing, all levels of government in the United States in conjunction with the national and international efforts of International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines (ICHRP), GABRIELA, LEAD Filipino, Mayla Movement, Kabataan Alliance, amongst the many others involved. Much of the movement is fueled by the passion of student activists and young people who care deeply about families, communities, and true freedom. I identify as Vietnamese American and look to these folks as an example of unity and resilience as they continue to fight for their people despite the barriers and dangers of organizing against the Duterte Regime. If you would like to do more to support the PHRA:
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One Thousand Days of Calm8/31/2020 5 MIN READ I have so far invested over three years to my practice and it has been the best investment of my life. I've met the most extraordinary professionals who have practiced 5+ years, 10+ years, and 20+ years, all very much human, all very much benefiting in their own ways from their own unique practices. I didn't just try mindfulness meditation, or any kind of meditation. My best friend Lara recommended the mobile app Calm to me during a stressful time of my life, and for me it's made all the difference. I know friends and colleagues who've tried all kinds of different meditation apps, websites, YouTube channels, etc. This article will highlight the resources I or my trusted allies have used and vetted, so that you can choose for yourself what is right for you. Whenever possible I like to try all the different options, because from day to day I never know what will speak to me, so I keep my mind and heart open. There are options for you that are free or require monthly or annual subscriptions. I am not being paid to push any of these products, I just get a lot of questions about what I use or what I know is useful, so this is where I document my findings. I hope you find something here that speaks to you, but if not, it doesn't hurt to give something new a try! 1,000 days of mindfulness meditationYesterday (Sunday, August 30, 2020), I hit 1,000 days of daily meditation practice, using the mobile app Calm! This is just one of what I hope to be many huge milestones for me as I pursue personal well-being, clarity, fulfillment, and most importantly, appreciation for my life as it is, in this moment. I've had the Calm app since December 14, 2016. At this point in the game, I have to admit I am a champion of Calm. Whether or not I'm a formal affiliate (in the works), I am definitely an admirer and evangelist. Not just because it's a great app whether you use the free version or the subscription version, but because they also facilitate a fantastic Facebook community and YouTube channel, all for free-zies! They help millions! In this review, I'll explain what I used, why I used it, and how I think it helped me in real life. So what has it done for me? Mindfulness meditation is now the undercurrent to every waking, conscious moment. It manifests itself in the following ways and this isn't a comprehensive list:
Whether you are just starting out with meditation or have been doing it for awhile, continue your practice! It can only bring greater peace to your life, no matter how much time you can dedicate to it. You are making an investment in YOU. No one else can do that for you.
Music and Meditations Music for all times of the day Music isn't for everyone, but it is 100% for me. I've been singing, dancing, and listening to music since the womb. I love using Calm's instrumental music as background noise while I work, shower, meditate, stretch, and more. Check out this 30-minute Relax piece on YouTube. Meditations for what ails ya' What I appreciate most about Calm is the thoughtfulness and intentionality in the narrator, Tamara, and her messages.The writing really speaks to you and is relatable, no matter what you're going through in life. For just a taste, check out this Mindfulness Meditation on Santosha (11:16) on YouTube. Are there other apps out there to consider? Of course there are! One of them is InsightTimer. This I use when I'm not using Calm.
Are you a gifted meditation teacher? InsightTimer is looking for you! "Make a difference. Add an income." Become a teacher! Enjoy Affirmations from Calm
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5 MIN READ This article picks up after the 4th article in a series on "Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19" In the last article in the series, Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19, I spoke about the importance of supporting our students and families as they navigate the next steps in their college journeys by making sense of their financial aid options. In Supporting Students & Families through the Conundrum, I encourage college-bound students to “consider the power of savings and learn how to budget. You can make it work if you know what’s in front of you and take the time to thoughtfully plan it out.” This guidance should be given to students much earlier in this process, way before they apply to college. Comprehensive college access programs that work with first-generation and pell-eligible students often have a component in their curriculum that focuses on financial aid. Among the learning outcomes of such lessons, students will hear about budgeting and learn terms like “interest” and “credit” so that they can effectively manage their financial aid awards, like loans. In The Financial Aid Conundrum, I encourage us to take a step back and ask ourselves, “are our students truly equipped to tackle conversations and decisions around financial aid?” Because if the answer is no, then the next question should be, “what are we doing, or not doing, to help students understand basic financial concepts and empower them to make informed choices on their own?” As we learn from Treasury.gov, the financial literacy of our students in high school is lower than most countries. Furthermore, socio-economically disadvantaged students score lower in financial literacy, the equivalent of three school years.
Here’s my attempt at making the relationships clearer: How early should students build their financial literacy to prepare for college? ASAP, early, and often! I agree with Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) who decided in 2014 that it was critical to provide teachers with access to “timely and relevant curricular resources, providing effective professional development, and advocating to increase access to financial education.” NGPF’s mission is to revolutionize the teaching of personal finance in all schools in order to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans. As of 2019, NGPF's curriculum and professional development extends to 25,000 middle and high school teachers reaching more than 2 million students. This grassroots movement of personal finance educators has committed to Mission: 2030. That is, by 2030, ALL students will take a one semester personal finance course before graduating from high school. Personally and professionally, I think we can and should do even more than one semester of a personal finance course during students’ secondary education. It should start as early as elementary school, have scaffolding throughout middle school, and be grounded in real-life decisions during high school. NGPF has a suite of curriculum broken into various units such as Types of Credit, Managing Credit, Paying for College, Budgeting, and Financial Pitfalls. Even when students are armed with the basic financial concepts they need to tackle financial aid, they will still need support. This is why I’ve worked with Moneythink since 2019 to support first-generation, pell-eligible students in navigating the financial aid process. Moneythink empowers students to invest in the future by building technology that clarifies college finances. In collaboration with the star-studded team at Moneythink, we hosted financial aid webinars in late April to support graduating high school seniors across the country. Check out the recording! Moneythink is gearing up to release their new public-facing tool, DecidED, this fall! DecidED completely removes the guesswork out of college affordability for students and their families, as well as enables counselors and advisors in the space to have productive conversations with their students about the tradeoffs of college options. DecidED helps students and their families:
Check out how Moneythink is working to support students and advisors through COVID-19 and beyond. Follow and subscribe to Moneythink's email list to stay up to date. “Together, we can help our students not just survive but thrive. Not just complete, but succeed. Our students can achieve #lessdebtmoredegrees while we design a pathway towards an economically sustainable future for themselves and their families.” Want to learn more about financial literacy and financial aid issues?
Here are a few resources to help you build your knowledge and comfort-level with discussing these issues with colleagues, students, and families.
