August 26, 2025 • 45 mins
Black Girls Go Global is changing the world through their one-week STEAM educational program where young Black women travel internationally to learn about sustainable development. Board members Rolanda Goodwin and Lisa Randolph share how this organization is creating pathways for Black girls in STEAM fields where only 2% of the workforce is African American women.
Visit blackgirlsgoglobal.org (IG: https://www.instagram.com/black_girls_go_global to learn more about supporting this organization through volunteering on their committees or becoming a monthly donor. With Black women making up only 2% of the STEM workforce, your support helps create essential pathways for the next generation.
Chapter Markers:
- 0:00
Introducing Black Girls Go Global - 9:24
The Genesis of a Movement - 17:18
STEAM vs STEM: Adding Art to the Equation - 22:20
Breaking Barriers in Representation - 29:10
Costa Rica Experience: Hands-On Learning - 33:07
Legacy Work and Board Commitment - 38:02
How to Support: Resources and Funding - 42:13
The Numbers: Why This Matters
References mentioned:
The Hidden Women of STEM | Alexis Scott | TEDxMountainViewCollege
Book a free coaching consultation with Angie here:
https://calendly.com/rhythmwigs/more-joy-complimentary-consultation
Want behind the scenes content, Join us on Patreon at $5 or $10 level:
https://patreon.com/user?u=83534204
Get Angie’s eBook:
We’re Too Old for This! The Inquisitive Older Woman’s Guide to Joy http://joystrategy.co/ebook
Visit our website www.blackboomerbesties.com
IG: https://www.instagram.com/blackboomerbestiesfrombrooklyn
Visit Black Boomer Besties from Brooklyn website for behind-the-scenes extras.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hey Ang, hey Les.
What's cooking?
A lot's cooking.
Yes, I'll tell you, it's goingto be hot today.
Ask me why.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Why, Leslie?
Why is it going to be hot today?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
We have guests that are going to blow you away.
Indeed, we're going to tell youabout an organization that
they're going to change theworld, literally change the
world.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
They are in the process of that right now.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
That's right.
That's right.
And when you are introduced tothese ladies and when you hear
about the dynamic things thatare doing, you're going to want
to partner with them.
So listen with your good earsand listen about.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
OK.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Nana, margaret, with your good ears, and I really
want to.
No jokes aside, we need somechanges in this world.
We need some changes in thisworld and when people, instead
(01:15):
of just sitting on the couch andcomplaining about things, there
are real people in this worldthat actually put their heart
and effort into it and do things.
And we're going to introduceyou to the board members for the
group Black Girls Go Global.
Black Girls Go Global is aprogram is a one week, I'll tell
them one second one second, Iknow, I know, shall I go back.
(01:37):
She likes to break rules.
She's a rule breaker.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
I'm a rule breaker Go for it.
This is our party, we can dowhat we want to.
That's right.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Black Girls Go Global program is a one-week STEAM
educational program whereparticipants travel to a host
country to emerge themselves inan educational topic that hits
on one or more 17 sustainabledevelopment goals as established
(02:10):
by the United Nations in 2015for a better world cultural and
recreational activities.
So I invite you to Black BoomerBesties from Brooklyn.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Listen, listen.
You're so lucky that I've knownyou for so long.
I let you get away with so much.
Hi guys, I'm Angela.
That's Leslie, my best friendof almost 50 years.
We are two free-thinking60-something-year-old Black
women and we've decided to livelife more boldly and more
(02:51):
joyfully.
We invite you to join us on ourjourney.
Hopefully, you're on yourjourney or you're going to start
your journey, and we startedthis podcast so that we can
share insights and people whoare doing amazing things, like
the guests that we have today.
This particular episode iswithin a mini series that we're
(03:12):
doing around legacy.
We talk about legacy a lot herebecause we're older women and
you know we're at the point inour lives where we're thinking
about things like that what isour legacy, what are we leaving
behind, and so on.
How can we help?
How can we reach a hand?
Because we tend to beprofessional women that we
invite on the podcast, and sothis organization that Leslie
(03:34):
mentioned is an opportunity foryou to see women in legacy work,
and also I want to remind youthat a part of our African
diasporic culture is to supportone another.
We don't have to up with peoplewho are doing good work and we
can do that work together, andso we encourage you, as you hear
(04:09):
about Black Girls Go Global,that you can think about how you
can support this organizationand, yeah, so welcome.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah, I introduce you to Rolanda Goodwin and Lisa
Randolph from Black Girls GoGlobal.
Welcome ladies.
Thank you, great to be here,yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Okay, so the first thing I want to talk about is
why, like who had the idea, whatwas the nucleus of the idea?
Because every great move in theworld starts with the idea.
Where did this organizationhave its roots?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
the genesis of Black Girls Goes Global.
The founder, alma Garcia, and Ihave been doing mentorship work
with youth for over oh my gosh.
We met, like maybe 12 years ago, mentoring through
(05:20):
organizations that work towardsempowering women, and so it's
just a passion for both of us,and really the whole
organization came about throughan organic conversation we were
having, and isn't that the waythe most things start?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
It's just through chatting right, it's just a
conversation.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
And so at the time, alma had gone on to do some
volunteer work with anorganization called Bright Light
Volunteers and what she wasdoing is she was actually a I'm
losing my pieces here, but I'mputting them back in she was
actually a program director forthis organization.
(06:04):
He was actually a programdirector for this organization,
and what this organization woulddo is they would take high
school kids grades 10 through 12, to other countries to learn
about different cultures,education around other cultures,
to learn about leadership andjust to see the bigger scope of
the world.
And just to see the biggerscope of the world.
(06:25):
But so they went to Cuba, peru,costa Rica and a few other
places.
And one thing Alma noticed wasthat there were never any black
girls involved.
You know, it was always Angloto the director of this
organization and said I wouldlike to start a leg where we see
(06:47):
more Black girls involved insome of these trips, and so
there was a lot of discussionaround it, and so we kind of
became a guinea pig program forthem, so to speak.
But one of the things that wenoticed because Alma was telling
me what she wanted to do one ofthe things that was noticed was
(07:08):
, even though they were sayingthat we wanted their programs.
We had like this much on thewebsite.
You know, very like a brochurethat did not show representation
of us.
It was a brochure that stillhad white kids on it.
Yeah, you know just put it outthere, yeah.
(07:29):
And so we're like you're notspeaking to our audience.
And so Alma and I talked abouthow to really make this happen,
and so we just we took babysteps with it and I worked with
her on putting together astrategy.
And I said what on puttingtogether a strategy?
And I said what is your big,bigger vision for this program?
(07:49):
And so I went to Costa Rica,because she lives in Costa Rica
Now.
She retired there.
Ah, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
She's going to be my neighbor.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yes, she is she can't wait to meet you.
So she, I went, we sat down,talked about what this would
look like and how to kick thisoff, and the rest is really,
it's really just history.
And I did tell her, I said, youknow, alma, we do probably need
(08:19):
to tie this around aninitiative, because otherwise
it's just going to look like avacation, to take these girls on
vacation.
So we're not going to get anybuy-in from, you know, donors
and sponsors.
And so we talked about where isthere a need, what's lacking?
Where can we fill a need withthese young Black women and
(08:44):
empower them to think about, youknow, their careers and
dreaming and what they want todo.
And we came up with STEAM, andactually STEAM because we
included art in there.
And so that became our focusand that's kind of the genesis
of Black Girls Goes Global, youknow it's, yes, it's tied to
(09:06):
global leadership, global travel, but also when they go to these
other countries which we'vebeen to Costa Rica right now
they are learning about, as yousaid, leslie, we're using the
sustainable development model,you know, and that's what we're
going to continue to focus on,and so they're going to learn
about the different ways thatthey could step into that space
(09:30):
and become STEAM professionals,where there's huge lack of
people that look like us.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah so yeah.
Yeah, I looked at one of thesample itineraries for the trips
and we'll talk about that, thedetails of that, but it was like
wow.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah, what I looked at on the website and it's
blackgirlsgoglobalcom.
Is that correct?
It's org org,blackgirlsgoglobalorg, and I
loved that you had what ascientist looks like, right,
(10:08):
because we tend to have thisidea that scientists look a
certain way.
That's just how things show up,and I think, sometimes, because
things are shifting right,because you know the first and
the first and the first, we havebroken through that but there's
(10:30):
still so few, there's still sofew and it's still not like a
natural thought that, oh, ifit's a scientist, oh, it could
be a Black woman, right?
That doesn't immediately cometo mind, and so I think this
work continues to be importantuntil that comes to mind, until
(10:51):
the question is oh, you know,right, when it's not surprising
when you see the person walk in,it's not surprising any longer
that this person is in a STEAMfield.
