I am thrilled to celebrate all interns who take an opportunity to test out academic theory, creativity and fresh perspectives in these assignments…. I am ecstatic to acknowledge the great contributions to the morale, teamwork and foundation of our Replacement Parts Division by Kristen Cheek and Audrey Abbott. I worked side by side with them and can vouch for their energy, commitment, drive and hard work.
Are you familiar with the Japanese term "Ikigai?"
It represents the idea that your purpose in life can be found at the intersection of what you're good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
Happy to share that a decade+ into my career, and I've found that sweet spot.
Today I'm celebrating two years of Hyperfocused Communications!
My business allows me to live out my ideal professional reality every day.
Looking back, I could have never imagined that what started as a small social project for an individual founder, would be the actualization of my life's purpose.
I'm in awe that I wake up each morning, passionate about my work, knowing that I'm making a meaningful difference for humanity, our planet, and our future.
My deep, guiding belief is that our sector must include the experiences of ALL individuals living and working on the front lines of the climate crisis.
I'm endlessly grateful for the opportunity to amplify diverse, trailblazing, young female founders in climate, shout out Wawa Gatheru & Daniela V. Fernandez, and the climate communities both of these amazing women are building.
My calling is to support organizations making a meaningful difference, including but not limited to Black Girl Environmentalist and Sustainable Ocean Alliance.
I love having the agency to be intentional about clients and work, and to pour my energy, creativity, and skillset into building a better world to leave to my son.
So, if you identify as a:
-Mission-driven founder and are looking to build your professional brand
-Decision maker at an organization with a small but mighty MarComs team
-Or know someone who is either of the above ...
Please visit hyperfocusedpr.com or DM me here to set up an initial consultation.
I'm interested in expanding my services to additional, aligned, impactful clients and would be happy to walk through your unique challenges and opportunities.
I offer narrative and messaging strategy; collaboratively ghostwritten content; newsletter ideation, creation, and analytics; investor, funder, and stakeholder communications; earned and owned media and recently, video production!
If I didn't list what you need, I still encourage you to reach out! As a neurodiverse founder, I thrive when presented with a challenge. There's nothing I can't figure out in Hyperfocus; this video series project is the perfect example!
Lastly, if you're none of the above and just generally interested in my career, or in uncovering the best and brightest changemakers in the climate space ...
Subscribe to the Black Girl Environmentalist YouTube channel and #PlanetandPurpose newsletter on LinkedIn for a dose of inspiration... & Ikigai!
🚨‼️OPPORTUNITY ALERT: Applications are now open to become a Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship partner organization for Summer 2025!
This Summer at our end of fellowship retreat our talented cohort of early-career professionals enjoyed a weekend of environmental connection, fun, unity, and belonging. Grounded in nature, fellows reflected on their summer where they worked full time internships at top companies in the climate sector, enjoyed career development programming, and built life long communities at a retreat marked by joy, adventure, and optimism.
We are excited to come back next summer even bigger and better, as we grow the cohort and collaborate with more partner organizations. Share this video with your favorite climate and environmentalist organizations!
BGE’s historic Hazel M. Johnson (HMJ) program launched in the Summer of 2024 to attract, support, and sustain the critical voices missing from the environmental movement.
Why?
Despite people of color bearing the brunt of the climate crisis and making up nearly 40% of the U.S. population, an industry ‘green ceiling’ remains, with people of color only making up 12-16% of the workforce.
Within academia, the same, systemic issues are apparent. In 2021, a mere 138 Bachelors Degrees in Environmenal Science were awarded to Black women in the U.S.
That’s unacceptable.
Black women and gender-expansive environmentalists are crucial to ideating and implementing the innovative, holistic approaches we urgently need to solve our shared, triple planetary crisis.
That’s why BGE is building a Black, ‘green’ workforce pipeline by providing HMJ fellows with paid environmental internships, dedicated mentorship, and ‘green’ career retention strategies.
And we’re more passionate than ever about continuing and expanding this career program by and for Black Womxn environmentalists to benefit our community, our movement, and our planet.
