Minority Professional Leadership Development Program Launches Sixth Cohort
The MPLD Program kicked off the 6th cohort in Washington DC, October 4–6, 2023. For the first time since MPLD started in 2017, Spaulding for Children has an employee who will be one of the fellows, Stacey Oakes. A member of Spaulding’s professional staff, Ms. Oakes is an IPP Supervisor. The program began on a Wednesday evening with dinner and an introduction of the 23 fellows participating in cohort 6. The 23 fellows are the highest number of fellows in the program since its inception. Additionally, the cohort is one of the most diverse cohorts, representing 11 States and one Tribe from throughout the nation with Texas and Utah having their first participants in the fellowship. It is noteworthy that many of the mentors for this cohort previously served as mentors for fellows from earlier cohorts.The three-day meeting included the fellows and their mentors hearing messages from the Children’s Bureau, HHS Commissioner, HHS Associate Commissioner, and the Children’s Bureau federal project officer, where they heard powerful messages regarding the value of having leaders of color in child welfare as well as the need to “Represent” as leaders of color.The attendees also heard presentations from national experts on “Cultural Competency” and “Using Culturally Responsive and Racially Equitable Tenets to Produce Data as a Catalyst for Change.” The fellows and mentors were also able to hear more about the program and receive guidance and advice from the alumni panel.The meeting ended with an inspiring message from MPLD alum and Spaulding for Children’s QIC-EY project specialist, Thomas Threlkeld, about his take on leadership. Also, check out the QIC-EY website to hear Mr. Threlkeld narrate a video that he scripted which was inspired by his lived expertise, “From Passenger to Pilot: The Importance of Empowering Children and Youth.” Click here to view the video. Mr. Threlkeld will also be speaking at the Children’s Bureau’s 2023 National Adoption Month Celebration, which will be held November 2 from 1-2:30 PM EST.This year’s theme, “Empowering Youth: Finding Points of Connection,” highlights the importance of building relationships and identifying the connections that support permanency for youth.The celebration will feature new national adoption recruitment campaign public service advertisements, recognize the 2023 Adoption Excellence Award honorees, and feature a host of guest speakers, including child welfare professionals and young adults with lived expertise in foster care.Please join the live webcast at hhs.gov/liveTHURSDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 20231:00 P.M.– 2:30 P.M. EASTERN TIME.
