Supporting worthy causes

Ashanti Bryant, Senior Program Officer | W.K. Kellogg Foundation

Thursday, September 12, 2024  |  4:00-5:00 PM at AMDG

 

Windows and Mirrors:
How Education Creates Opportunity to See the Brilliance in All

Windows are stories about seeing others, while mirrors are stories about seeing ourselves. At the beginning of the school year (across our state and around the country), Ashanti Bryant will open his own “picture book” chronicling his personal learning journey. He will also share how education remains a transformational tool for experiencing the true possibility and potential of all children in all communities.


Bio: Ashanti Bryant serves as Senior Program Officer for the W.K. Kellogg Foundation in Grand Rapids. In this role, he supports the Foundation’s efforts to promote thriving children, working families and equitable communities.

A native of Detroit, Ashanti received a high-quality early childhood and public education that positioned him to break patterns in his family. A first generation graduate, Bryant holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education (Science and Mathematics) and a Master of Social Work degree in Policy, Planning and Administration from Western Michigan University. He also earned a Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from National-Louis University in Chicago.

Bryant has decades of experience as a teacher and school principal, in childcare settings, public & private schools. Most recently, Bryant served as the Director of Early Childhood Services at IFF, a nonprofit community development financial institution in Grand Rapids, Michigan. As Director, Bryant led policy and advocacy agendas at all levels of government as well as community engagement initiatives, real estate planning and development, finance and lending and early childhood research and needs assessments. Bryant also served as the Education Director at Amplify GR, where he cultivated initial strategy for ensuring all children in the target community had access to high-quality Pre-K to 12th-grade education. He’s also been an active and engaged Adjunct Instructor and Consultant, working in universities and alongside social service organizations throughout the Midwest.

Ashanti and his wife (also an educator) have 3 children and call the southeast side of GR their home.

Nathan Leaman, Managing Director | Frontline Training Solutions

Thursday, April 25, 2024  |  4:00-5:00 PM at AMDG

 

Creating a Leadership Framework

It is estimated that the market for Leadership Development is anywhere between $60 billion and $400 billion. For decades, Leadership Development has been an essential element of any solid learning and development strategy. Organizations know they need to focus on Leadership Development. They know leaders sit in a unique position to attract, engage, develop, and retain others. They know they need "it". But if asked what "it" is (i.e., "What does Leadership mean?") many organizations are unable to respond clearly. This session will focus on the importance of answering that question within the specific context of your organization. We will explore the various components of a Leadership Framework from specific definitions of leadership behaviors, how those behaviors relate to other essential OD, HR, and talent initiatives, and what can be done to ensure leaders take accountability for the organization's leadership culture. Participants will leave this session with a clearer understanding of the "first step" toward creating an effective leadership culture as well as a roadmap for bringing these principles into their organization.

Bio: Nathan Leaman is a passionate professional with extensive experience in building systems and tools that support organizational and leadership effectiveness. He brings over 20 years of leadership and HR experience from both business and non-profit organizations.

Nathan has a bachelor’s degree from the Moody Bible Institute, a master’s degree from Liberty University, and received his coaching certification from Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. He spent seven years in full-time church ministry before working for 13 years at the Kohler Co. At Kohler, Nathan moved through various business and corporate HR roles eventually taking the position of Director-Leadership Development where he was responsible for all leadership development and succession planning activities globally. Nathan also held various executive HR roles for the Grande Cheese Company in Fond du Lac, WI where he was responsible for Organizational Development, Compensation, Benefits Management, and HRIS. Nathan joined Frontline Training Solutions, based in Grand Rapids, MI, as Managing Director in December of 2022.

Nathan has extensive experience with assessment tools and is certified in multiple personality and 360° feedback assessments. His straightforward style, willingness to tackle difficult issues, genuine interest in seeing others grow and ability to coach at all levels makes Nathan a go-to resource for strategic HR support, consulting, and executive development.

Faye Richardson-Green, Consultant and Visiting Professor

Wednesday, February 28, 2024 at AMDG

 

The Challenges of Leading Diverse Teams

Today's work environment is full of challenges for today's leadership including uncertainty with post-COVID business models; attracting adequate talent to support customer demands as well as navigating increasingly divisive social-political community dialogues around business diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. This presentation will attempt to offer leaders’ perspectives on what DEI is and isn't and how its challenges might be addressed.

Bio: Faye Richardson-Green believes people matter and are the differentiator in achieving organizational success. To that end, she frequently uses human-centered approaches to influence people performance and organizational culture change. Willing and able to address tough issues in a sensitive manner, Richardson-Green envisions making a difference in the world by inspiring individuals and organizations to adopt critical behavioral and mindset shifts needed to grow and thrive. Her primary strengths are listening deeply, challenging systemically, and thinking innovatively, especially when differing worldviews are present.

With more than 40 years of broad-based leadership experience and local market insight within for-profit and not-for-profit business sectors in Western Michigan, Richardson-Green has influenced the strategic direction of numerous organizations in roles as diverse as co-founder, committee chair, facilitator, and board trustee. These organizations include public and parochial school systems, healthcare systems, leadership institutions, foundations, and not-for-profit human services.

Faye Richardson-Green began her professional career in banking branch management. She continued developing her leadership capabilities during her 33 years at Steelcase Inc., a global work environments company. In 2015, she founded Richardson-Green Consulting LLC to share her expertise and knowledge with others. Known for her expertise in leadership development as well as diversity, equity, and inclusion, she frequently coaches and facilitates business professionals in the Midwest. Presently, Richardson-Green is a visiting professor at Grand Valley State University teaching a course on leading diverse work teams.

Richardson-Green’s broad-based community experience has resulted in her receiving many distinguished local awards, including: “Community Trustee” through the Grand Rapids (GR) Area Chamber of Commerce Center for Community Leadership; “Tribute” through the West Michigan YWCA; “Racial Justice Unity” through the Knights and Ladies of Peter Claver of the GR Catholic Diocese; and “The Raymond C Tardy Community Service Giant” recognition through the GR Community College Bob and Aleicia Woodrick Center for Equity and Inclusion.

Richardson-Green attended the Executive Institute on Women and Leadership at Stanford University. Richardson-Green earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Oakland University in Rochester, MI. The “Certified Diversity Professional” credential was bestowed by Cornell University’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations in 2009 and “Certification in Cultural Intelligence” in 2016. Richardson-Green and her husband, Bob, reside in the greater Grand Rapids and share four sons, two daughters-in-law, eleven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.