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Heal at 11:11, Heal for Life5/27/2020 3 MIN READ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Meredith Curry, Owner & Principal Consultant of AdvancED Consulting, LLC mer @ advancedconsulting.org Over 20 Healers of Color From Across the Country Deliver Free Healing When It’s Needed Most Heal in Solidarity: Starting on Saturday, June 6, 2020, AdvancED Consulting, LLC and Surrendered Healing, solo entrepreneur women of color from the Bay Area, will offer a Virtual #PopUpHealingCenter for free for seven afternoons straight. What do we mean by healing? Well, does your heart hurt? Or your head? Does your bank hurt? Do any relationships hurt? Then you can use some healing! And this event has over 20 people ready to support your healing through movement, creativity, and mental enhancement. "11 is a 'master number' which signifies intuition, insight, and enlightenment. When paired together, 11 11 is a clear message from the universe to become conscious and aware" (truththeory.com). This is why every day from Saturday, June 6 through Friday, June 12, “Transform Through Covid-19” will start at 11:11 am with a grounding meditation to start the day led by Surrendered Healing Founder and Spiritual Healer, Adelina Tancioco. Next will be three 20-minute sessions from healers of color from across the country representing the Bay Area, Los Angeles, Fort Washington, and the Bronx. Each day will end at 12:45 pm with 15 minutes of rhythmic movement led by Meredith Curry, Owner of AdvancED Consulting, LLC, and music by Shanta Franco-Clausen, a.k.a. DJ Shugga Shay. “Our work is sacred and so are we,” shares Tovi Scruggs-Hussein, Educational Leader & Healer with Tici’ess, Inc. in Oakland, CA who will lead a session called “$tackin' for Spirit: Keeping Your Money Conscious, Connected , and Courageous.” We invite you to be a part of this virtual healing community by registering for “Transform Through Covid-19” and enjoying one day, or everyday of the week-long event. This is for you if:
To learn more and register, go to www.advancedconsulting.org/pop-up-healing-center. Read the profiles of the event speakers and explore nearly two dozen sessions. Fawad Akbar, Owner of Body Evolution in Newark, CA believes, “Two things define you. Your patience when you have nothing, your attitude when you have everything,” and he will share this with us in practice in his session “Full Body Workout with Body Evolution.” “Transform Through Covid-19” is proud to partner with AAPI Women Lead founders Dr. Connie Wun and Jenny Wun who will lead a day of Healing & Solidarity. “What is meant for you cannot be unmeant for you,” shares Jenny who will lead a session with her sister called “Healing & Solidarity.” The event also promotes a fundraiser to support the Liyang Network during COVID-19. 100% of contributions will go to services, resources, and supplies for the Lumad, the indigenous people of Mindanao, Philippines. “Lumad” means “native of the land” in Cebuano. In celebration of the Lumad and all Filipino cultures, there are healers offering sessions like "BAKS NAMAN! Self Care through Boxing;" "Dalawang Buslo, Two Baskets: Integrating Stress & Joy in the Present Moment;" and "Hilot Through Story." For more information about Transform Through Covid-19: A Virtual #PopUpHealingCenter with 21 Healers of Color or to arrange an interview with the co-hosts Meredith Curry and Adelina Tancioco, please contact Meredith directly at [email protected]. ### Meredith “Mer” Curry is the Owner and Principal Consultant of AdvancED Consulting, LLC. Mer’s mission is to empower businesses striving to solve the world’s most complex issues through thought-partnership, education, and operational leadership. She also seeks to uplift organizations run by and/or actively promoting the betterment of hxstorically disadvantaged groups like minorities and womxn. Mer works with entrepreneurs, nonprofit and education organizations to increase capacity organization-wide. She works with their leaders and professionals to enhance fund development, board management, programming, data analysis, Salesforce, and general operations strategies and processes. For more information see www.advancedconsulting.org or follow Mer on LinkedIn and Facebook.
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7 MIN READ This article is the 4th in a series on "Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19" The time is now to support our students and families through this financial aid conundrum and ensure they’re making the best choices for their futures. In the first article in this series, Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19, I talk about the importance of all of us working together right now because as adults, as students, as human beings, if we’re going to get through COVID-19, it will be together. In the second article, I talk about how we face a Financial Aid Conundrum that is persistent, systemic, fraught with pitfalls ready to take advantage of families, and overbearingly complex to tackle. I talk about this now because this issue is facing our students right now as they prepare to choose what college they will go to by the College Decision Day deadline of May 1 for many California public and independent four-year institutions. When all is said and done, though, we must keep in mind the Power of Student Resilience and Choice. That's why in this fourth article, I want to address the students so that they can recognize this power. I also address all adult allies so that we can support students in embracing said power. Students, you can do this!
“Take an entrepreneurial approach and focus on sectors that are growing. Even if these areas don’t align with what you imagined you’d be doing after graduation, cultivate a flexible and open mindset - this will be essential for students in a COVID-19 economy. Build your energy as if you’re preparing for a marathon not a sprint. In the weeks and months ahead, be patient with and kind to yourself and develop support systems. Consider the possibilities that may emerge (in time) for us as a society, when many communities and sectors begin to focus on rebuilding.” Allies, we can help them!Colleague Lara Fox, Senior Advisor at the Marin Community Foundation who served prior to that as the Founding Executive Director of uAspire Bay Area, has this advice for us adult allies and educators: "It's crucial that counselors both stay in regular contact with 12th graders and ensure that students know they can appeal their financial aid offers if family circumstances have recently changed. It's also essential that colleges prepare to respond to a likely increase in appeals, given that 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past four weeks alone.” I know the financial side of college can be daunting and overwhelming and I just hope families and educators will work together to ensure our students make the most of their options. Allies, let’s help our students now as much as we can, while also thinking strategically about how to support future cohorts through this. If you are a college advisor, counselor, or educator, consider teaching your students financial literacy, especially now, but also much earlier in students’ high school careers. Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) has a curriculum called “Paying for College.” Here’s a snippet of what you can teach your students using NGPF's lessons:
Colleges, please consider your students!To colleges and university financial aid officers and advocates, thank you for keeping students at the center. Please continue to do so. Our colleges will also need to support families, now more than ever, so that they can advocate for the best deals that will lead to less debt and more degrees. The Community College League of California Financial Aid Office Operations Taskforce released the report “Increasing Student Access, Success and Equity: California Community College Student Focused Financial Aid Policies February 2020” with the following guidance. Though written for community colleges, they bear consideration for all higher education institutions.
