Institute for Youth in Policy’s Post

Arguably the greatest running back of all time has spoken up about the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DE&I) in universities. It's disappointing to learn that his former university has eliminated all DE&I positions, leaving the responsibility to the Office of the Provost. As history has shown us, it's crucial to have diverse voices at the table when making decisions related to DE&I. Let's continue to support DE&I efforts in our educational institutions. #diversityandinclusion #florida #diversitymatters

On Tuesday, I had the honor to deliver the Next Generation Leaders (NGL) award to the President of University College Cork John O'Halloran. It is a recognition made by the Talloires Network of Engaged Universities in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation to UCC's support to the NGL initiative. The NGL are a diverse cohort of 36 university students located in 18 countries. In 2021, I had the opportunity to be part of it, working on Civic Engagement Futures, and we ended up concluding that we need a paradigm shift as to how we understand the role of higher education. The global problems we face these days respond to an education that tends to be economistic, individualistic and anthropocentric, and that seems to be worried only on what the market demands. We think that racism, genocides, wars, climate change are the result of dominant ideologies that unfortunately are reinforce within our universities. The NGL alumni are now working to expand the program through the “For Youth, By Youth” initiative with support from the Mastercard Foundation. This program will allow us to dream and work for a more inclusive, equitable, decolonial education, that considers, for example, the nature as a subject rather than an object, or an education that can go beyond reason and embrace spirituality and indigenous peoples’ knowledge and epistemologies, that are still marginalized in universities. This award means that there is a commitment to support our visions and aspirations within our institution as students & activists. This is a message for us that we can play a key role in shaping our education, and not only be the recipients of a model that has proven not to work for our and futures generations’ well-being. I'm so glad we could share this moment with UCC Student Union's President Colm Foley, the Chair of the Global Justice Society Erin O'Riordan, and the International Strategy Officer for Latin America & the Caribbean Cliona Maher! So much work to do ahead!!

Explore the complexities of opposing pro-DEI leadership in American universities—a call for revitalization.  Join the conversation on diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education. Learn more! https://lnkd.in/gbFkP9hS #DEI #HigherEducation #LeadershipChallenges

From Community Impact: "Today, the institute has grown to encompass three main pillars: student leadership, entrepreneurship, and public service. The Center for Women in Government is a program of the institute and supports women living in Texas who desire to lead and serve in government or public policy roles." Read on for more information on our work in the article below.

From Community Impact: "Today, the institute has grown to encompass three main pillars: student leadership, entrepreneurship, and public service. The Center for Women in Government is a program of the institute and supports women living in Texas who desire to lead and serve in government or public policy roles." Read on for more information on our work in the article below.

IF you are a new College or University Deans AND you have inherited legacy challenges -- like negative culture and power dynamics; siloization and lack of collaboration across function and discipline; and you're experiencing resistance to strategic and transformational change -- THEN you should come to my 60 minute session on Inclusive and Equitable Strategy. WHERE in my session, I'll explain WHY these challenges are getting in the way especially in an academic environment where you are required to lead by -- building influence and consensus building -- responding to the needs of varied and diverse stakeholders (e.g. staff, faculty, students from a diversity of identities) -- balancing the sometimes conflicting imperatives of research, teaching, student success -- all in a resource constrained, hotly politicized environment. WE will have a little much-needed catharsis about that joyful challenge for leaders in higher education THEN I'll show you a new way to think about developing your right-fit strategy that will help you cut through this complexity and noise WHILE building trust, equity, and the strategic differentiation you need to succeed. Join me for this session on Inclusive and Equitable Strategy I've designed as a gift just for you on June 13th. Register here, only 5 spots left. https://lnkd.in/g2wrFGa4