I want to.
You know, this is important tome, so let's just jump right in.
Maybe, rolanda, you can speak tothe A part, because, by the way
(11:13):
, I know Rolanda from Cisco.
We were colleagues and friendsat Cisco, we're techies and so
this idea of STEM is very kindof rooted in us S-T-E-M science,
technology, engineering andmath.
But now, thank goodness, manyplaces have added an, a
(11:41):
organization transitioned fromSTEM to STEAM and what that is
all about and what might be someof the shifts, because the art
part was added to to theequation.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Yeah, well, I'm the newbie on the board of the
rectors, but I believe it'salways been this, the STEAM part
, as Lisa said, and you knowwhen I was.
You know I've been in corporateAmerica for about actually this
year 30 years working in thehigh tech industry and my
background is engineering.
But you know it was years andyears ago it was only STEM as
(12:19):
Angela said but now I love theexpansion to STEAM and it's
adding the A, it's adding thearts piece in there and I
believe what that brings isadditional creativity to things
that we do Right.
It just gives an additionalperspective, particularly for
those that are very left brained.
I think that's the right term.
I'm the very analytical one,you know, logical one, and I'm
(12:45):
always amazed when I work withpeople that just have such a
great balance of the technologypiece and the creativity side,
such as Angela.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
I know she's one of those people.
Oh my God.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
So, but I also think that when you add the A in there
, it kind of it can draw morepeople into it.
Because when we just sayscience, technology, engineering
and math, just that alone canmake someone feel like oh, you
know, that's not for me, but youadd in those arts, and then it
kind of opens up morepossibilities.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Absolutely Sure, and I think the two sides blend into
each other right.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
They're not mutually exclusive, that's right.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
There's so many times where you kind of draw these
hard lines between things, and Ithink most people are an
intersection of things, somemore dominant than others, some
more dominant than others.
But I do think it's so.
When you bring young peopletogether from different sides of
this, they kind of bleed into,and so the idea is it becomes a
(13:52):
whole brain, not just a leftbrain or a right brain, it
becomes whole brain.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
That diversity yeah, absolutely.
And her dexterous brain yeah,yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Lisa, I want to pick up on something that you
mentioned earlier when you werespeaking about the origins of
the program where you went tothe other.
You and Alma went to the otherorganization and, even though
they said yes, you could tellthat they weren't really bought
in by virtue of their brochures.
You know, and it's like wait aminute, this doesn't.
(14:24):
You know that's so important.
It speaks to who's in the room,and this is something that
Angie talks about all the time.
We can look at advertisementand whatever and you can know
who was not only in the room,but you can tell who's not in
the room.
So, unless there's a totalbuy-in, you can tell that they
(14:45):
don't know.
You know they don't know thatthis would get them nowhere.
You may have put the effortinto it, but you're not going to
.
People need to see themselves.
The TED Talk I looked at thatyour co-board member, alexis
(15:06):
Scott, put together a coupleyears ago, where she talked
about the curse of invisibilityand you just said if we don't
(15:30):
see ourselves in these fields,doing these actions, we don't
know that it's possible, wedon't know.
So by being out there, I meanshe described painfully at some
point where, when she looked atthe movie Hidden Figures.
It brought her to tears becauseit was so reminiscent of the
experiences that she's hadpersonally.
People look at her, people lookat me as a physician and they
ask where's the doctor?
(15:50):
You know when are you going tocall my doctor.
Or they look at her where's themathematics?
Where's the math professor?
You know, they don't know.
They don't know what we'resupposed to look like.
So I love that Ang brought upthe fact what does a scientist
look like?
Looks like all of us.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Right, right, and I'm glad you guys picked up on that
, because that was important forus when it came to rebranding
the pictures on the website.
When we finally did a separatewebsite, yeah, it was like we
need to show that this is what ascientist also looks like.
They look like us, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And you know I want to like jump into something
because I can't shake it.
So, and no malintent to theorganization, mal intent to the
organization, but it's hard forpeople to make the shift right
(16:58):
Unless they've lived theexperience of being left out.
Do you know what I mean?
Of having something thatdoesn't speak to them, and when?
So, when you talked about thefact that, even though you had
these conversations, that thatthey didn't quite, didn't quite
get it, um, and the part aboutbeing in the room, how many
(17:22):
times and I know we've all beenin, well, leslie hasn't really
been corporate because she's aphysician but been in those
rooms where those decisions arebeing made, like you know, when
those decisions are being made,and if someone, even in the room
, doesn't speak up because youcould be in the room and not
(17:45):
using your voice, yeah, you knowwhat I mean.
You, you, you, all the doors areopen to you could be sitting
there, but you're not using yourvoice, you're not being the
representation, um that that youneed to be, and so sometimes,
like you guys did, it's's likeokay, they're doing their work
for that group of people, and sowe believe we have to do our
(18:09):
work over here for another setof people.
Right, you learn and you pivot,and I think it's beautiful that
you've created this now forthese young Black women to do
the work and to go take a littletrip abroad too.
They have to get passports andall of that they have to get
(18:31):
passports.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yes, yes, a lot of them haven't even been out of
their own backyard, but it'strue, yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Wow, a lot of listen.
A lot of 60-year-olds have notbeen out of their own backyards.
You know what I mean and you'restarting.
This is a whole.
It's not to over, not to, it'sa whole legacy.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
This is how.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
This is how you change the world.
It really is, because they'regoing to be forever changed.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
There are generations that we just don't travel.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Let's just say Like we're not a traveling people.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
You know they have their own little circle and
enclave and you know theirneighborhood and their homes and
their communities, but theirtraveling is not a thing for
them.
But when the young people comeback and say this is what we did
and listen, and these are thepeople that we saw and we got on
a plane and we got a passportand what have you?
It opens up opportunities, notjust to their families, but
(19:29):
generations as well.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Their whole world.
Their whole world.
So I wanted to kind of touch on.
You said that the last trip waswas to Costa Rica.
How many girls did you takewith you?
Speaker 3 (19:45):
You know that was our inaugural trip.
We call it our beta group youknow, so we have proof of
concept that this was going tohappen.
Beautiful.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
It's very tech of you to have a proof of concept.
We have to have a proof ofconcept, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I'm not in the tech field, but I am an entrepreneur
there, you go.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Got to have a perfect concept, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
So we took nine young ladies with us and they were
from different parts of theUnited States, so we had some
from Maryland, some from Georgia, a little place called Sparta
Georgia which is very small.
And then we had one from Tulsa,oklahoma, okay, and yeah, that
(20:33):
was our makeup.
So a few of them knew eachother, but a lot of them did not
.
So they got the chance to meeteach other before because we did
some zooms and you know thingslike that, but they actually met
each other during the travels,okay okay, yeah, so that that
begs to ask what?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
how do people come into the program?
How did you get these peoplefrom all over the United States?
Speaker 3 (20:59):
you know at that point because we didn, we were
still working on our system, itwas about who we knew we would
open our mouth and say this isour program.
You know, and don't be afraidthere again.
Getting back to what you said,angela, about using your voice.
Yeah, you know, if we didn'topen our mouth about what we
(21:20):
were doing, we probably wouldhave had that first program and
then people were like that isgreat.
You know, how can, how can weget some young ladies involved?
And that's what it was.
It was just us speaking, youknow, and the young ladies from
Sparta.
I was having a breakfastmeeting with a colleague of mine
and she's from Sparta and I wastelling her about the program
(21:43):
and she said said how can I getsome girls from my school
involved?
She said I'm on the alumnicommittee.
She said and our girls have?
She said to such a poor area inGeorgia that they have never
been anywhere.
And can I get three or fourgirls involved?
Just like that that was it.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I love that yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
So what's some of the experiences that they've had?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Being on the trip yeah, While they were in Costa
Rica, so the first trip we have,them focus on agriculture, so
you know, getting into the wholesteam thing.
So it was around more like thescience piece of it.
So they spent a few days atwhat was a monkey wildlife
(22:36):
foundation park and just learnedabout the agriculture, the
soils there, the animals thatwere there.
So we planted trees and thingslike that that the animals would
use to eat and grow things thatwere safe for them.
(22:57):
So they learned what was safeand what wasn't.
They learned about waterconservation, composting A lot
of them didn't know whatcomposting was and then the
animals there.
The interesting thing about thisplace which, first of all, the
place was woman-owned and so thething, oh it was so beautiful,
(23:18):
we wanted it to be a woman-ownedpartnership, and so it was a
refuge place for animals thathad been abused.