And finally, some Best Practices they offer for higher ed:
Thank you for sticking through this series on Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19! Good luck to the #ClassOf2020 and all non-traditional students who are preparing their choice for College Decision Day this year! To learn more about Moneythink, go to moneythink.org/. To learn more about Next Gen Personal Finance, go to www.ngpf.org/.
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5 MIN READ This article is the 3rd in a series on "Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19" COVID-19 will impact college decisions this year. National College Decision Day is historically on May 1. There are petitions to push back Decision Day to June 1 if not later. From the New York Times (March 15), the Washington Post (March 20), NPR (March 22), and CNBC (March 27), we hear that the college decision experience is impacting students and colleges alike with the cancelations of college visits and Admit Days nationally. Affordability is an even bigger concern today than it was prior to COVID-19 with less than ¼ of students having a high level of confidence in their ability to afford college now (Carnegie Darlet). Families’ investments are getting hit and both students and parents are less sure about how their jobs and paychecks can contribute to college expenses this fall. Students’ perceptions of where they want to go are changing. They’re considering less-expensive and local public schools over private universities far from their families, and 70% are thinking of staying within 3 hours (or 180 miles) from home (The Princeton Review). The American Council on Education has predicted a 15% drop in enrollment nationwide (and 25% international), and many institutions are preparing for the possibility of having to continue remote classes or delaying the start of the fall semester to reopen campuses (NY Times). How can you help your students and families navigate this crucial time in their lives, so that they can still take advantage of opportunities that are best for the student? Step #1: Choose a tool to analyze your student’s award letters. In the first article in this series, "Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19," I introduce you to partner Moneythink. I recommend Moneythink’s coaching tool that you can download to Excel. It pre-populates information from most colleges that have public direct and indirect costs data and all you need to do is override it with any actuals your colleges provide in their letters! Why does Moneythink pre-populate information when other tools don’t? Because this highlights one of the main issues with financial aid award letters: they often have incomplete or misleading information. This could be in the form of information that is literally missing, like no reference to personal expenses or transportation, or no specific mention of PLUS loans though they are included in the package. Step #2: Have your financial aid advocates at the ready. Connect with your high school guidance counselor or college advisor. If you work with a college access organization you can reach out to your advisors and let them know you’re looking for help. Take advantage of free webinars like Moneythink’s Financial Aid Award Compare Webinars scheduled on April 21 for Advisors and April 23, 28, and 29 for Students & Families. Step #3: Collect and compare those awards! You don’t have to review all of your award letters at once. In fact, you should review them as you get them so that you can advocate as soon as possible when you need to! The sooner that you appeal when it is the right move, the better. As you get the awards, compare them. Did College B offer you a better package (comparing gift aid to direct costs) than your first choice, College A? Get your appeal package together and let College A know about College B’s offer. See if they’ll budge! For more tips on appeals, check out SwiftStudent which helps you write your financial aid appeal letters for free. Step 4: Advocate! Advocate! Advocate! Students are unaware that funding sources can vary year to year. Families often don’t know to ask if the institutional grant they were awarded is renewable for future years. Sometimes they don’t know to ask their scholarships where their money is going, and this matters because some colleges will take scholarship money reported to them and we’ll see a case of financial aid displacement. This means the colleges reduce the amount of gift aid like grants by the size of the scholarship. Advocate for the best awards by ensuring they’re basing it off the most up-to-date information, appealing if you have a qualified circumstance, and applying to as many scholarships as possible. Do what you can to fill whatever gap is standing in the way of you and your college. But be sure you’re thinking about more than just this year. Ask all the questions you need to so that you understand what financial aid could look like for your 2nd year and future years. Colleges often offer very appealing first-year packages but they start to look different in the 2nd year. That’s why groups like AAUW San Jose have a scholarship just for college juniors and seniors! Step 5: Take out only the necessary loans and work study. Loans can be a very important, necessary, and positive investment in your future. Taking out more loans than you need to, however, can be costly. There is also an opportunity cost when you work more hours than will allow you to focus on your studies. The guidance from Moneythink for a college to be affordable is:
So be sure to pay attention to affordability, but don’t lose sight of other things that matter to you about the campus. Factors like the diversity, the culture, whether they offer the major or program you like, on- and off-campus activities, and whether or not you can really “see” yourself learning and growing there (whether you stick to the original major or not). Lastly, whichever college you decide to pursue, if you believe the Enrollment Deposit is a barrier for you and your family, advocate for yourself. The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) has released a new form for counselors, college access advisors, students and their families: Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver Form. This form allows a student to request that their enrollment fee be waived due to financial circumstances. Enrollment deposits can be as low as $200 to as high as $600 (or even higher!), which can be a barrier, especially for low-income students. While everyone can use this form, each college can manage their own policies, choosing whether or not they will accept this form. I believe that there are student-focused financial aid officers out there waiting to support you through these challenges, so if you’re ready to make your final decision but you can't come up with the deposit money for your preferred college, submit the Enrollment Deposit Fee Waiver Form ASAP. I highly recommend that you do this before the deadline. Not sure when the deadline is? Check NACAC’s College Admission Status Update page with over 1,000 college updates so far. In the next article, I want to talk about Supporting Students and Families Through the Conundrum.
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3 MIN READ
"Thank you to my mother Helena Curry who instilled in me a strong work ethic, grit, and drive and paved the way by showing me what it means to be a true grassroots community leader and social justice advocate." Acknowledgments
I thank the partners of AdvancED Consulting, the Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women, the Santa Clara County Office of Women’s Policy, and the many local and statewide college, career, nonprofit, civic, and social justice advocates who shared contacts, made introductions, and dedicated time to provide all of the wonderful information listed in this guide. A big shout out goes to Amparo Diaz, Annie Do, and Michael Nuñez, all AdvancED Consulting partners, who supported the design and organization of content in this guide. Shout out to Kyra Young who designed all of the affirmation stickers and other AdvancED graphics you see throughout this guide and the AdvancED website and social media. Thank you to my partner (in life and career) Michael who supports me in all things and empowers me to be of service however I can as my authentic self. Thank you to my mother Helena Curry who instilled in me a strong work ethic, grit, and drive and paved the way by showing me what it means to be a true grassroots community leader and social justice advocate. Thank you to my cousins Janella Parucha, Justin Parucha, Melinda Parucha, and Evita Dupitas who inspire me to be myself and love myself. Thank you to my aunt Hedy Parucha and uncle Ben Parucha for their constant love and support. Thank you to mentors like Dwayne, Claudia, Coleetta, Sr. Susan, Gloria, Allison, Tessa, MB, Trisha, Dr. London, Masai, Elroy, Eric, Kevin and so many more for your wisdom, selfless coaching, and well-intentioned feedback. Thank you to great friends and colleagues like Lara, Gina, Erin, Meo, Serei, SJ, Alerie, Rod, Kadar, Matt, Meghann, Andrea, and Anthony for the strength you give me, each other, and the world, with all of your unique gifts and strengths.
