I've been an adult educator for the last 10 years. I've worked in adult literacy, GED, workforce development, and small business development in Washington, DC as well as for 3 years in West Africa. Got a M.Ed. in International Education and a B.A. in Theater and Video Production/Editing. I love all things international and I am currently trying to find a career path that will allow me to assist in bringing international resources to US institutions of higher ed as well as bring some of the best traits of American education to the rest of the world. I am also interested in education for international development -- assisting developing countries to build their own systems of higher ed that are accessible to all of its citizens. I haven't quite figured out how to do that as of yet. I feel like I am preparing for a job that has not been developed yet -- or is at least in its infancy stage within higher ed (more so in the community college than the 4 yr system). So what's the best way to prepare to lead something that does not have a career ladder/lattice in place? If anyone has any ideas, please contact me.
I've been a leader in various capacities. I've been a training consultant to adult ed teachers. I've trained hundreds of women in rural areas of Togo, Ghana, and Mali in making agricultural products that were sold to other countries. I currently serve as a board member at Beyond Talent, the only organization in the DC metro area dedicated to offering college prep and career counseling to GED graduates. I do a lot of fundraising work there. In my current full time work at Wider Opportunities for Women, I am leading an initiative that will use online learning tools to teach government and nonprofit officials about economic self-sufficiency. I am also working to revive a program that prepares women from low income households for careers in law enforcement.
For this post, we were asked to post a blog on leadership. I am reading this requirement rather loosely. I did a google search for things that interested me: women, leadership, education, international. Everything I found was boring. They all seemed to try too hard. Lots of photos of women in business suits being a leader with some good advice on how they got to their positions, and other general leadership advice. What I was actually looking for was an example of leadership in action. I found Raising Yousuf and Noor: A Diary of a Palestinian Mother. This is a Palestinian woman who currently resides in North Carolina with her husband and children. She is a journalist. She discusses the Palestinian conflict from her own eyes. She gives us bits and pieces of war and family as it is viewed from a female point of view. I chose this because sometimes leadership is just standing up to speak your mind, even if it's unpopular. It's an excellent read that's been up since 2004. I hope you get to read it.
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3 comments:
I read your contribution twice. I had to go back for seconds because it was so rich.
Thank you working with GED graduates. Several times I have had the honor of serving as a stand in parent for young Marines who I encouraged to obtain their GED.
Think you may have been "bored" by the sites because Google searches are sometimes too reflective of the mainstream voting by their visits.
Thanks for sharing the Diary. I intend to read more of it during this week.
Just so you know…I find you very intriguing. I think I could listen to stories of your work almost all day long, it is very interesting. I wonder, how did you get into it all? How did you get into the small business development in smaller countries and in the D.C. area? How was going to West Africa and helping women achieve dreams..oh it is just sooo cool and interesting. Sorry I feel like I’m gushing like a school girl! Haa haa!!
Also I think it is a great program to work with GED students to get them ready for college and career prep. I feel that GED students are a group of people that many times forgotten about when it comes to preparing for colleges. It is a large assumption that most freshmen are coming directly from graduating high school, which is not true. As a student affairs person I appreciate the work that you are doing work.
I am excited about the blog that you shared and can’t wait to show it to my husband. I agree that being a leader does encompass speaking your mind and sharing your views, especially when they are unpopular. I think that this is sometimes forgotten when people think of leaders.
The blog that was selected in your original post, Raising Yousuf and Noor: A Diary of a Palestinian Mother was a great example of leadership in action. I have taken the time to read some of the posts from Laila and her experiences with her family and current conditions. I must say that I am not 100% up-to-date on the current events of our nation, let alone the worldly events.
But to read of someone's personal experience, specially hearing about how our nation is affecting their lives was eye opening.
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