Me… sitting, contemplating and looking over my slides before delivering my 20 minute talk on day 1 of the September 2023 Independent Schools Partnership Network (ISPN) conference - with the topic “What does it mean to champion equity?”. As a head of careers obsessed with talking all things careers/employability/mindset this is not my normal speaking topic, but as a DEI lead, social mobility advocate, an educator and indeed through my lived experience - delivering this talk to independent school leaders felt big. Important. Potentially impactful. In the U.K., this is not a community well known for it’s ethnic diversity when it comes to leadership. Is there a real appetite to make some progress in this space? I’m proud to share that the talk went well! I mean, it was 20 minutes on a subject which has not been achieved in hundreds of years but there was a real sense of reflection, engagement, curiosity - and based on some of the conversations I had afterwards… (continued or the beginning of) action and commitment. (That latter part is to be seen but I hope today was a thought provoking part of that journey for the schools who want to improve in this space) If anything I shared helps to create even more inclusion and belonging, renewed efforts to create and support diverse students and staff, and helps the existing (minority) communities in these spaces to feel seen, heard and celebrated - then I’ll certainly be open to contributing to more of this work in the independent school space as the need is certainly there. I was also proud to share a number of resources and options for more in depth work including the excellent Equality vs Equity book and related leadership training from Jenny Garrett OBE. I’ll be sharing more about this but for now wanted to share an initial thank you to Chester Freitas, the conference organiser who asked me to participate and was so welcoming alongside his team… and my (existing and in one case former) Alleyn's School colleagues Aidan Sproat-Clements, Isabella Sharp, Matt Britland, Jane Lunnon and Claire Morgan - all allies linked to this event who were very much cheering me and more importantly, the message on - virtually or physically in the room. We’ve got work to do. #UKeducation #independentschools #ISPN

🌟 Inspiring Minds at Silverdale and The Baird Primary Academies: Fostering Values, Collaboration, and Dreams 🌟 Day 2 of UK Parliament week University of Brighton Academies Trust has been a journey of inspiration and exploration, connecting with our young leaders. It's a time to celebrate their voices, their dreams, and the values that guide them. 🏫 First stop, Silverdale Primary Academy, where the young minds exude enthusiasm for collaboration and our trust values. The Year 6 pupil presidents and the parliament led the way, representing their constituencies and advocating for group views, fundraising, and school news. This term's theme: "Respect." 💬 The children's insights were remarkable. They highlighted the importance of friendship areas and suggested "buddies" and "friend assistants" for moments of sadness. They also had a spirited discussion about our trust values. The debate was lively, and "Working Together" emerged as their favourite value. 🌟 Next, The Baird Primary Academy welcomed me with open hearts. Pupil parliament representatives from all year groups had already embarked on their trust values journey. Their theme for the term was "Achieving Ambitions." 💬 The children's contributions were equally remarkable. "Achieving Ambitions" was chosen as their favorite value, and they shared how it empowers them to believe in themselves, practice, learn, and follow their passions. I'm deeply appreciative of their passionate participation and insightful conversations. These young leaders remind us that the future is bright, and nurturing ambition is vital. Stay tuned for more updates as I continue our journey of celebrating trust values with these incredible young minds. #YoungLeaders #DreamBig #SharedValues #EducationMatters

Today I had the privilege of personally meeting Daniel Uribe Villa and some colleagues from the program, thanks to VelezReyes! It was an incredibly enriching experience, both professionally and personally. Daniel Uribe Villa manages to convey exceptionally the importance of education and the fight against inequality. His dedication and vision regarding how to address these current educational problems are truly inspiring. In Latin America, we face a constant challenge: the lack of equality in education. This results in limited access for many people, and those who do gain access are not always fully prepared for the workforce. Daniel explains that VelezReyes programs, such as Ver+ Beca Tech Program and Ver+ Tech Fellowship, aim to reduce these opportunity gaps. Daniel proposes the implementation of a dynamic system that allows any Colombian or Latin American to join these programs with the support of VelezReyes and entities interested in supporting this cause. He seeks not only to expose great minds from vulnerable sectors but also to build a system that functions satisfactorily, regardless of the sector they are in. In Daniel's words, he aims for Latin America to be "a fairer region that prioritizes education as a tool for its development and recognizes and admires the role of its educators. A region that embraces empathy and compassion as fundamental values, where leaders can engage in dialogue and build together the common good, amid their differences." From my perspective, education is the fundamental tool against any adversity. The current culture presents ambiguous issues about good and evil, and our perspective is shaped by our environment. This can significantly influence our lives, and I often wonder why more is not done about it. Although it may seem simple, addressing these educational problems requires monumental effort. Does this mean we should give up on the idea of helping others? Of course not. Although it is complicated, we must unify our tools and knowledge to take education to a higher level. Perhaps digital technology allows us to reach more places, but to achieve this, we need constant support. That's why the work of VelezReyes is so impactful. I feel fortunate to participate in what I consider the pioneers of education in the new era. I appreciate all the people who make this possible, especially Daniel Uribe Villa for his vision, and Maribel, Yineth, and Karen for contributing and making this incredible work a reality. Thank you for your contribution and for driving education towards a brighter future!

Check out the article Nimmi Kanji, executive director of our Foundation published on @TheFutureEconomy.ca about why we need more young people with lived experience in decision-making roles to see real, systemic change.