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The Financial Aid Conundrum4/15/2020 13 MIN READ This article is the 2nd (and longest!) in a series on "Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19" There are a lot of key financial decisions that we need to make as humans in this country. As you’ll see from the image below, they really start in high school with college-related decisions. When I think of this time in our high school seniors’ (and non-traditional students’) lives and put myself in their shoes, the two questions that come up for me are: 1. Am I going to college this Fall or Spring, and 2. If I am going to college, where? There is actually a third question, since there is a financial component to both questions. That question is 3. Depending on where I go to college, how much will I have to pay to go there? and this question is what I refer to as the Financial Aid Conundrum. It’s a conundrum because, firstly, I really enjoy that word and have few opportunities to use it. Secondly, because the synonyms for conundrum are in line with what students, families and educators face when it comes to financial aid, synonyms like “enigma,” “mystery,” “brain-teaser,” and “problem.” In the first article in this series, "Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19," I talk about the power of networking and how I learned about Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF) and their podcast "Tim Talks To..." In one podcast, what Melissa shares with Tim Ranzetta gets at the heart of what college-bound high school seniors are struggling with RIGHT NOW, and with 3.7M high school seniors expected to graduate from high school this 2019-20 school year according to the National Center for Education Statistics, it will require a huge, coordinated, all-hands-on-deck approach. Let’s all work together, utilizing all the expertise and tools in our toolbelts to support all these seniors through not just high school graduation, but also through important decisions that will impact their futures. Because many of these decisions are FINANCIAL. Here is the financial conundrum broken down into three (3) issues. Grab a seat and get comfy. Issue #1 This issue affects all students, but disproportionately for low-income students of color. Moneythink has done a ton of research on this issue, and there’s plenty of great information out there speaking to the issues of college persistence and student debt. Here are three facts we want you to know:
What does this all mean? That despite our best efforts to get students to college, especially first-generation students, they are ending up with too much debt and the lack of clarity about financial aid is largely to blame. Debt is a huge persisting problem since so few colleges are considered affordable to students struggling the most to pay, and to make things worse, students end up with debt whether they get their certificate or degree or not. If students are choosing (though, we argue, without a clear understanding) to go to unaffordable colleges, they are more likely to drop out because of financial reasons. If they knew they were doing this, would they willingly take out thousands of dollars in loans without the promise of an actual degree to make it worth their investment? Most of us education advocates, advisors, and counselors would argue of course not. So the question is, how do we get students to be more informed and empowered owners of their college choices? Let’s first look at how students understand this choice, and who helps them to understand.
In Moneythink’s College Success Report which they published in 2016, student interviews revealed two driving factors of students’ financial vulnerability:
Students are also not having open and honest conversations with their parents about how they will be paying for college, and not because they don’t want to, sometimes because they just don’t know how to. While as allies and advisors, we might want to be in these conversations with each and every student to guide and support them, it’s just not possible given our bandwidth. I recommend resources like Moneythink and CaliforniaColleges.edu that offer talking points for students on how to talk to their families about money. Tools to bring clarity to families Even if a student has open and honest dialogue with their families about money, the process of reviewing and analyzing financial aid awards is still very convoluted, and unnecessarily so. The financial aid award is the only document that will tell families how much college will cost. Unfortunately, despite the availability of an aid template provided by the Department of Education to both simplify and clarify financial aid, colleges have their discretion to use whatever manner of jargon and incomplete information makes sense for their cultures, which leads to misleading information that often prevents families from using them effectively to make informed, intentional decisions. According to a report by New America & uAspire:
The Department of Education offers comparison tips on its website, and the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA) offers a worksheet, which students and families can print out, to help keep information about different colleges organized. Community capacity The research shows us that our community doesn’t have the capacity to provide quality college advising and counseling when it comes to financial aid, even with the best intentions at play:
Despite the best efforts of our colleagues in the field, financial aid is incredibly confusing, it changes on the regular, information from the powers that be don’t regularly or clearly trickle down to the people on the ground that need to disseminate the information to students, and training is not readily available to solve for the lack in knowledge and experience. The Powers That Be The Federal Student Aid office has recommended that colleges include the cost of attendance in aid letters and clearly distinguish between grants and scholarships, which don’t need to be repaid, and loans, which do. (Federal Student Aid) The Powers That Be, or the colleges that are designing and distributing their financial aid award letters, are recognizing the problem but are operating on their own timelines and priorities to solve this issue for students. Now that we’ve fully discussed why the Financial Aid Conundrum is such an issue not just for all students, but especially for low-income, first gen students, let’s look at the remaining issues because yes, there are still more. Issue #2 College decisions don’t focus enough on the financial considerations and implications. College decisions are about both WHERE a student is going to spend the next 1-6 years of their next academic and career journey, and HOW MUCH they are going to pay over time as an investment in their future. The process of evaluating financial aid awards requires multiple complex steps. Every single one of these steps requires a level of maturity and mathematical savvy, and for the right information to be in students’ hands all at once. In Moneythink’s interviews spanning thousands of students, many students shared that they were left unassisted and confused during the process. In many cases, students were not adequately prepared for college. In some cases, students received the help that they needed to be accepted into the school of their choice, thanks to the support of well-intentioned family, engaged college counselors, and available college access programs. Unfortunately, they were often expected to figure out the rest once they got to college, especially when it came to the finances.
Organizations like ScholarMatch, Students Rising Above, Richmond Promise, the Early Academic Outreach Program (EAOP), Destination College Advising Corps, and more, serve students during the crucial transactional steps of their senior year and will walk students step-by-step through the financial aid application process. Once students complete their FAFSA, they will receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) and that will offer an Expected Family Contribution (EFC). A student EFC of zero (0) is the lowest possible value, and it means that the family has no ability to contribute to the student’s education. The highest EFC is $99,999. After a student submits their FAFSA, they may be asked for more information. This is called Verification. The SAR will note if the student has been selected for verification, or the college may contact the student directly. “Verification is the process your school uses to confirm that the data reported on your FAFSA form is accurate. If you’re selected for verification, your school will request additional documentation that supports the information you reported.” (Federal Student Aid) Once you’ve made it through verification, you should have a final award letter, as opposed to an award estimate. You will need to review this award letter so that you understand:
Earlier I shared that there are tools out there to help figure out the financial aid award review process. The problem, however, isn’t the lack of tools to help clarify and make sense of award letters. There are tools out there like the FinAid Letter Comparison Tool (with an advanced version available), BigFuture’s award tool, or CaliforniaColleges.edu’s use of the CollegeOPTIONS’ Financial Aid Award Comparison Tool. The real problem is that, while tools exist to compare financial aid awards for multiple colleges, these tools often require:
There is no tool out there that supports students and families in better understanding their financial aid award letters that does not also require them to manually enter that information into some document. This is fraught with user error and is a barrier to entry in multiple ways (lack of technical skills, variance in how award letters name and describe aid, incomplete awards, etc.). This is why I’m excited for Moneythink’s award compare tool coming out in October 2020 that will let you take snapshots of your awards for a super-fast analysis! Want to learn more about it? Click here to get on Moneythink’s listserve! Issue #3: Students often don’t realize just how much power they have in their college choice.