Decision maker? Apply to become a host organization: https://lnkd.in/eSszt5-q
Register to join our info session on 10/09 at 6 pm EST: https://lnkd.in/eBHRFhZQ
🚨‼️OPPORTUNITY ALERT: Applications are now open to become a Hazel M. Johnson Fellowship partner organization for Summer 2025!
This Summer at our end of fellowship retreat our talented cohort of early-career professionals enjoyed a weekend of environmental connection, fun, unity, and belonging. Grounded in nature, fellows reflected on their summer where they worked full time internships at top companies in the climate sector, enjoyed career development programming, and built life long communities at a retreat marked by joy, adventure, and optimism.
We are excited to come back next summer even bigger and better, as we grow the cohort and collaborate with more partner organizations. Share this video with your favorite climate and environmentalist organizations!
BGE’s historic Hazel M. Johnson (HMJ) program launched in the Summer of 2024 to attract, support, and sustain the critical voices missing from the environmental movement.
Why?
Despite people of color bearing the brunt of the climate crisis and making up nearly 40% of the U.S. population, an industry ‘green ceiling’ remains, with people of color only making up 12-16% of the workforce.
Within academia, the same, systemic issues are apparent. In 2021, a mere 138 Bachelors Degrees in Environmenal Science were awarded to Black women in the U.S.
That’s unacceptable.
Black women and gender-expansive environmentalists are crucial to ideating and implementing the innovative, holistic approaches we urgently need to solve our shared, triple planetary crisis.
That’s why BGE is building a Black, ‘green’ workforce pipeline by providing HMJ fellows with paid environmental internships, dedicated mentorship, and ‘green’ career retention strategies.
And we’re more passionate than ever about continuing and expanding this career program by and for Black Womxn environmentalists to benefit our community, our movement, and our planet.
Decision maker? Apply to become a host organization: https://lnkd.in/eSszt5-q
Register to join our info session on 10/09 at 6 pm EST: https://lnkd.in/eBHRFhZQ
Exciting FREE opportunity for students at all levels! To celebrate #EarthDay next week, we're hosting a virtual workshop to dive into #semiconductor career opportunities that revolve around #sustainability. This is a great opportunity to discover opportunities you may not have known existed.
We're honored to feature the following panelists:
❇ David Robertson
❇ Yuexin Cao
❇ Nathan Marchack
❇ Sarah Wallace
❇ Paige Jacob, Ph.D.
During this workshop, you'll benefit from the rich personal experiences of these industry professionals and SRC Research Scholars!
Space for this event IS LIMITED so register today at https://lnkd.in/eWPZ9xSQ
Our founder Surayya Walters started her career as an entrepreneur, not just because she loved to lead and innovate, but because she faced a labor market where finding a good job became close to impossible.
As a young Black woman, even her resume couldn't help her when it came to finding that perfect post-graduation job.
After some research, she realized that she was not alone in this struggle. Post-pandemic, recent college grads have faced the highest unemployment rates in history, declining mental health, and a rise in underemployment.
As an organization committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion (and yes y'all - the re-launch is coming SOON), it is important for us to voice these concerns on a broader stage, and to share our message of inclusivity and hope in the US workforce for every generation.
Recent college grads, especially recent graduates of color, face the following struggles:
❌ Labor-market discrimination due to their racial / ethnic background
❌ A pay-gap where they make a fraction of what their privileged peers earn
❌ Risk of underemployment due to the lack of promotion opportunities
❌ Workplace friction due to micro-aggressions and other inequalities
Please VOTE to bring this timely conversation and advocacy to the SXSW stage: https://lnkd.in/e58p9xfd
Voting closes tomorrow, so do not delay!
Also, follow the amazing collaborators and initiatives behind this vision ⬇ :
The Intentional Intern PodcastPurposeful Professional MediaAmaya RobersonJahari Shelton (he/him)Brittany Hickman#diversity#equity#inclusion#conversation#SXSW #2024 #education#career#important#conversation
We are looking forward to our next BTLS Consortium members ‘Be The Change’ event on Thursday 6th June 2024, in Cambridge. The theme of the event will be “Progression - Breaking through the glass ceiling” 👇
The UK government aims to make the country a leading hub for innovation by 2035. To achieve this goal, it's essential to address the skills gap and promote a culture that fosters highly functioning diverse teams.
