Fatema Merchant’s Post

𝗛𝗼𝗻𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗮𝘀𝘁 & 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 In light of a recent article penned by Devin Meireles regarding the Federation of Portuguese-Canadian Business & Professionals (FPCBP), its election process, and reasons as to why he resigned from the board of directors, I felt compelled to share my reflections. While I hold Devin in high regard for his eloquence and bravery in addressing such a complex issue, I find myself viewing the situation through a slightly different lens, particularly regarding the generational dynamics at play. The essence of my response hinges on the belief that last year's AGM challenges were less about a power struggle and more about ensuring 𝙛𝙖𝙞𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙖𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙮 in the voting process. This perspective comes from someone who might considered an 'elder' in this context, though I must confess, the spirit of a 35-year-old still courses through me. Over the years, I've observed a commendable balance of youth and experience within the FPCBP boards, with both 'elders' and younger members actively contributing to our community's growth. My personal journey with the FPCBP, including decisions to step back at times, reflects a complex interplay of factors, none of which diminish my commitment to our collective mission. The dialogue between generations within our community organizations is vital for progress. It is a theme that resonates deeply with me, especially as I reflect on a motto that I helped co-create during my tenure on the board '𝙃𝙤𝙣𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙖𝙨𝙩 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙄𝙣𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙧𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙁𝙪𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙚'. I encourage you to read Devin's article and consider the nuances of navigating community leadership and evolution. Let's continue this conversation, recognizing that while we may hold differing views, our shared goal of fostering a vibrant and inclusive Luso-Canadian community remains unchanged. The link to Devin's article is in the comments below: #FPCBP #CommunityLeadership #GenerationalDialogue #LusoCanadian"

Today is #Juneteenth and our #NEOPartner, The Leadership Conference Education Fund reminds us that, "Juneteenth is not just a celebration of freedom; it's a call to action. We must ensure that all voices are heard in our democracy. The fight for the freedom to vote is crucial for safeguarding our rights and building a more just society. For democracy to work, it must include us all." Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/gy-hMtJG

The YMCA Louisiana Youth and Government (Y&G) program is a statewide initiative promoting civic engagement through the YMCA's philosophy of being an organization that is continuously active in exercising social responsibility. This particular program prepares high schoolers for moral and political leadership. Through Y&G, teens learn about and experience government policies first-hand and learn how they can be changemakers to improve their communities. Plus, teens form lasting friendships, benefit from mentors, and sharpen their critical thinking, public speaking and writing skills. The mission of the YMCA Youth & Government program is two-fold: To encourage and foster leadership through service, fellowship, responsibility, and respect for oneself and others among all participants, and To educate and engage students in the process of government from local to national to international so that they become more active participants in their communities. DEMOCRACY MUST BE LEARNED BY EACH GENERATION"

As you know, the Massachusetts Student Opportunity Act (SOA) requires your district to create a three-year plan to rapidly address persistent disparities in achievement across student groups. One of the requirements of these plans is to select evidence-based programs to address disparities in outcomes. We can help your district with the implementation of your plans. The Center for Leadership and Educational Equity (CLEE) has many evidence-based professional development practices that can help address these disparities and measure impact. We are a national organization located in Rhode Island with a local footprint in Massachusetts. https://lnkd.in/gqKWg67f

I'm excited that I'm a part of the American Bar Association's Future of DEI Working Group. In response to last summer's SFFA decision where SCOTUS struck down the use of race-conscious admissions processes via the methodology used by Harvard and UNC, the New York State Bar Association created a Task Force on Advancing Diversity. This Task Force analyzed SFFA and created an incredible 100 page document outlining how the decision impacts the legal profession, what the decision does *not* address, and why equitable initiatives are so crucial for organizations. In February, the ABA House of Delegates adopted a Resolution that endorses the Report issued by the NYSBA Task Force. Now an ABA working group is putting together suggestions to help legal organizations implement what the Task Force recommended. I asked to participate in the sub-group that will work on what DEI training needs to cover, how to encourage senior leadership to get on board with DEI initiatives, and how to measure what folks think about an organization's current DEI efforts. The Working Group's report is due to ABA President Mary Smith by July so there's a lot of work to do between now and then. #DEI #Equity #RacializedTrauma

Did you know that 90 years ago this week, OCWD held its first board meeting? A lot has changed since 1933, but one thing that has remained is the exemplary leadership and vision of our board of directors. Learn more about the 10 people who support OCWD’s mission and implement policies that foster sound management of the groundwater basin. #throwbackthursday #leadership

2024 is the year IATS will open to early adopters. Leaders in our setting who are ready to change our professional landscape in a way like never before. Be the first to know: https://lnkd.in/ePK5WcJY

Check out this great spotlight on PGL'er Matt Hammond. Matt, we are grateful to have you and your impact assessment expertise!

Grateful to Moss Adams for investing in its Latinx professionals and sending over 40 of us to attend the Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Convention, where we attended many workshops, heard inspiring stories, and met other amazing Latino/a professionals and students. I have never felt more inspired and energized to lead with my authentic "Latinidad!" A couple of key takeaways from the conference: * We are resilient! Your past experiences are your superpower! They provide you with a unique perspective and set of skills. Use those experiences as a motivation to change your narrative. * Instead of seeing yourself as "the only", see yourself as "the first". For example, "I am the first (FILL IN THE BLANK) in my office", instead of "I am the only (FILL IN THE BLANK)" in my office." This changes the perspective to a more optimistic one. Then, be a role model and pave the way for others through mentorship. #ALPFAConvention #LatinxLeadership #MossAdams

Honest question: are we still giving the same level of attention and dialogue to the critical equity issues around "The Opportunity Myth" that we were five years ago? When I left district leadership in 2019, it was constantly discussed, but a pandemic later, and I rarely hear it mentioned. "Students spend most of their time in school without access to four key resources: grade-appropriate assignments, strong instruction, deep engagement..." Is this a personal circumstance, or has the overall line of thinking changed focus around this research that equity must begin with access to high-quality, engaging, grade-level instruction? https://lnkd.in/gM2z-dQv #educationalleadership #equityineducation