So somebody abused them, ranover them, pulled their wings
off, and so it was a place forthem to come and heal.
And so they learned all aboutthe animals and wildlife there.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Oh man and they really got into it.
They really got into it.
Yeah, yeah, hands on, yeah, manand they really got into it.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
They really got into it.
Yeah yeah, hands on, yeah yeah.
Then they did some beachcleanup, which was about
learning about keeping theenvironment.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Listen.
You took them to the beach andthey had to clean up If you want
to get in that water.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
We have to make sure it's beautiful and clean for you
.
Yeah, you know, you did tellthem it.
We have to make sure it'sbeautiful.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
You did tell them it wasn't just a vacation, right.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Exactly so they learned why it was important to
keep the environment clean.
So you know, and all of that.
There again, it fits within the, the sustainability goals.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
You know the 17 goals .
Speaker 3 (24:20):
So everything they did kind of tied into that.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And what I like is that these are typical things.
You're going to find animalseverywhere.
You're going to find beachesand water and debris and water
conservation, and you know thesethings are not just in
beautiful Costa Rica, butthey're in your backyard.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Exactly.
Exactly so we did encouragethem to come back and go.
How can you apply some of thethings that you learned to your
own environment, you know, orhow can you start an initiative
to make?
A difference to make adifference.
(25:05):
So, and moving forward with the2026 program, we're really
going to enforce that and dosome really good follow-up on
that.
Absolutely, you know thatreminds me.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
I used to be a high school science teacher before I
went to medical school and Itook my students one year to a
New York City water treatmentplant and you know I think about
that trip regularly.
I recently drove down the WestSide Highway in Manhattan and I
(25:36):
looked at the water and Imentioned to my partner.
I said you know, I was insidethat building and I saw the way
that the water is treated fromwhatever.
I'll never forget it.
This was maybe 30 years ago.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
You know it's, I'll never forget that experience.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
So.
So these things stick with them, because I mean I'm drinking
water out the faucet, you know?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Yeah absolutely Like you said.
It sticks with you.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Absolutely Like you said, it sticks with you.
So that's what we we're talkingabout doing legacy work, and I
think it's really important toconsider as your legacy work
getting together with people whoare already doing the work
(26:37):
right.
So these two women are now onthe board of Black Girls Go
Global, and so that's how theyare supporting and becoming a
part of this legacy work.
What does it, what, what doesbeing on the board require of
you and why did you decide to doit?
Because, as far as I understandit's, it's voluntary, right.
(26:57):
So what made you decide tocommit your time and your
resources and your skills andyour experience to this
organization?
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Yeah, I can kind of start, because I've been on the
board maybe like a year and ahalf.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
And I found out about this from Facebook and I was
the founder and myself.
We had a mutual friend onFacebook and I started seeing
her post the pictures about, youknow, with the girls in Costa
Rica and everything.
This was during the time of mysabbatical, Angela and Leslie,
which you all are aware of yes,we will put a link to that
(27:34):
episode where Londa was heretalking about her sabbatical.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
This was early in our podcast journey and, yes, yeah,
you guys are going to hear allabout that story.
It's really, really, really,really will get you off your
butt.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
That's right.
So much for that sabbatical.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Well, sabbaticals they open you up, though you
know, what.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
I mean they give you space in your brain to do things
like this, and that's exactlywhat happened is that I started
thinking about how I wanted todo more meaningful work and yes,
I'm a mentor and I, you know,do a lot of things but that when
I saw that, it just opened mymind to more and I thought about
(28:21):
how important it is not justrepresentation but also exposure
to more.
And so I reached out and Almawelcomed me with open arms.
She set up a call with Lisa andher and myself and we started
talking and started gettinginvolved.
And yeah, I mean it is a timecommitment, but when it's
(28:42):
something that you're passionateabout, you do it.
Yeah, but I'll let Lisa talkabout some of our different
committees and how we'restructured and everything.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Yeah, yeah, and absolutely I just to piggyback
on what Rolanda said when you'repassionate about it, the time
commitment just really doesn'tmatter, you know, if you feel
like it's part of your purpose.
And I love you guys talkingabout the legacy, and that was
one of the reasons I did.
It was because I'm in thatlegacy phase of my life where,
you know, I want to give backand I've always been, like I
(29:15):
said earlier, passionate abouthelping young women, especially
young women of color, to findtheir leadership voices, to make
an impact, and this is a greatway to do that.
And when it's all said and done, what footprint did I leave
behind?
Yeah, you know, and that'sthat's kind of the space I'm in
right now, and this was aperfect opportunity to continue
(29:39):
to have a voice heard afterwardsand to empower these young
ladies to go into the world andmake a difference.
Yeah, and so they can beinnovative and just really make
a difference with their talents.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
I can just hear them in there with their classmates.
Yeah, when I was in Costa Ricaand blah, blah, blah, blah, what
.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Yeah, doing my sustainable work.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
That's what you want.
Absolutely, absolutely, becauseit's absolutely something to
brag on.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
You know, they come back.
Yeah, I came back and thoughtabout it Now.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
I own my own engineering firm.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
I mean, you know just , that's something, and that
that is the the, the seedplanting.
In such a time as this, yes,yes, where I think the ways that
we um, I'm not going to saythat we've lost, because I don't
believe we've lost them, butthe ways of our foreparents, the
(30:44):
ways that they survived, Ithink it's going to be required
of us again.
We're going to have to brushoff these ways that we have
survived, creating community.
You know, rubbing two knickerstogether.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
That's how churches were.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
This is.
This is how churches were built.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
This is how communities were built, schools
were built.
We just learned from Dr CoritaBrown.
Absolutely Public educationsystem in this country was built
out of.
They say we can't do it.
We say we're doing it anywhere.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Where's that tree?
Speaker 1 (31:16):
we can sit under and educate people.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
That's right.
That's right and doing itbecause we are an inclusive
people and doing it, thesethings that we do, they do
create a roadmap for otherpeople, Right, and so I think
that you know.
I want to ask you how canpeople help your organization to
(31:40):
get some of the things that itneeds?
What are some of the gaps thatyou have, that maybe there are
people in our audience that canhelp you to fill them?
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Sure, absolutely.
And that kind of leads intoRolanda saying, hey, talk about
some of the committees.
We need human resources.
We really do.
We can't scale ourselveswithout more people.
You can have the best missionin the world, but if you don't
(32:11):
have the people to implement itright, to move it forward,
there's only so much that five,six, seven, 10 people can do.
So we really need people tobring their talents to some of
our committees.
We have a program committeeright now and we really need
people to help with that.
(32:32):
We have our marketing committee.
You know, somebody is wellversed in marketing, pr, help us
to get exposure.
We would love to have themshare their talents with us.
And we also we really needfundraisers.
You know.
We need people that are notafraid to ask for the funds
(32:55):
Right, because airfares are notfree Lodging is not free.
Getting passports is not free,none of that is free, right, and
so we do need people that canreally help us go out and seek
the funding.
You know, be it.
You know grant writing, be it.
Join the fundraising committee,and maybe somebody is good at
(33:17):
sponsorships, gettingcorporations to be sponsors.
You know we need somebody inthat space right now, or if your
company has a matching programthink of us, yes or if you're a
cousin's company, you know, justthink about.
you know your touch points.
(33:40):
You know how many people do youknow Share our mission with
them, share what we're doing?
So you know, yes, that that'swhat we need as far as human
resources.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Sure, can you tell me a little bit about the program
committee?
What does the I think theothers speak for themselves
marketing, fundraising, grantwriting.
What does the program committeedo?
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Well, I'm the program chair, so I'm going to give
that to her.
Okay, let's go.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
The main thing that the program committee does is we
make plans for what the girlswould do for the year.
So right now we're in the middleof the 2026 program, getting
very close to deciding theactual project or projects our
(34:27):
girls will work on in Costa Rica.
So that's the main.
That's the main thing that theprogram committee does and what
we love to see.
We like to have people thathave diverse skill sets, like to
have people that have diverseskill sets.
So we have people that sit onthe committee that have, you
know, education background, eveneducation in STEM, you know a
(34:48):
corporate background.
So you know, we want to expandthat you know as much as we can,
but that's the main goal of theprogram committee.
Okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
What region in Costa Rica do you all go to?
Speaker 3 (35:01):
What region in Costa Rica do you all go to?
We the program was on thePacific side, so Bonacosta.
So, we flew into Liberia.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
Yeah, yeah, or Liberia.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
Yeah, Liberia.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
I was there last year and we went from one end of the
country to the other.