Despite all this challenge and calamity, there is still hope! Students DO have the power of their choice. Students DO have the time and opportunity to look at all the information available and make an informed, intentional decision about where they’re going to go this Fall or Spring. Students CAN and SHOULD resolve to make choices in their best interest that help meet goals they have designed for themselves. And as the parents, advisors, counselors, educators, coaches, guardians, and adult allies in their lives, we CAN and SHOULD resolve to support them however we can to make the best, most affordable decision possible. In this next article, I want to talk about how students can do this. It’s time to talk about The Power of Student Resilience and Choice because you DO have choices as a student. Students: The power to choose IS ALL YOURS.
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4 MIN READ This article is the 1st in a series on "Financial Aid, College Choice, and COVID-19." The power of “friendraising” has never been more real than in a recent introduction by a local education advocate which led to a podcast interview. I’m here to tell a story that starts with education colleagues making connections, and ends with the power of student resilience and choice. In this series, I start first with the alchemy of networking and friendraising because as adults, as students, as human beings, if we’re going to get through COVID-19, it will be together. Thus, I start with a Tale of Six Colleagues. As I continue the series, I wish for high school seniors, transfer students, parents, educators, and their allies to know that when it comes to financial aid and college choice, we face a Financial Aid Conundrum that is persistent, systemic, fraught with pitfalls ready to take advantage of families, and overbearingly complex to tackle. I then want to take a hopeful stance by talking about the Power of Student Resilience and Choice. I want students, and all of your allies, to understand that in your hands is the power to choose the best fit college for you based on what’s both affordable and a strong match. Lastly, I will close with how we can all support students through this, whether you are a student or an ally. Supporting Students & Families through the Conundrum means securing the futures of our communities, our cities, our counties, our states, our nation, and our world. Again, we are all in this together. Let’s begin with why networking matters. If you already know why networking matters, you can skip ahead to the meat of this series with the Financial Aid Conundrum. A Tale of Six Colleagues It started with me (Colleague #1) reaching out to Todd Hicks (Colleague #2), Director of University Access and Success at Cristo Rey San Jose. Thanks to my career development and college access related projects with partners Management Leadership for Tomorrow and Moneythink, and general volunteer work across Santa Clara County, I had more than one reason to sit down with this local educator. Cristo Rey San Jose is a member of the Cristo Rey Network which has 37 schools across 24 states. At the time I was in conversations with Todd about how to best support first gen students, I was in the planning stages of financial aid award review webinars with CEO Joshua Lachs (Colleague #3) of Moneythink. Moneythink empowers students to invest in the future by building technology that clarifies college finances. Thanks to Joshua’s leadership and his star-studded team at Moneythink, we were planning to host financial aid webinars in late April to support graduating high school seniors across the country through a crucial date that is fast-approaching: College Decision Day. One conversation in Todd's well-organized office turned into multiple emails, text, and phone calls excitedly charged around the topics of educational equity, access, and student success. In our most recent insightful encounter, Todd introduced me to Christian Sherrill (Colleague #4), Director of Business Development and Advocacy at Next Gen Personal Finance (NGPF). Appreciating every opportunity to meet a Teach for America Corps Member continuing to do great work for underserved populations, I eagerly scheduled our chat. Reaching more than 2 million students nationally by serving 25,000 middle and high school teachers, I was thrilled to learn more about their free personal finance curriculum and professional development offerings. Christian shared that NGPF’s mission “is to revolutionize the teaching of personal finance in all schools and to improve the financial lives of the next generation of Americans.” This wonderful chat with Christian in March turned into an introduction to NGPF Co-Founder Tim Ranzetta (Colleague #5) who also runs a “Tim Talks To…” Podcast. I was thrilled to listen to some of the episodes, such as Demetria Gallegos of WSJ on 9 Myths About Credit Scores from January 10, 2020 and Melissa Santoyo on the importance of financial education for first-gen students from November 29, 2019. Listening to Melissa’s podcast got me super excited for my chat with Tim because something she said really struck me: "I think that we need to prioritize teaching kids how to read financial documents, how to interpret them, how to walk into a college application process feeling at least a little bit more confident about the things we're in control of... when it came to the financial documents, I felt rather helpless. Because, you know something that was supposed to be in my control, something that I should have been able to fill out and then move on with my day, that wasn't the case. It carried this immense panic, and stress and anxiety and worry, further exacerbating the general horrible feeling of the college application process. So something needs to be done, and it needs to be done earlier on." When Tim asked me how I learned about Moneythink, I was pleased to share that it was through a mutual connection, Lara Fox (Colleague #6), Senior Advisor at the Marin Community Foundation who served prior to that as the Founding Executive Director of uAspire Bay Area. Lara not only introduced me to Moneythink, she also mentored me through my first year as a consultant. With connections made, Tim interviewed me for his podcast. What I shared then is a snippet of what you'll read in this series.
Now we’ve come full circle! On to the challenge at hand...the Financial Aid Conundrum.
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Transitioning to Remote Work3/18/2020 4 MIN READ In light of the disruptions caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19), many are finding themselves working remotely, getting laid off, having their hours reduced, and more. This article is focused on those who are able to continue working from home. For those of you who are looking for advice and resources because you cannot work from home, please Contact Me and let's take it from there. A recording of the Transitioning to Remote Work webinar on March 18 is available here (54:26). How should I tackle working from home?For whatever reason, we're working from home now. All hundreds of thousands of us. And we're all coming at this new reality from VERY different perspectives. Here are just a few of the perspectives I talk about on my webinar that goes with this Blog article. I'm sure there are many more where this came from.