However, there is still underrepresentation in the tech sector, and the ethnicity gap widens as we move up the corporate ladder.
👉 Research by the ‘McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility' in 2023 found that 83% of Black tech employees surveyed believe that advancement opportunities are the most crucial components for advancing Black talent in tech.
With this in mind, we will explore some of the barriers that impede the progression of Black professionals within the sector. We will discuss the targeted, focused action needed to create a fairer, more inclusive workplaces, where Black professionals are motivated to stay and grow their careers as they progress up the corporate ladder.
This event will also provide the opportunity to learn from peers within the industry, with invited guests including leaders within STEM from our Consortium member organisations and beyond.
🎤 We look forward to hearing from Amy Therrien - Director Amazon Web Services (AWS) Storage Services, Scarlett Lily Allen-Horton - Founding Director, Harper Fox Partners and BBC Apprentice Finalist, Christina Schwabenland - academic, writer, researcher, University of Bedfordshire, and more speakers to be announced soon!
💡With topics including ‘Creating Inclusive Boards’ with findings from the Parker Report, ‘Progression Journeys’, the ‘Ethnicity Pay Gap’ and a fascinating interactive session ‘Engaging the imagination in work on ED&I Using Lego Serious Play’.
➡️ We will close by summarising our learnings and making a commitment to change with defined next steps.
Event details:
📆 6 June 10:30 -17.00
📍Amazon, Cambridge
ℹ️ This event is by invitation only, but if you would like to be involved, please contact team@blacktalentleadership.com
--
Black Talent and Leadership in STEM is a cross-industry initiative with Cambridge Wireless Ltd, Homerton College#Changemakers, University of Cambridge, The 10,000 Interns Foundation and Synergy Organisational Solutions.
#BlackTalent#DEI#DiversityInSTEM#BTLS#HR
WE NEED BLACK TEACHERS
HAPPY EASTER 2024
6 of My Black Teachers from Pathways in Technology Early College High School Became Principals and 3 Became P-TECH Principals
Jamilah SeifullahCindy CasseusCordel Blair Rachel Hill Yaa Yaa Catherine Whaley-Williams and Anthony WilliamsMDRC P-TECH 9-14 Evaluation
New findings in this report indicate that the P-TECH model increased students' postsecondary degree completion, particularly for male students, and boosted internship and dual enrollment rates, even during the pandemic.
LINK:
https://lnkd.in/eQBKPNsA
"By the end of the first year of postsecondary education, 2.6 percent of female and 1.8 percent of male P-TECH 9-14 students had earned degrees, compared with virtually no students from the comparison group, of either gender. These impacts for both genders are statistically significant".
"Male students who had the chance to attend P-TECH 9-14 schools were more likely to attain college degrees than male students assigned to other kinds of schools".
www.ptech.org
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Teams of students from 30 colleges and universities are coming this weekend to the Indiana University Kelley School of Business to compete at the 2024 National Diversity Case Competition. The competition, which is held the weekend before Martin Luther King Jr. Day, will bring together 118 students who represent some of the best and most diverse talent in undergraduate education from across the nation. Among the participating teams are four from historically Black institutions #HCBU Claflin University, Delaware State University, Howard University and Xavier University of Louisiana. Students are challenged to solve diversity-related business issues and share ideas while benefiting from workshops and networking with companies that value inclusion. This year, the competition will focus on a case provided by #AbbVie that focuses on improving the level of #diversity participation in clinical trials. The company is looking for solutions to de-stigmatize clinical trials and help increase participation, particularly among #underrepresented groups. Many students find that participating in this event leads to #leadership opportunities, internships and jobs after graduation. They will compete for $22,000 in prize money.
https://lnkd.in/gXu6kp2Q
So far, I’ve helped 726 overthinkers, leaders, and overwhelmed job seekers do this: ① communicate effectively, ② boost their confidence & ③ land jobs • Executive Coach • Communication Coach • Career & Outplacement Coach
If ever your company events, conferences, or speaking engagements feel lackluster, forgettable, and flat... I have the antidote: Eduardo Placer.