Oh my goodness, oh my gosh yesyes, we haven't quite done that
yet we haven't quite done thatyet we haven't quite done that
yet.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
We would like to eventually One of the things we
did decide we were going to tryto do the Caribbean side, but it
just isn't cost effective forus right now, being such a young
organization.
I mean, it would have added anadditional probably $30,000,
$40,000 to our budget.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
So we decided, you know what, let's go back to the
Pacific side in 2026 and formmore partnerships there, yeah,
and then we can look at movingon to the other side eventually.
So you know, right now our goalis to raise the program.
(36:11):
Next year is going to cost usabout $50,000 total.
So that's what we need to raisefinancially in order to make
this thing happen, and you knowwe'll do that with an integrated
mix of different things.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
The events, the individual giving the grants.
We actually have a fundraiser.
Actually, it's kind of acampaign, a giving campaign
coming up in September.
Oh, okay, good.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
That we'd like to share with everybody.
Why don't you speak to whatthose dates are?
We'll make sure to put them inthe description notes, but, um,
do you have them?
Speaker 3 (36:51):
yeah, locked in we actually do um, so it's this is
our first year doing it and it'sum.
We're calling it an annual fallcafe and it's going to be for
the month of september, so we'rekicking it off september 1st
through the 30th.
Ah good Okay.
And basically, I mean what it isis our goal with this is that
(37:12):
we want to at least get $50.
Who will do a $25 recurringpledge like a recurring oh yeah,
I mean that's very reasonable50 people to give us $25 over
the course of 12 months and wethink we can do more, but we
(37:36):
think 50 is very realistic.
I mean we make that happen.
That'll bring in $15,000 forthe organization.
So imagine if we had 100 peoplewho would give us $25 a month.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Right, right.
I think that's Rolanda and I weknow this the SMART goal right.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Right, you break it down.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Realistic.
Realistic that part.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Time bound, Time bound.
Exactly.
I'm a big smart girl person.
Let's go.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
You're safe sublet, so from now you're just going to
need 49 donors, because.
Speaker 4 (38:15):
I'm in.
Thank you Thank you Listen.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
should I jump in?
Speaker 3 (38:24):
Yeah, let me jump in.
All right, let me jump in.
All right, let me jump in Allright, all right, okay.
48.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
The ACLU may have to be put on the back burner for a
little bit there.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
But you know, I'll tell you why I think this is
this, or a few reasons why thisis important and this giving
campaign is helpful.
It was triggered by what youjust said putting something else
on the back burner.
What Karen Hunter on Urban Viewthat I listened to on Sirius XM
Radio does?
They vet certain nonprofitorganizations who they determine
(39:04):
to be worthy of donations andwhatever, and they ask their
readers this month, let's allsupport this organization, and
next month they encourage theirlisteners, this organization,
you know this.
And then they do that on amonthly basis so that the
(39:27):
currency can come.
It's undivided, it comes to oneorganization at a time so they
can meet their financial goalswhen they need to, rather than
say here's a list of 10 people,let's all you know, pick what
you like or whatever.
I love the fact that they dothat.
So if you say, ange, for thenext 12 months I'm going to
(39:49):
donate my $25 a month to thisorganization.
Next year will be someone else.
Because by that time you allwill have way more than your
$50,000 that you need for theyear, because you're only going
to donate right.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Yeah, let me tell you what this is.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
There's something we have in Jamaica.
It's in other places in thediaspora too.
We call it patna, in Jamaica,partner Patna, but in Trinidad,
I think they call it susu andall different names.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Right, and this is exactly what it is.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
It's like you put your money into a pot and then
that pot rotates.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
Whoever needs them.
Well, it's on a rotation basis.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
So you know when the pot is going to be yours, so you
can use it to if you want toset up a shop, or you know
whatever it is, plan forgraduation, whatever it is you
know that January is when you'regetting the pot and it rotates
around and that's how so manythings of substance are started
(40:59):
in.
Jamaica is around.
This is micro lending.
It is a wonderful way toapproach community, building
community.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
So let's go, let's go , let's go, we're going to help
the next group of Black girlsgoing global.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
That's right, we love it, I love it, I love it, let's
do it.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
And I want to leave you guys with some numbers,
because you can't fight with thenumbers.
And if you look at the the theSTEM workforce, and you break
down, you look at the statistics, it's over 60.
It's like around 63 percentwhite, 15 percent Hispanic, 8
percent, 8.2 percentAfrican-American Now that's
(41:47):
African-American, but let's lookpercent African-American Now
that's African-American.
But let's look atAfrican-American women.
We barely make up about 2percent of the STEM workforce.
You can check those numbers onthe National Science Board or,
you know, google it.
So this is added to the slide.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
That sounds like the National Science Board may be
removed by the time we get tolook it up.
You know those numbers may beremoved.
You know how that is.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
It's unbelievable the changes that are being made.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
I grabbed them before you heard it here.
Speaker 4 (42:16):
We grabbed them before they scrubbed it.
But you know what Rolanda says,that validates what we're doing
.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
That's right.
It's our mission.
Yes, it validates the we'redoing that's right.
That's our mission.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (42:28):
Validates the need.
The need and we want somebodywhen Rolanda's ready to hang up
you know her and retire hercareer.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
She's not retiring.
She's not retiring.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
You can never retire, you will always.
She takes a sabbatical.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
She's going to rest, and then she develops a wellness
programical she's going to restand then she develops a
wellness program.
Speaker 4 (42:50):
And then she's going to develop a program for this
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
But, she's transitioning and pivoting to
different things.
All of that, All of thatexactly.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
But that's why we need this next generation of
young women to step in to herplace.
And so we have to keep feedingthat pipeline and eventually,
you know, one of our goals, ourlong-term goals, is to start
with girls, even at a youngerage.
So we've got some greatlong-term goals also that we
(43:22):
would like to share eventually,that's right.
Speaker 1 (43:25):
So we love a call to action, so that's our call to
action folks.
That's right.
So we love a call to action, sothat's our call to action folks
.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
That's right, let's increase that 2%.
You know this idea of you knowall lives matters, that idea.
When you look at these numbers,you understand why Black Lives
Matter.
Right, when you see that 2%versus the 63%, you get a sense
(43:49):
of why these things matter.
It's not that everybody doesn'tmatter.
It's there is a particular needright now with this group of
people.
Please look at us.
Nobody says that about anythingelse, right?
Someone says, oh, we want to,you know it's for breast cancer.
Nobody says, oh, why want to?
You know it's for breast cancer.
Nobody says, oh, why are youfocusing on breast cancer?
(44:11):
You're not focusing on allthese other?
Because there's a need righthere.
We've identified a need righthere.
This is a need.
Two percent, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
That's a shame.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
That's a shame, shame shame and we can do something
about it, right In such a timeas this.
Speaker 1 (44:28):
It right in such a time as this in such a time as
this, and that's what I lovethat we're not hand wringing you
know we can do something youguys have been wonderful.
Thank you so much thank you.
I appreciate your work.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
We heart you is it going to do it?
It didn't do it.
Did it do it?
I didn't even look.
There they go.
Oh God, Thank you for beingwith us.
We appreciate you.
(45:05):
We will support your work andanything that the Black Boomer
Besties from Brooklyn can do tohelp your organization.
Please let us know, we're in.
Speaker 1 (45:13):
Thank you, we're in.
Thank you so much.
We can be the honorary auntiestoo.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
Oh, we appreciate that.
Yes, you can be the aunties.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
And yes, especially when we move to Panama, they'll
just come over.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
that's right, like you said, costa Rica is just the
beginning, that's right,alright.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
Well, everybody, this has been another episode of
Black Boomer Besties fromBrooklyn.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
Brooklyn.
Hey Ang, hey Les.
What's cooking?
A lot's cooking.
Yes, I'll tell you, it's goingto be hot today.
Ask me why.
Speaker 2 (00:14):
Why, Leslie?
Why is it going to be hot today?
Speaker 1 (00:17):
We have guests that are going to blow you away.
Indeed, we're going to tell youabout an organization that
they're going to change theworld, literally change the
world.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
They are in the process of that right now.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
That's right.
That's right.
And when you are introduced tothese ladies and when you hear
about the dynamic things thatare doing, you're going to want
to partner with them.
So listen with your good earsand listen about.
Speaker 4 (00:52):
OK.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Nana, margaret, with your good ears, and I really
want to.
No jokes aside, we need somechanges in this world.
We need some changes in thisworld and when people, instead
(01:15):
of just sitting on the couch andcomplaining about things, there
are real people in this worldthat actually put their heart
and effort into it and do things.
And we're going to introduceyou to the board members for the
group Black Girls Go Global.
Black Girls Go Global is aprogram is a one week, I'll tell
them one second one second, Iknow, I know, shall I go back.