Once we have reflected on who we are and where we're coming from, we should take a deep breath because we understand 1) our own level of comfort and acumen working remotely, 2) my company's level of comfort and acumen working remotely, and 3) my ecosystem's level of comfort and acumen working remotely. It's important to know these three things because then you will know the #1 thing: It is NOT 100% your responsibility to figure this out. It's only 1/3 of your responsibility. Now that you believe that, you can focus on where you have control, and the first place you have control is how you tackle remote work. For this I offer you: Mer's Top 3 Tips for Remote Work. For Tip #1 for Remote Work, I discuss Mindfulness. Here is what you need to know:
For Tip #2 for Remote Work, I share Mer's Tips for Over-Communicating. Some of these include:
For Tip #3 for Remote Work, I discuss Organization. A few ways to get even more organized than ever include:
Next, I offer: Mer's Top 3 Tips for Managing. For Tip #1 for Managing, I discuss Staying Connected. You will need to take advantage of tools like Salesforce, Quip, Slack, and more to make connection possible. You'll also need to be more strategic with your meetings, which could include:
For Tip #2 for Managing, I share how to Be Visible. You will need to develop and/or refine routines like:
For Tip #3 for Managing, I share how to Be Transparent with Mer's Tips for Over-Documenting. Some of these include:
Lastly, I would like to share: Mer's Top 10 Favorite Apps. Rather than go through them in detail in this article, you'll find their logos below. You can learn more about them in the AdvancED Toolbox and in my handout Transitioning to Remote Work: Resources. You can also Contact Me with any questions or to ask for recommendations. The first Transitioning to Remote Work webinar was hosted on Wednesday, March 18 at 6:00 pm PDT. Click here for the recording (54:26)! The next webinar is on Thursday, March 26 from 11:30 am to 1:30 PDT. Register on Eventbrite and join us, you can learn while you have your lunch!
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Holiday Last-Minute Gifts for Self & Others12/16/2019 5 MIN READ The holidays are here and gift-giving activities are fast approaching. You may be ahead of the game as I’ve tried to be in past years, or you could be way behind on your gift-getting as I happen to be this year. Wherever you are on your holiday shopping, one thing is almost always certain - you didn’t include the most important person on your list, YOURSELF. So in the spirit of last-minute holiday shopping, here are some tips and suggestions as you hastily make room in your bank account and your tree for presents for the loved ones in your life, which includes you. Tip #1 Gift Yourself This time of year can be filled with stress, grief, anxiety, and busy work. Consider giving yourself a self-care gift of time, rest, and relaxation. On my Self-Care page, you’ll find gifts like:
Tip #2 Buy a Book With so much to learn and so many stories told, why don’t we take a break from binge-watching our favorite shows and pick up a book instead! Whether you prefer audio books, reading from your Kindle, or holding a bound copy in your hand, a good book can be the needed respite from a busy life and stressful activities. In my Bookcase, you’ll find gifts like:
Books for the wonderful kids in your life include:
Tip #3 Make Something From the Heart Gone are the days when we could put our hands in some paint, stamp it on a card, write our name and “I love you!” next to it, and give that to a loved one as a gift. Or is it? We underestimate the value of a thing or work made with our hands and minds, but it continues to be one of the most thoughtful, personal gifts that we can give to someone. Here are just a few examples of gifts that I’ve seen people give as gifts, consider what makes sense for you and try something out of your comfort zone! ![]()
![]() Poetry, short story, or other writing. I’ve done this for my partner, my Mom, and friends over time. This can be a poem typed and framed, or a printed book of short writings. You don't have to write something new if you have pieces folks have never seen before, bring something out of your treasure chest and make it shine with pretty font on fresh paper! ![]() Arts and crafts of any kind. When was the last time you’ve gone inside Michael’s or Joann’s? My bestie Gina is a fantastic scrapbooker and she also makes dreamy ribbons and bows. My long-time friend Amparo (aka Apple) makes incredible gifts from the heart through crochet. If you check out Apple’s Instagram you’ll get some great ideas for crocheting, or you can reach out to the queen yourself for a special order! Tip #4 There is No Perfect Gift, Just Thoughtful Ones At the end of the day, let’s try to remember that it isn’t about how much money you spend, or if you even expect a gift from this person in return. It’s about what makes you grateful for having this person in your life, and the most natural, cost-effective way for you to show her or him that gratitude. To my Mother, my partner Michael, my grandma Trining, my cousins Janella, Melinda, Justin (may you rest in peace), Evita, Cristine & Mikey (and my second cousins Nate, Jon, and Lizzie), Cassandra & Matt, Dalton, Anna, my aunts and uncles Hedy & Ben, Hanny & Howard, Joel (aka Manoy), Elenore & Bernie, and family spread throughout the Philippines, US, Australia, and elsewhere, I’m thankful everyday to have you in my life and to be part of this beautiful, multi-cultural family! To my best friends Lara, Gina, Erin, Meo, Serei, SJ, Roy, Alerie & Rod, and friends all over the world, I’m grateful for you! To my mentors Dwayne, Sr. Susan, Kevin, Elroy, and so many more that have touched my life, thank you for your wisdom, your well-intentioned feedback, your selfless coaching, and your positive vibes. To you readers out there, I’m so thankful that you read whatever you read on my website, and I hope you have a blessed and joyful holiday season with your loved ones! About Author: Meredith "Mer" CurryMer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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A Review of GDPR and CCPA12/9/2019 5 MIN READ This article is the 2nd in a series. Read the introduction article: "Why Data Privacy Matters." So you know what your data looks like. You know what it is used for. You have a sense of who touches it and who uses it. Now what? Now, you educate yourself on data privacy. If you have data, you need to protect it. I had the opportunity to speak to this on a webinar hosted by FormAssembly on August 21, 2019. I joined Maggie Tharp at FormAssembly to talk about the data privacy landscape in 2019, and evolving regulations and best practices. Check out the Webinar Recap: California Privacy and How It Affects You. On the webinar, Maggie and I discussed The General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) as well as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) which will go into effect on January 1, 2020. As FormAssembly’s guest presenter, I spoke to the implications for nonprofit and educational organizations who may not have people or processes in place to specifically track data privacy and how it impacts organizations. In my Webinar Recap, I share some key insights that I shared on the webinar. As a follow up to their Data Privacy Deep Dive Webinar Series, FormAssembly recently published their white paper, State of Data Privacy in 2019. In this guide, they talk about the data privacy landscape in the United States, the new data privacy laws in other U.S. states, where businesses stand, and tips on better data stewardship. A realistic next step to prepare for CCPA is to have a discussion with the relevant leaders of your organization and determine your level of preparedness. Review FormAssembly’s white paper, State of Data Privacy in 2019 and give your organization a rating of Very Prepared, Prepared, Somewhat Prepared, or Not Prepared. Depending on what your team decides, make a plan to move your team to Prepared or Very Prepared. I’d like to share some highlights from the guide, and weave in some of my own best practices. These tips come from working with small to large, local to virtual organizations across California in developing and implementing data privacy business processes and protocols.
