What’s Your Next Move?: EduLeaders of Color R.I. April Meetup

Welcome to our ongoing series spotlighting EduLeaders of Color, Equity Institute’s flagship program. The EduLeaders of Color RI Education Ecosystem is a professional network dedicated to supporting and developing Rhode Island education leaders of color and allies through community events, educational programming, and professional development. Each month, Equity Institute hosts a meet-up focusing on a specific topic or theme related to education and education development. In April 2021, our EduLeaders of Color R.I. meetup focused on helping teachers and teacher leaders identify how to build their careers throughout the education sector. We hosted an impactful conversation with the following panelists:

Wendy Wallace

Wendy is on a mission to help everyone reach their fullest career potential. She has coached, mentored, taught and helped place over 400 professionals in fulfilling career opportunities. Wendy has an extensive background that encompasses community development, law, information technology, marketing, workforce development, and education.

Ron Rapatalo

Ron has been a talent shepherd for 15 years, recruiting and selecting hundreds of candidates to become education and nonprofit leaders. He joined Edgility Consulting full-time in September 2018 after consulting with them and other search firms for over 4 years. Ron is also a coach, giving career advice on how to navigate career transitions and present oneself from networking to interviewing.

LaToia Burkley

A founder, owner, and coach, LaToia runs Your Big Debut, LLC, a career coaching firm and consultancy specializing in activating, educating, and empowering women professionals to take their next step. She is a certified coach with a laser focus on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging.

Everyone who attended received free one-on-one coaching sessions. Here are some of the many things we learned and appreciated from this meet-up!

Our expert career coaches provided actionable advice on navigating career transitions and new opportunities. Additionally, participants had the opportunity to ask questions related to planning their career paths and how to best position themselves for professional success. In their respective breakout rooms, Ron, Wendy, and LaToia discussed moving into leadership roles, building meaningful relationships, and exploring new careers. As one participant noted,

“I appreciate Equity Institute organizing this event. It was dope.”

In Ron’s breakout session, he talked about the power of relationship building and networking. He highlighted the importance of adding all you do and all you bring to your resume in a savvy way. One participant asked what happens when you “don’t fit in the box.” The group talked about how that ultimately led Karla and Carlon to start EduLeaders of Color and Equity Institute. We know institutions do not always have the structures in place to support Black, Latinx, Indigenous, People of Color. Sometimes, we must take it on ourselves to design the organization or the working environment that is most impactful, healthy, and authentic to ourselves.

In Wendy’s breakout room, participants got a chance to connect with her and with each other. Wendy shared her own career journey and the importance of grounding in joy. Her philosophy on holistic career coaching, allows her to draw on her love of working with people. Participants asked questions about how to build their careers, especially as teacher leaders. She suggested doing informational interviews with people who have jobs that might interest you and not being afraid to seek expertise from others. She emphasized the essentialness of self-care- therapy, eating well, setting boundaries. To be our best selves, we need to be whole.

In her breakout room, LaToia talked about planning your career path and the importance of ongoing reflection about who you are, what you want, and how to match your values to your goals. She talked about the balance between humility and willingness to enthusiastically share ourselves and our unique talents. It’s important to know your non-negotiables, your working style and preferences, and your sources of inspiration and joy. She said “If you are asking yourself a question, you likely also have the answer, but don’t know it yet.” Trust yourselves.

A tweeter quoted a presenter:

“We are not one dimensional- the beauty of the individual is the different identities that make us unique.”

We are grateful to have been in the community with everyone and look forward to next month’s meet-up, our last one of this school year!