(01:37):
She likes to break rules.
She's a rule breaker.
Speaker 2 (01:40):
I'm a rule breaker Go for it.
This is our party, we can dowhat we want to.
That's right.
Speaker 1 (01:50):
Black Girls Go Global program is a one-week STEAM
educational program whereparticipants travel to a host
country to emerge themselves inan educational topic that hits
on one or more 17 sustainabledevelopment goals as established
(02:10):
by the United Nations in 2015for a better world cultural and
recreational activities.
So I invite you to Black BoomerBesties from Brooklyn.
Speaker 2 (02:29):
Listen, listen.
You're so lucky that I've knownyou for so long.
I let you get away with so much.
Hi guys, I'm Angela.
That's Leslie, my best friendof almost 50 years.
We are two free-thinking60-something-year-old Black
women and we've decided to livelife more boldly and more
(02:51):
joyfully.
We invite you to join us on ourjourney.
Hopefully, you're on yourjourney or you're going to start
your journey, and we startedthis podcast so that we can
share insights and people whoare doing amazing things, like
the guests that we have today.
This particular episode iswithin a mini series that we're
(03:12):
doing around legacy.
We talk about legacy a lot herebecause we're older women and
you know we're at the point inour lives where we're thinking
about things like that what isour legacy, what are we leaving
behind, and so on.
How can we help?
How can we reach a hand?
Because we tend to beprofessional women that we
invite on the podcast, and sothis organization that Leslie
(03:34):
mentioned is an opportunity foryou to see women in legacy work,
and also I want to remind youthat a part of our African
diasporic culture is to supportone another.
We don't have to up with peoplewho are doing good work and we
can do that work together, andso we encourage you, as you hear
(04:09):
about Black Girls Go Global,that you can think about how you
can support this organizationand, yeah, so welcome.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Yeah, I introduce you to Rolanda Goodwin and Lisa
Randolph from Black Girls GoGlobal.
Welcome ladies.
Thank you, great to be here,yes, yes.
Speaker 2 (04:34):
Okay, so the first thing I want to talk about is
why, like who had the idea, whatwas the nucleus of the idea?
Because every great move in theworld starts with the idea.
Where did this organizationhave its roots?
Speaker 3 (04:55):
the genesis of Black Girls Goes Global.
The founder, alma Garcia, and Ihave been doing mentorship work
with youth for over oh my gosh.
We met, like maybe 12 years ago, mentoring through
(05:20):
organizations that work towardsempowering women, and so it's
just a passion for both of us,and really the whole
organization came about throughan organic conversation we were
having, and isn't that the waythe most things start?
Speaker 2 (05:36):
It's just through chatting right, it's just a
conversation.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
And so at the time, alma had gone on to do some
volunteer work with anorganization called Bright Light
Volunteers and what she wasdoing is she was actually a I'm
losing my pieces here, but I'mputting them back in she was
actually a program director forthis organization.
(06:04):
He was actually a programdirector for this organization,
and what this organization woulddo is they would take high
school kids grades 10 through 12, to other countries to learn
about different cultures,education around other cultures,
to learn about leadership andjust to see the bigger scope of
the world.
And just to see the biggerscope of the world.
(06:25):
But so they went to Cuba, peru,costa Rica and a few other
places.
And one thing Alma noticed wasthat there were never any black
girls involved.
You know, it was always Angloto the director of this
organization and said I wouldlike to start a leg where we see
(06:47):
more Black girls involved insome of these trips, and so
there was a lot of discussionaround it, and so we kind of
became a guinea pig program forthem, so to speak.
But one of the things that wenoticed because Alma was telling
me what she wanted to do one ofthe things that was noticed was
(07:08):
, even though they were sayingthat we wanted their programs.
We had like this much on thewebsite.
You know, very like a brochurethat did not show representation
of us.
It was a brochure that stillhad white kids on it.
Yeah, you know just put it outthere, yeah.
(07:29):
And so we're like you're notspeaking to our audience.
And so Alma and I talked abouthow to really make this happen,
and so we just we took babysteps with it and I worked with
her on putting together astrategy.
And I said what on puttingtogether a strategy?
And I said what is your big,bigger vision for this program?
(07:49):
And so I went to Costa Rica,because she lives in Costa Rica
Now.
She retired there.
Ah, okay.
Speaker 2 (07:56):
She's going to be my neighbor.
Speaker 3 (07:58):
Yes, she is she can't wait to meet you.
So she, I went, we sat down,talked about what this would
look like and how to kick thisoff, and the rest is really,
it's really just history.
And I did tell her, I said, youknow, alma, we do probably need
(08:19):
to tie this around aninitiative, because otherwise
it's just going to look like avacation, to take these girls on
vacation.
So we're not going to get anybuy-in from, you know, donors
and sponsors.
And so we talked about where isthere a need, what's lacking?
Where can we fill a need withthese young Black women and
(08:44):
empower them to think about, youknow, their careers and
dreaming and what they want todo.
And we came up with STEAM, andactually STEAM because we
included art in there.
And so that became our focusand that's kind of the genesis
of Black Girls Goes Global, youknow it's, yes, it's tied to
(09:06):
global leadership, global travel, but also when they go to these
other countries which we'vebeen to Costa Rica right now
they are learning about, as yousaid, leslie, we're using the
sustainable development model,you know, and that's what we're
going to continue to focus on,and so they're going to learn
about the different ways thatthey could step into that space
(09:30):
and become STEAM professionals,where there's huge lack of
people that look like us.
Speaker 1 (09:37):
Yeah so yeah.
Yeah, I looked at one of thesample itineraries for the trips
and we'll talk about that, thedetails of that, but it was like
wow.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Yeah, what I looked at on the website and it's
blackgirlsgoglobalcom.
Is that correct?
It's org org,blackgirlsgoglobalorg, and I
loved that you had what ascientist looks like, right,
(10:08):
because we tend to have thisidea that scientists look a
certain way.
That's just how things show up,and I think, sometimes, because
things are shifting right,because you know the first and
the first and the first, we havebroken through that but there's
(10:30):
still so few, there's still sofew and it's still not like a
natural thought that, oh, ifit's a scientist, oh, it could
be a Black woman, right?
That doesn't immediately cometo mind, and so I think this
work continues to be importantuntil that comes to mind, until
(10:51):
the question is oh, you know,right, when it's not surprising
when you see the person walk in,it's not surprising any longer
that this person is in a STEAMfield.
I want to.
You know, this is important tome, so let's just jump right in.
Maybe, rolanda, you can speak tothe A part, because, by the way
(11:13):
, I know Rolanda from Cisco.
We were colleagues and friendsat Cisco, we're techies and so
this idea of STEM is very kindof rooted in us S-T-E-M science,
technology, engineering andmath.
But now, thank goodness, manyplaces have added an, a
(11:41):
organization transitioned fromSTEM to STEAM and what that is
all about and what might be someof the shifts, because the art
part was added to to theequation.
Speaker 4 (11:56):
Yeah, well, I'm the newbie on the board of the
rectors, but I believe it'salways been this, the STEAM part
, as Lisa said, and you knowwhen I was.
You know I've been in corporateAmerica for about actually this
year 30 years working in thehigh tech industry and my
background is engineering.
But you know it was years andyears ago it was only STEM as
(12:19):
Angela said but now I love theexpansion to STEAM and it's
adding the A, it's adding thearts piece in there and I
believe what that brings isadditional creativity to things
that we do Right.
It just gives an additionalperspective, particularly for
those that are very left brained.
I think that's the right term.
I'm the very analytical one,you know, logical one, and I'm
(12:45):
always amazed when I work withpeople that just have such a
great balance of the technologypiece and the creativity side,
such as Angela.
Speaker 1 (12:57):
I know she's one of those people.
Oh my God.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
So, but I also think that when you add the A in there
, it kind of it can draw morepeople into it.
Because when we just sayscience, technology, engineering
and math, just that alone canmake someone feel like oh, you
know, that's not for me, but youadd in those arts, and then it
kind of opens up morepossibilities.
Speaker 2 (13:23):
Absolutely Sure, and I think the two sides blend into
each other right.
Speaker 1 (13:29):
They're not mutually exclusive, that's right.
Speaker 2 (13:31):
There's so many times where you kind of draw these
hard lines between things, and Ithink most people are an
intersection of things, somemore dominant than others, some
more dominant than others.
But I do think it's so.
When you bring young peopletogether from different sides of
this, they kind of bleed into,and so the idea is it becomes a
(13:52):
whole brain, not just a leftbrain or a right brain, it
becomes whole brain.