Read my next article “How You Can Protect Your Data” (under construction) for more tips and tricks to manage and protect your data. Want support developing a data governance strategy? Data governance helps organizations manage their stakeholder data and protect it from being abused, stolen, or lost. AdvancED can help you design an effective data governance strategy that will describe the steps to analyze, secure, store, and manage your organization’s stakeholder data. Schedule your free 20-min consultation now. Related articles
About Author: Meredith "Mer" Curry Mer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Why Data Privacy Matters12/5/2019 4 MIN READ This article is the 1st in a series on "Why Data Privacy Matters." I learned the importance of data starting in high school working at a local CPA firm in downtown San José during my summers. Making my way through rows of filing cabinets, building up a tolerance to papercuts, and sneezing my way through dusty file folders, I took numbers off pieces of paper and turned them into financial statements. Sometimes it was straightforward data entry. Other times I double-checked the math after translating illegible debits and credits into typed balance sheets and income statements. Today I am so adept at ten-key I can type rows of numbers without looking at the keypad. I am also so grateful now for Excel formulas, pivot tables, and tools like Salesforce and FormAssembly that can bring clarity, transparency, and automation to once complex and highly manual (and thus, fraught with human error) processes. In my over 10 years of being a certified Salesforce Administrator and over 20 years of championing Excel, I am a firm believer that the more data you can have at your fingertips, the more questions you can develop to find intelligent answers to. But in my years of working with corporations, startups, and nonprofits, I’ve seen varying levels of success making use of the data that is available. Often, the challenge isn’t just what to do with the data you do have, but how to get the data you really need for the scale and impact you want. This might mean taking a step back and asking yourself, “What data do I have now, what am I using it for, and how has that been helpful?” It might then lead you to ask more questions like, “What data should I continue to track, what questions will they answer, and how will that be helpful in the long-term?”
![]() If as a professional, manager, or executive, you are not asking yourself these questions at regular intervals (I recommend quarterly if not annually), then I highly recommend that you start now. Once you go through this fact-finding mission of understanding what data you have and what it is used for, the next important question is, “How am I protecting it?” I’d like to give you the use-cases, best practices, and tools to develop an intentional action plan around data privacy to ensure you are protecting the data you have and the data you intend to collect. Read my next article “A Review of GDPR and CCPA” to learn about the most important regulations and legislations that inform the policies and practices you may need to develop around data privacy. Want support developing a data dictionary? A data dictionary is a document (Word, Excel, whatever suits your fancy) that describes the types of data collected, the sources, the intended uses, and how the data is stored, archived, and scrubbed/deleted over time. Let’s talk about how our advisors can help you customize a data dictionary for you that tracks all of your data elements from all of your sources (e.g. Google Analytics, Salesforce, Google Sheets, Excel). Schedule your free 20-min consultation now. Related articles
About Author: Meredith "Mer" CurryMer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Defining Your Strengths as a Leader Series: #2 Defining Your Emotional Intelligence Strengths11/4/2019 3 MIN READ I found a recommendation for “Emotional Intelligence 2” by Travis Bradberry & Jean Greaves. With the book came a new and enhanced online edition of “the world’s most popular emotional intelligence test,” The Emotional Intelligence Appraisal®. The Emotional Intelligence Appraisal® provides you with a complete picture of your emotional intelligence. This includes an understanding of:
This appraisal will ask you specific questions about your behavior. How you answer these questions is for your eyes only. A true reflection of your emotional intelligence skills depends on your willingness to accurately rate yourself. This requires a lot of thought into how you are in many situations, not just the ones you handle well. When you read each question, create a clear picture in your mind of how you are in different situations, then answer honestly how often you demonstrate the behavior in each question. Define Your Emotional Intelligence Strengths Activity Read about the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal - Me Edition. Consider if you would like to take this assessment (it costs less for the hardcover book than the online assessment!). If you decide to take it, put it on your calendar by blocking 2 hours and set a reminder for a few days before so that you do not reschedule it.
What if you decide not to take it? Reflect on a colleague or loved one in your life who could benefit from the activity and tell them about it! The accompanying report recommends that I begin practicing on one specific area, Social Awareness, and offers three strategies to nurture my skills in this area:
My Take-aways on the Emotional Intelligence Appraisal
Now that you’ve reviewed one assessment, take a look at Assessment #3 the StrengthsFinder by Gallup (stay tuned!). Related articles
About Author: Meredith "Mer" CurryMer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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4 MIN READ This article is the 2nd in a series. Read the introduction article "Defining Your Strengths as a Leader." I took DiSC through the Tony Robbins website thanks to social justice comrade and career coach Anthony Le’s recommendation. I’ve participated in a Tony Robbins seminar as a teenager, so to take something as an adult almost 20 years later was exciting! DiSC is an observable “needs-motivated” instrument based on the idea that emotions and behaviors are neither “good” nor “bad.” Rather, behaviors reveal the needs that motivate that behavior. Therefore, once we can accurately observe one’s actions, it is easier to “read” and anticipate their likely motivators and needs. DiSC provides your ADAPTED style and NATURAL style, represented as graphs and word sketches. As an example, for People, the words that indicate my needs, fears, and what’s observable are:
Define Your Strengths with DiSC Activity
What if you decide not to take it? Reflect on a colleague or loved one in your life who could benefit from the activity and tell them about it! My Behavior Style is Assessor. Key behavioral insights that stand out to me that I will need to keep in mind to strengthen my relationships are:
The insights I get to take home with me and contemplate as I move forward are lists of “Help Them Tos” adapted for different situations such as At Work, In Social Settings, and In Learning Environments. Lastly, you get a summary of your motivation which tags seven (7) Motivators as Very Low to Very High. My breakdown was:
Knowing that Altruistic motivation is my highest, key universal assets that stand out to me that I will need to keep in mind are:
My Take-aways on DiSC
Now that you’ve reviewed one assessment, take a look at Assessment #2 on Emotional Intelligence. Related articles
About Author: Meredith "Mer" CurryMer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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Defining Your Strengths as a Leader10/28/2019 4 MIN READ ![]() This article is the 1st in a series on "Breaking Knowledge Barriers". This article is the 1st in a series on "Defining Your Strengths as a Leader" I have read my fair share of what some might term “self-help” books. I like to think of them as “self-awaken” books. The “help” part in “self-help” alludes to something being broken that needs fixing. What I appreciate about the books I’ve read since I was little, as well as today, is that self-awaken books point to the strengths, potential, and inner wisdom deep inside of us, already alive and ready, yet often untapped and tucked away hidden from sight. This wisdom manifests as skills and intuition, and I’m keen on developing my ability to tap this wisdom. Self-evaluation is critical for me as a leader, as a manager of teams and projects, and as a woman of color. The Center for Creative Leadership reminds us in their report 7 Emerging Trends for Transformative Leaders that some managers may struggle with interpersonal relationships, affecting their ability to build and lead teams or adapt to change, which can lead to career derailment. To avoid this, “organizations must design programs that develop [managers’] self-awareness, political savviness, communication skills, and ability to influence others...skills that are essential to effectively heading a team.”