Check out the powerful anecdotes in his post below, and I'll leave you with this:
"🕺 If your company is looking for someone to INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, and ENERGIZE your team for Hispanic Heritage Month or National Coming Out Day, please DM [Eduardo]."
CHIEF STORY DOULA | International Public Speaking Coach | Keynote Speaker | Event MC
💃 . . . a 5 - 6 - 7 - 8!
Nope, I wasn’t auditioning for A Chorus Line! I was in the office of the Honorable Representative Alcee Hastings (D-FL) learning how to tap dance—yaaaaas! ✨
Flashback to 1995: I had the privilege of participating in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Summer Internship Program. I was fresh out of high school, full of passion, and ready to take on the world. In deep-red Dade County, I proudly held signs that read "Pro-Choice, Pro-Clinton" in 1992 and even started an environmental club inspired by Al Gore’s Earth in the Balance. By the time I landed in DC, I had already convinced my all-male, Jesuit Catholic Prep school to stop using styrofoam. Let’s just say, I wasn’t afraid to shake things up. 😏💪🏽
That summer, I learned more than just how our government works—I also learned how to tap dance (thank you, legislative assistant)! But when I started college that fall, something even more significant happened: I came out as a gay man. In the mid-90s, before Ellen graced the cover of TIME and Will & Jack lit up our screens, it felt like coming out meant giving up my political dreams.
Fast forward to today: I’m back in Washington, DC for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Conference—my first time attending since that life-changing summer. Over the past few years, I’ve embraced all of who I am: my queerness, my politics, my entrepreneurial spirit, and my Cuban roots. 🌈🇨🇺
Feeling so honored to be here alongside fellow Latino, Latina, and Latine leaders, ready to connect, collaborate, and stir up some good trouble to better our communities. ¡Azúcar! ✨💃🏻
________
🖐🏽 Hieeeee! I’m Eduardo Placer (he/him), Chief Story Doula, International Public Speaking Coach, & Founder of Fearless Communicators.
➕ Connect with me on LinkedIn
🕺 If your company is looking for someone to INSPIRE, MOTIVATE, and ENERGIZE your team for Hispanic Heritage Month or National Coming Out Day, please DM.
#HispanicHeritageMonth#LatinoLeaders#QueerLatinx#CongressionalHispanicCaucus#RepresentationMatters#Latinidad#LGBTQLeaders#CubanPride#Authenticity#DiversityAndInclusion#GoodTroubleCongressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI)
According to the Institute of Student Employers - Only 5% of Black workers are in management and senior roles in comparison to 11% of White workers. 📉
🌟 This is why targetjobs believe D&I events are crucial for shaping the future of work. This Friday, I'll be attending our 'Aspire' event, which brings together students and professional representatives of Black & Mixed Heritage from various industries.
3 reasons your organisation should get involved in 2024:
🌐 Expansive Network: Our event is a hub for networking, giving you the chance to build meaningful connections with students of Black & Mixed Heritage.
🚀 Showcase Your Organisation: Position your organisation as a D&I industry leader and employer of choice. Share your insights with a captive audience, demonstrating your commitment to celebrating students from all backgrounds.
💡 Dismantle Barriers: Showcase where students could see themselves and what they could Aspire to be. Remember: "You can't be where you can't see." This phrase highlights the challenge of students aspiring to have a professional career when it seems unattainable. Show them what they're capable of and how your organisation will help them get there.
Don't miss this opportunity to amplify your brand, forge valuable connections, and be a catalyst for positive change.
Resources: https://lnkd.in/efhvHkw9
Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ewMQsfVw#Aspire#Students#Graduates#DEI#Networking#Diversity#Inclusion#EventsGroup GTI
Vice President & General Manager - Rheem Parts Division
2moI am thrilled to celebrate all interns who take an opportunity to test out academic theory, creativity and fresh perspectives in these assignments…. I am ecstatic to acknowledge the great contributions to the morale, teamwork and foundation of our Replacement Parts Division by Kristen Cheek and Audrey Abbott. I worked side by side with them and can vouch for their energy, commitment, drive and hard work.