Speaker 3 (13:56):
That diversity yeah, absolutely.
And her dexterous brain yeah,yeah, that's right.
Speaker 1 (14:02):
Lisa, I want to pick up on something that you
mentioned earlier when you werespeaking about the origins of
the program where you went tothe other.
You and Alma went to the otherorganization and, even though
they said yes, you could tellthat they weren't really bought
in by virtue of their brochures.
You know, and it's like wait aminute, this doesn't.
(14:24):
You know that's so important.
It speaks to who's in the room,and this is something that
Angie talks about all the time.
We can look at advertisementand whatever and you can know
who was not only in the room,but you can tell who's not in
the room.
So, unless there's a totalbuy-in, you can tell that they
(14:45):
don't know.
You know they don't know thatthis would get them nowhere.
You may have put the effortinto it, but you're not going to
.
People need to see themselves.
The TED Talk I looked at thatyour co-board member, alexis
(15:06):
Scott, put together a coupleyears ago, where she talked
about the curse of invisibilityand you just said if we don't
(15:30):
see ourselves in these fields,doing these actions, we don't
know that it's possible, wedon't know.
So by being out there, I meanshe described painfully at some
point where, when she looked atthe movie Hidden Figures.
It brought her to tears becauseit was so reminiscent of the
experiences that she's hadpersonally.
People look at her, people lookat me as a physician and they
ask where's the doctor?
(15:50):
You know when are you going tocall my doctor.
Or they look at her where's themathematics?
Where's the math professor?
You know, they don't know.
They don't know what we'resupposed to look like.
So I love that Ang brought upthe fact what does a scientist
look like?
Looks like all of us.
Speaker 3 (16:09):
Right, right, and I'm glad you guys picked up on that
, because that was important forus when it came to rebranding
the pictures on the website.
When we finally did a separatewebsite, yeah, it was like we
need to show that this is what ascientist also looks like.
They look like us, yeah.
Speaker 2 (16:29):
And you know I want to like jump into something
because I can't shake it.
So, and no malintent to theorganization, mal intent to the
organization, but it's hard forpeople to make the shift right
(16:58):
Unless they've lived theexperience of being left out.
Do you know what I mean?
Of having something thatdoesn't speak to them, and when?
So, when you talked about thefact that, even though you had
these conversations, that thatthey didn't quite, didn't quite
get it, um, and the part aboutbeing in the room, how many
(17:22):
times and I know we've all beenin, well, leslie hasn't really
been corporate because she's aphysician but been in those
rooms where those decisions arebeing made, like you know, when
those decisions are being made,and if someone, even in the room
, doesn't speak up because youcould be in the room and not
(17:45):
using your voice, yeah, you knowwhat I mean.
You, you, you, all the doors areopen to you could be sitting
there, but you're not using yourvoice, you're not being the
representation, um that that youneed to be, and so sometimes,
like you guys did, it's's likeokay, they're doing their work
for that group of people, and sowe believe we have to do our
(18:09):
work over here for another setof people.
Right, you learn and you pivot,and I think it's beautiful that
you've created this now forthese young Black women to do
the work and to go take a littletrip abroad too.
They have to get passports andall of that they have to get
(18:31):
passports.
Speaker 3 (18:32):
Yes, yes, a lot of them haven't even been out of
their own backyard, but it'strue, yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:37):
Wow, a lot of listen.
A lot of 60-year-olds have notbeen out of their own backyards.
You know what I mean and you'restarting.
This is a whole.
It's not to over, not to, it'sa whole legacy.
Speaker 3 (18:55):
This is how.
Speaker 2 (18:56):
This is how you change the world.
It really is, because they'regoing to be forever changed.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
There are generations that we just don't travel.
Speaker 3 (19:03):
Let's just say Like we're not a traveling people.
Speaker 1 (19:05):
You know they have their own little circle and
enclave and you know theirneighborhood and their homes and
their communities, but theirtraveling is not a thing for
them.
But when the young people comeback and say this is what we did
and listen, and these are thepeople that we saw and we got on
a plane and we got a passportand what have you?
It opens up opportunities, notjust to their families, but
(19:29):
generations as well.
Speaker 2 (19:32):
Their whole world.
Their whole world.
So I wanted to kind of touch on.
You said that the last trip waswas to Costa Rica.
How many girls did you takewith you?
Speaker 3 (19:45):
You know that was our inaugural trip.
We call it our beta group youknow, so we have proof of
concept that this was going tohappen.
Beautiful.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
It's very tech of you to have a proof of concept.
We have to have a proof ofconcept, you know.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I'm not in the tech field, but I am an entrepreneur
there, you go.
Speaker 2 (20:04):
Got to have a perfect concept, absolutely.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
So we took nine young ladies with us and they were
from different parts of theUnited States, so we had some
from Maryland, some from Georgia, a little place called Sparta
Georgia which is very small.
And then we had one from Tulsa,oklahoma, okay, and yeah, that
(20:33):
was our makeup.
So a few of them knew eachother, but a lot of them did not
.
So they got the chance to meeteach other before because we did
some zooms and you know thingslike that, but they actually met
each other during the travels,okay okay, yeah, so that that
begs to ask what?
Speaker 2 (20:52):
how do people come into the program?
How did you get these peoplefrom all over the United States?
Speaker 3 (20:59):
you know at that point because we didn, we were
still working on our system, itwas about who we knew we would
open our mouth and say this isour program.
You know, and don't be afraidthere again.
Getting back to what you said,angela, about using your voice.
Yeah, you know, if we didn'topen our mouth about what we
(21:20):
were doing, we probably wouldhave had that first program and
then people were like that isgreat.
You know, how can, how can weget some young ladies involved?
And that's what it was.
It was just us speaking, youknow, and the young ladies from
Sparta.
I was having a breakfastmeeting with a colleague of mine
and she's from Sparta and I wastelling her about the program
(21:43):
and she said said how can I getsome girls from my school
involved?
She said I'm on the alumnicommittee.
She said and our girls have?
She said to such a poor area inGeorgia that they have never
been anywhere.
And can I get three or fourgirls involved?
Just like that that was it.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I love that yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:05):
I love that.
Speaker 2 (22:07):
So what's some of the experiences that they've had?
Speaker 3 (22:13):
Being on the trip yeah, While they were in Costa
Rica, so the first trip we have,them focus on agriculture, so
you know, getting into the wholesteam thing.
So it was around more like thescience piece of it.
So they spent a few days atwhat was a monkey wildlife
(22:36):
foundation park and just learnedabout the agriculture, the
soils there, the animals thatwere there.
So we planted trees and thingslike that that the animals would
use to eat and grow things thatwere safe for them.
(22:57):
So they learned what was safeand what wasn't.
They learned about waterconservation, composting A lot
of them didn't know whatcomposting was and then the
animals there.
The interesting thing about thisplace which, first of all, the
place was woman-owned and so thething, oh it was so beautiful,
(23:18):
we wanted it to be a woman-ownedpartnership, and so it was a
refuge place for animals thathad been abused.
So somebody abused them, ranover them, pulled their wings
off, and so it was a place forthem to come and heal.
And so they learned all aboutthe animals and wildlife there.
Speaker 1 (23:39):
Oh man and they really got into it.
They really got into it.
Yeah, yeah, hands on, yeah, manand they really got into it.
Speaker 3 (23:44):
They really got into it.
Yeah yeah, hands on, yeah yeah.
Then they did some beachcleanup, which was about
learning about keeping theenvironment.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
Listen.
You took them to the beach andthey had to clean up If you want
to get in that water.
Speaker 3 (23:56):
We have to make sure it's beautiful and clean for you
.
Yeah, you know, you did tellthem it.
We have to make sure it'sbeautiful.
Speaker 2 (24:04):
You did tell them it wasn't just a vacation, right.
Speaker 3 (24:11):
Exactly so they learned why it was important to
keep the environment clean.
So you know, and all of that.
There again, it fits within the, the sustainability goals.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
You know the 17 goals .
Speaker 3 (24:20):
So everything they did kind of tied into that.
Speaker 1 (24:25):
And what I like is that these are typical things.
You're going to find animalseverywhere.
You're going to find beachesand water and debris and water
conservation, and you know thesethings are not just in
beautiful Costa Rica, butthey're in your backyard.
Speaker 3 (24:44):
Exactly.
Exactly so we did encouragethem to come back and go.
How can you apply some of thethings that you learned to your
own environment, you know, orhow can you start an initiative
to make?
A difference to make adifference.
(25:05):
So, and moving forward with the2026 program, we're really
going to enforce that and dosome really good follow-up on
that.
Absolutely, you know thatreminds me.