As a professional, whether you are an employee of a company or an entrepreneur, understanding your strengths and skill sets is key to building the confidence, resourcefulness, and grit to adapt to any situation. As human beings who have way more going on than just our jobs, you can bet that your personal, educational, emotional, societal, cultural, economical, and religious identities are often at play when you negotiate professional situations. Most of us do not know how these identities manifest themselves in our decisions, risk tolerance, and self-reliance. Most of us have comrades and loved ones we can turn to for advice and feedback, but our hearing is often screening and interpreting with the bias of that relationship and all of its power dynamics. So why take a personality assessment? Because we often don’t know the questions to ask. And even if we did, would we really answer honestly, free of unconscious bias, shame, guilt, regret, or fear? Define Your Strengths as a Leader Activity Take out a pad of post-its, ideally in two different colors (e.g. green and yellow). Find a blank wall or space where you can lay out two sets of post-its and set aside a total of one hour.
We know from the Council of National Psychological Associations for the Advancement of Ethnic Minority Interests “Test bias is a primary issue of selecting and using testing and assessment instruments with racial/ethnic minority groups. Past research has shown that tests can produce misleading results with culturally different groups in terms of slope and intercept (or unfairness) bias.” Thus, if you are a person of color, you will need an assessment that will address and consider this intersection of your identity, as well as many others, if you are to feel good about doing anything at all with the results. I’d like to give you a review of a few assessments because, 1) I have taken them in more than one sitting or format, and 2) I have heard from and worked with others who have taken one or a combination of assessments as part of developing themselves professionally at work. I have written a separate blog post for each assessment in this "Defining Your Strengths as a Leader" series. Click here to go to Assessment #1 on DiSC. Related articles
About Author: Meredith "Mer" CurryMer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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4 MIN READ This article is the 5th and final one in a series. Read the introduction article: "Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color in the Workplace." If you Acknowledge who you are, Accept the strengths and challenges in front of you, and develop a risk tolerance to Adapt to situations as they come, you’re in a pretty good place. But let’s go back to the first question that I had to ask myself - What Can I Give Up? This is why I say, Finish Strong. Finish whatever is holding you back with strength. This might be just what you need to move forward on something else. Be intentional about finishing whatever it is, and focus on ending it with a lesson to validate the effort.
spreadsheets and trade them in for Quickbooks Self-Employed or something:
Once you know the owner, size, and the priority of this project you want to START, you can rumble with vulnerability as the great Brené Brown advises in Dare to Lead. You can let go of the need for this project to look and feel a certain way if you’re going to delegate it. You can let go of the anxiety of thinking about it right now if you know it’s not going to come up again for several weeks. I bet you will also realize that you have mad delegation and prioritization skills as well! Lastly, Back Yourself Up by building a strong bench of people that you can rely on to support you. If you can set up a formal advisory or committee, awesome. If you can find a mentor, wonderful. If you can join a community like a local commission or network like the Women’s Networking Alliance or the Asian Pacific American Leadership Institute, way to step it up! The most important part is getting positive reinforcement and honest guidance from outside of yourself, while also building your inner monologue of positive vibes and affirmations. And whenever possible, build a diverse bench. It should have people that look like you and people that don’t look like you. It should have people that will agree with you on some things and people who will disagree with you on some things. Stack your bench with people who will look out for your best interest, which is not the same as Yes-people.
You now have all of the strategies you need to begin to tackle any knowledge barriers or general challenges you may have face as a woman in business, education, law, medicine, etc. You already have the will and the grit to move forward; you only need to take the first step. Know that I believe in you and that I am taking those steps with you. Sincerely, Mer Related articles
About Author: Meredith "Mer" CurryMer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com.
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3 MIN 30 SEC READ This article is the 4th in a series. Read the introduction article: "Breaking Knowledge Barriers Series: Womxn of Color in the Workplace." How many of us are still making decisions today because of something that happened a month ago? A failure a year ago? A mistake or misjudgment a relationship ago? Instead, I recommend, “Be open to learning new lessons, even if they contradict the lessons you learned yesterday.” Our intersections, our identities, are chock full of lessons we learned yesterday that we are still holding onto. They might be holding us back and we may mistakenly think they’re pushing us forward. ACKNOWLEDGE who you are, how your identities intersect and play out in your everyday. How your heritage/history, education, geography, and income all impact the access you have to the knowledge you seek today. You acknowledge that the path behind you and in front of you is rife with challenges and misjudgment and misunderstanding. So who are YOU today, and what strengths and skills do you have in your toolbox to move forward from this moment?
That is to ask yourself what are you GOOD at, what are your strengths, and how does that play out in your life. Conversely, what does it look like when you are not applying those strengths in your life, and how do they manifest as fears or you getting in your own way or your unhappiness? ADAPT by starting from a place of strength in the knowledge of who you are and gratitude for all that you have ACHIEVED to get to this moment, rather than shame or regret. There’s a TED Talk on the 5 Top Indicators for Startup Success by Bill Gross with Idealab, and chief of them is Timing, followed by Team, Idea, Business Model, and Funding. What this tells us is that Timing is the largest factor in the success of any business, so it behooves you to always be present, open-minded, and have a fresh perspective and confidence to tackle whatever comes, when it decides to come, because we have very little control over timing. RECALL YOUR STRENGTHS and let them nourish and remind you that you can do it, whatever IT is, when the time comes. Now it's time for you to finish strong and start fresh, and we teach you how to do this with our final strategy. Click here to go to Strategy #4. Related articles
About Author: Meredith "Mer" CurryMer has always had a passion for education and helping historically underrepresented groups achieve access and success to higher opportunities. She has consulted nonprofits, educational institutions, and businesses in addition to her volunteerism and mentorship of students.
Learn more about Mer at www.meredithcurry.com. |