Speaker 1 (25:13):
I used to be a high school science teacher before I
went to medical school and Itook my students one year to a
New York City water treatmentplant and you know I think about
that trip regularly.
I recently drove down the WestSide Highway in Manhattan and I
(25:36):
looked at the water and Imentioned to my partner.
I said you know, I was insidethat building and I saw the way
that the water is treated fromwhatever.
I'll never forget it.
This was maybe 30 years ago.
Speaker 3 (25:48):
You know it's, I'll never forget that experience.
Speaker 1 (25:51):
So.
So these things stick with them, because I mean I'm drinking
water out the faucet, you know?
Speaker 3 (25:57):
Yeah absolutely Like you said.
It sticks with you.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Absolutely Like you said, it sticks with you.
So that's what we we're talkingabout doing legacy work, and I
think it's really important toconsider as your legacy work
getting together with people whoare already doing the work
(26:37):
right.
So these two women are now onthe board of Black Girls Go
Global, and so that's how theyare supporting and becoming a
part of this legacy work.
What does it, what, what doesbeing on the board require of
you and why did you decide to doit?
Because, as far as I understandit's, it's voluntary, right.
(26:57):
So what made you decide tocommit your time and your
resources and your skills andyour experience to this
organization?
Speaker 4 (27:06):
Yeah, I can kind of start, because I've been on the
board maybe like a year and ahalf.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (27:12):
And I found out about this from Facebook and I was
the founder and myself.
We had a mutual friend onFacebook and I started seeing
her post the pictures about, youknow, with the girls in Costa
Rica and everything.
This was during the time of mysabbatical, Angela and Leslie,
which you all are aware of yes,we will put a link to that
(27:34):
episode where Londa was heretalking about her sabbatical.
Speaker 2 (27:38):
This was early in our podcast journey and, yes, yeah,
you guys are going to hear allabout that story.
It's really, really, really,really will get you off your
butt.
Speaker 3 (27:54):
That's right.
So much for that sabbatical.
Speaker 2 (27:57):
Well, sabbaticals they open you up, though you
know, what.
Speaker 4 (28:00):
I mean they give you space in your brain to do things
like this, and that's exactlywhat happened is that I started
thinking about how I wanted todo more meaningful work and yes,
I'm a mentor and I, you know,do a lot of things but that when
I saw that, it just opened mymind to more and I thought about
(28:21):
how important it is not justrepresentation but also exposure
to more.
And so I reached out and Almawelcomed me with open arms.
She set up a call with Lisa andher and myself and we started
talking and started gettinginvolved.
And yeah, I mean it is a timecommitment, but when it's
(28:42):
something that you're passionateabout, you do it.
Yeah, but I'll let Lisa talkabout some of our different
committees and how we'restructured and everything.
Speaker 3 (28:52):
Yeah, yeah, and absolutely I just to piggyback
on what Rolanda said when you'repassionate about it, the time
commitment just really doesn'tmatter, you know, if you feel
like it's part of your purpose.
And I love you guys talkingabout the legacy, and that was
one of the reasons I did.
It was because I'm in thatlegacy phase of my life where,
you know, I want to give backand I've always been, like I
(29:15):
said earlier, passionate abouthelping young women, especially
young women of color, to findtheir leadership voices, to make
an impact, and this is a greatway to do that.
And when it's all said and done, what footprint did I leave
behind?
Yeah, you know, and that'sthat's kind of the space I'm in
right now, and this was aperfect opportunity to continue
(29:39):
to have a voice heard afterwardsand to empower these young
ladies to go into the world andmake a difference.
Yeah, and so they can beinnovative and just really make
a difference with their talents.
Speaker 2 (29:55):
I can just hear them in there with their classmates.
Yeah, when I was in Costa Ricaand blah, blah, blah, blah, what
.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
Yeah, doing my sustainable work.
Speaker 3 (30:09):
That's what you want.
Absolutely, absolutely, becauseit's absolutely something to
brag on.
Speaker 1 (30:15):
You know, they come back.
Yeah, I came back and thoughtabout it Now.
Speaker 3 (30:18):
I own my own engineering firm.
Speaker 2 (30:22):
I mean, you know just , that's something, and that
that is the the, the seedplanting.
In such a time as this, yes,yes, where I think the ways that
we um, I'm not going to saythat we've lost, because I don't
believe we've lost them, butthe ways of our foreparents, the
(30:44):
ways that they survived, Ithink it's going to be required
of us again.
We're going to have to brushoff these ways that we have
survived, creating community.
You know, rubbing two knickerstogether.
Speaker 4 (30:57):
That's how churches were.
Speaker 2 (30:58):
This is.
This is how churches were built.
Speaker 1 (31:00):
This is how communities were built, schools
were built.
We just learned from Dr CoritaBrown.
Absolutely Public educationsystem in this country was built
out of.
They say we can't do it.
We say we're doing it anywhere.
Speaker 2 (31:15):
Where's that tree?
Speaker 1 (31:16):
we can sit under and educate people.
Speaker 2 (31:18):
That's right.
That's right and doing itbecause we are an inclusive
people and doing it, thesethings that we do, they do
create a roadmap for otherpeople, Right, and so I think
that you know.
I want to ask you how canpeople help your organization to
(31:40):
get some of the things that itneeds?
What are some of the gaps thatyou have, that maybe there are
people in our audience that canhelp you to fill them?
Speaker 3 (31:50):
Sure, absolutely.
And that kind of leads intoRolanda saying, hey, talk about
some of the committees.
We need human resources.
We really do.
We can't scale ourselveswithout more people.
You can have the best missionin the world, but if you don't
(32:11):
have the people to implement itright, to move it forward,
there's only so much that five,six, seven, 10 people can do.
So we really need people tobring their talents to some of
our committees.
We have a program committeeright now and we really need
people to help with that.
(32:32):
We have our marketing committee.
You know, somebody is wellversed in marketing, pr, help us
to get exposure.
We would love to have themshare their talents with us.
And we also we really needfundraisers.
You know.
We need people that are notafraid to ask for the funds
(32:55):
Right, because airfares are notfree Lodging is not free.
Getting passports is not free,none of that is free, right, and
so we do need people that canreally help us go out and seek
the funding.
You know, be it.
You know grant writing, be it.
Join the fundraising committee,and maybe somebody is good at
(33:17):
sponsorships, gettingcorporations to be sponsors.
You know we need somebody inthat space right now, or if your
company has a matching programthink of us, yes or if you're a
cousin's company, you know, justthink about.
you know your touch points.
(33:40):
You know how many people do youknow Share our mission with
them, share what we're doing?
So you know, yes, that that'swhat we need as far as human
resources.
Speaker 2 (33:51):
Sure, can you tell me a little bit about the program
committee?
What does the I think theothers speak for themselves
marketing, fundraising, grantwriting.
What does the program committeedo?
Speaker 3 (34:02):
Well, I'm the program chair, so I'm going to give
that to her.
Okay, let's go.
Speaker 4 (34:07):
The main thing that the program committee does is we
make plans for what the girlswould do for the year.
So right now we're in the middleof the 2026 program, getting
very close to deciding theactual project or projects our
(34:27):
girls will work on in Costa Rica.
So that's the main.
That's the main thing that theprogram committee does and what
we love to see.
We like to have people thathave diverse skill sets, like to
have people that have diverseskill sets.
So we have people that sit onthe committee that have, you
know, education background, eveneducation in STEM, you know a
(34:48):
corporate background.
So you know, we want to expandthat you know as much as we can,
but that's the main goal of theprogram committee.
Okay, okay.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
What region in Costa Rica do you all go to?
Speaker 3 (35:01):
What region in Costa Rica do you all go to?
We the program was on thePacific side, so Bonacosta.
So, we flew into Liberia.
Speaker 1 (35:09):
Yeah, yeah, or Liberia.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
Yeah, Liberia.
Speaker 1 (35:14):
I was there last year and we went from one end of the
country to the other.
Oh my goodness, oh my gosh yesyes, we haven't quite done that
yet we haven't quite done thatyet we haven't quite done that
yet.
Speaker 3 (35:25):
We would like to eventually One of the things we
did decide we were going to tryto do the Caribbean side, but it
just isn't cost effective forus right now, being such a young
organization.
I mean, it would have added anadditional probably $30,000,
$40,000 to our budget.
Speaker 1 (35:47):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (35:49):
So we decided, you know what, let's go back to the
Pacific side in 2026 and formmore partnerships there, yeah,
and then we can look at movingon to the other side eventually.
So you know, right now our goalis to raise the program.
(36:11):
Next year is going to cost usabout $50,000 total.
So that's what we need to raisefinancially in order to make
this thing happen, and you knowwe'll do that with an integrated
mix of different things.
Speaker 1 (36:26):
Sure.
Speaker 3 (36:27):
The events, the individual giving the grants.
We actually have a fundraiser.
Actually, it's kind of acampaign, a giving campaign
coming up in September.
Oh, okay, good.
Speaker 2 (36:41):
That we'd like to share with everybody.
Why don't you speak to whatthose dates are?
We'll make sure to put them inthe description notes, but, um,
do you have them?
Speaker 3 (36:51):
yeah, locked in we actually do um, so it's this is
our first year doing it and it'sum.
We're calling it an annual fallcafe and it's going to be for
the month of september, so we'rekicking it off september 1st
through the 30th.
Ah good Okay.
And basically, I mean what it isis our goal with this is that
(37:12):
we want to at least get $50.
Who will do a $25 recurringpledge like a recurring oh yeah,
I mean that's very reasonable50 people to give us $25 over
the course of 12 months and wethink we can do more, but we
(37:36):
think 50 is very realistic.
I mean we make that happen.
That'll bring in $15,000 forthe organization.
So imagine if we had 100 peoplewho would give us $25 a month.
Speaker 2 (37:49):
Right, right.
I think that's Rolanda and I weknow this the SMART goal right.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
Right, you break it down.
Speaker 2 (37:59):
Realistic.
Realistic that part.
Speaker 3 (38:02):
Time bound, Time bound.
Exactly.
I'm a big smart girl person.
Let's go.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
You're safe sublet, so from now you're just going to
need 49 donors, because.
Speaker 4 (38:15):
I'm in.
Thank you Thank you Listen.
Speaker 2 (38:21):
should I jump in?
Speaker 3 (38:24):
Yeah, let me jump in.
All right, let me jump in.
All right, let me jump in Allright, all right, okay.
48.
Speaker 2 (38:31):
The ACLU may have to be put on the back burner for a
little bit there.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (38:38):
But you know, I'll tell you why I think this is
this, or a few reasons why thisis important and this giving
campaign is helpful.
It was triggered by what youjust said putting something else
on the back burner.
What Karen Hunter on Urban Viewthat I listened to on Sirius XM
Radio does?
They vet certain nonprofitorganizations who they determine
(39:04):
to be worthy of donations andwhatever, and they ask their
readers this month, let's allsupport this organization, and
next month they encourage theirlisteners, this organization,
you know this.
And then they do that on amonthly basis so that the
(39:27):
currency can come.
It's undivided, it comes to oneorganization at a time so they
can meet their financial goalswhen they need to, rather than
say here's a list of 10 people,let's all you know, pick what
you like or whatever.
I love the fact that they dothat.
So if you say, ange, for thenext 12 months I'm going to
(39:49):
donate my $25 a month to thisorganization.
Next year will be someone else.
Because by that time you allwill have way more than your
$50,000 that you need for theyear, because you're only going
to donate right.
Speaker 3 (40:06):
Yeah, let me tell you what this is.
Speaker 2 (40:09):
There's something we have in Jamaica.
It's in other places in thediaspora too.
We call it patna, in Jamaica,partner Patna, but in Trinidad,
I think they call it susu andall different names.
Speaker 1 (40:22):
Right, and this is exactly what it is.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
It's like you put your money into a pot and then
that pot rotates.
Speaker 1 (40:29):
Whoever needs them.
Well, it's on a rotation basis.
Speaker 2 (40:34):
So you know when the pot is going to be yours, so you
can use it to if you want toset up a shop, or you know
whatever it is, plan forgraduation, whatever it is you
know that January is when you'regetting the pot and it rotates
around and that's how so manythings of substance are started
(40:59):
in.
Jamaica is around.
This is micro lending.
It is a wonderful way toapproach community, building
community.
Speaker 3 (41:10):
So let's go, let's go , let's go, we're going to help
the next group of Black girlsgoing global.
Speaker 2 (41:20):
That's right, we love it, I love it, I love it, let's
do it.
Speaker 4 (41:25):
And I want to leave you guys with some numbers,
because you can't fight with thenumbers.
And if you look at the the theSTEM workforce, and you break
down, you look at the statistics, it's over 60.
It's like around 63 percentwhite, 15 percent Hispanic, 8
percent, 8.2 percentAfrican-American Now that's
(41:47):
African-American, but let's lookpercent African-American Now
that's African-American.
But let's look atAfrican-American women.
We barely make up about 2percent of the STEM workforce.
You can check those numbers onthe National Science Board or,
you know, google it.
So this is added to the slide.
Speaker 1 (42:04):
That sounds like the National Science Board may be
removed by the time we get tolook it up.
You know those numbers may beremoved.
You know how that is.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
It's unbelievable the changes that are being made.
Speaker 2 (42:14):
I grabbed them before you heard it here.
Speaker 4 (42:16):
We grabbed them before they scrubbed it.
But you know what Rolanda says,that validates what we're doing
.
Speaker 3 (42:23):
That's right.
It's our mission.
Yes, it validates the we'redoing that's right.
That's our mission.
Speaker 1 (42:28):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (42:28):
Validates the need.
The need and we want somebodywhen Rolanda's ready to hang up
you know her and retire hercareer.
Speaker 1 (42:38):
She's not retiring.
She's not retiring.
Speaker 3 (42:42):
You can never retire, you will always.
She takes a sabbatical.
Speaker 1 (42:46):
She's going to rest, and then she develops a wellness
programical she's going to restand then she develops a
wellness program.
Speaker 4 (42:50):
And then she's going to develop a program for this
Exactly.
Speaker 1 (42:54):
But, she's transitioning and pivoting to
different things.
All of that, All of thatexactly.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
But that's why we need this next generation of
young women to step in to herplace.
And so we have to keep feedingthat pipeline and eventually,
you know, one of our goals, ourlong-term goals, is to start
with girls, even at a youngerage.
So we've got some greatlong-term goals also that we
(43:22):
would like to share eventually,that's right.
Speaker 1 (43:25):
So we love a call to action, so that's our call to
action folks.
That's right.
So we love a call to action, sothat's our call to action folks
.
Speaker 2 (43:29):
That's right, let's increase that 2%.
You know this idea of you knowall lives matters, that idea.
When you look at these numbers,you understand why Black Lives
Matter.
Right, when you see that 2%versus the 63%, you get a sense
(43:49):
of why these things matter.
It's not that everybody doesn'tmatter.
It's there is a particular needright now with this group of
people.
Please look at us.
Nobody says that about anythingelse, right?
Someone says, oh, we want to,you know it's for breast cancer.
Nobody says, oh, why want to?
You know it's for breast cancer.
Nobody says, oh, why are youfocusing on breast cancer?
(44:11):
You're not focusing on allthese other?
Because there's a need righthere.
We've identified a need righthere.
This is a need.
Two percent, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 3 (44:22):
That's a shame.
Speaker 2 (44:23):
That's a shame, shame shame and we can do something
about it, right In such a timeas this.
Speaker 1 (44:28):
It right in such a time as this in such a time as
this, and that's what I lovethat we're not hand wringing you
know we can do something youguys have been wonderful.
Thank you so much thank you.
I appreciate your work.
Speaker 2 (44:45):
We heart you is it going to do it?
It didn't do it.
Did it do it?
I didn't even look.
There they go.
Oh God, Thank you for beingwith us.
We appreciate you.
(45:05):
We will support your work andanything that the Black Boomer
Besties from Brooklyn can do tohelp your organization.
Please let us know, we're in.
Speaker 1 (45:13):
Thank you, we're in.
Thank you so much.
We can be the honorary auntiestoo.
Speaker 3 (45:17):
Oh, we appreciate that.
Yes, you can be the aunties.
Speaker 2 (45:22):
And yes, especially when we move to Panama, they'll
just come over.
Speaker 3 (45:28):
that's right, like you said, costa Rica is just the
beginning, that's right,alright.
Speaker 1 (45:37):
Well, everybody, this has been another episode of
Black Boomer Besties fromBrooklyn.
Speaker 2 (45:43):
Brooklyn.
Popular Podcasts
CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist
It’s 1996 in rural North Carolina, and an oddball crew makes history when they pull off America’s third largest cash heist. But it’s all downhill from there. Join host Johnny Knoxville as he unspools a wild and woolly tale about a group of regular ‘ol folks who risked it all for a chance at a better life. CrimeLess: Hillbilly Heist answers the question: what would you do with 17.3 million dollars? The answer includes diamond rings, mansions, velvet Elvis paintings, plus a run for the border, murder-for-hire-plots, and FBI busts.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.