Wells Fargo Global Impact Challenge

CREATING NEW PATHS TO INCREASE DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION

We have selected the next cohort of 20 educators that serve middle and high school students from across the United States to participate in the 2018 Global Impact Challenge, a diversity and inclusion competition designed to spark the best ideas from students for building a world free of barriers, stereotypes and discrimination. Our goal is to equip teachers with the necessary tools to help students dream big and break down barriers through the Global Impact Challenge.

Last year’s challenge was a huge success (see video and teams listed below) and now we have selected the next cohort of educators to participate in this important and exciting opportunity.

Teachers selected for the 2018 Global Impact Challenge include:

Maren Anderson, Drew School, San Francisco, CA
Angela BallouAngela Ballou, Greensboro Day School, Greensboro, NC
Melissa BarryMelissa Barry, Carrboro High School, Carrboro, NC
Julie CainJulie Cain, Pueblo East High School, Pueblo, CO
Dennis GallantDennis Gallant, State of Connecticut, Windsor, CT
Lauren GarciaLauren Garcia, Asa Mercer International Middle School, Seattle, WA
Aiko MartinAiko Martin, Colony High School, Ontario, CA
Brian McDonaldBrian McDonald, Scarsdale High School, Scarsdale, NY
Tierra McDonaldTierra McDonald, Myers Park High School, Charlotte, NC
April MillerApril Miller, Jefferson County International Baccalaureate, Irondale, AL
Holly NelsonHolly Nelson, Bemidji Area Schools, Bemidji, MN
Nolan NguyenNolan Nguyen, Granite Bay High School, Granite Bay, CA
Joy OlenickJoy Olenick, Warren Township High School, Gurnee, IL
Marissa PotterMarissa Potter, Boys & Girls Club Charlestown, Charlestown, MA
Sui King Dawn ShumSui King Dawn Shum, York Early College Academy, Jamaica, NY
Elizabeth SigmanElizabeth Sigman, Chemawa Indian School, Salem, OR
Lauren StoneLauren Stone, Tallmadge City Schools, Tallmadge, OH
Althea SylviaAlthea Sylvia, Blackstone Valley Prep High School – Cumberland, RI
Rick TowleRick Towle, Noblesville East Middle School, Noblesville, IN
William YorkWilliam York, Turtle River Montessori, Jupiter, FL

Click to view the press release about the 2018 Global Impact Challenge selected educators.

    


  • “The students are serious about the viability of their project proposals. It’s amazing how a
    group of kids can bring an idea to life. Their enthusiasm and confidence inspire me. They will do so much good in their lives.”

    Nadia Goodvin - Educator & 2017 Global Impact Challenge Winner
    • 


Timeline

• June 25-27 — 20 educators from around the US participate in the 2018 No Barriers Educator Training in Fort Collins, Colorado. There they will get to experience the No Barriers Life and learn about the program curriculum. All travel expenses including lodging, airfare, ground transportation, and meals are covered due to the generous sponsorship of Wells Fargo.

• Fall 2018 — Each educator will recruit a diverse teams of students with and without disabilities from their home school/community. As a team, they will all follow an online curriculum designed to foster creativity and develop projects to address local diversity and inclusion issues.

• February 2019 — Each youth team will “pitch” their solutions by submitting a project proposal to a volunteer selection committee made up of subject-matter experts, business experts and start-up specialists for evaluation and feedback. Finalist groups will be awarded prize money (up to $5,000) to launch their ideas in their local communities, and may get a chance to attend the 2019 No Barriers Summit in Lake Tahoe, California!

2017 Global Impact Challenge winning teams

    


  • “Wells Fargo is thrilled to help develop and implement the inaugural Global Impact Challenge. The teachers and students developed many creative project proposals that focused on diversity and inclusion. We sincerely hope that all of the teams turn their proposals into reality, helping make the world a more inclusive place.”

    Kathy Martinez - Head of Disability and Accessibility Strategy at Wells Fargo
    • 

This Latina Is Using Her Own Lived Experience With Blindness To Bring About Change In The Workforce
Wells Fargo Leadership in Disability and Inclusion
Wells Fargo Head of Disability and Accessibility Strategy Kathy Martinez was just featured in FORBES — including a great picture of her presenting to 2017 Global Impact Challenge educators! This Latina Is Using Her Own Lived Experience With Blindness To Bring About Change In The Workforce.

2017 Global Impact Challenge

Two first-place teams received $5,000 to help them implement their projects:

• Grady High School, Atlanta, included six students led by teacher Nadia Goodvin. The team
 developed a working organization to address the lack of local sensory-friendly theaters, films
 and other recreational events in Atlanta for people with sensory processing disorders and
 related conditions.

• Hill Country Middle School, Austin, Texas, included six students led by teacher Sylvia 
Troxell. The team proposed a project to create a fun, interactive educational campaign
 about hidden disabilities to help ensure that all students welcomed, understood and 
encouraged to participate to the best of their abilities.



The two first-place teams also received invitations — including airfare, accommodations and meals — to the 2018 No Barriers Summit Oct. 5–6 in New York City. The No Barriers Summit is a premiere immersive event that brings together people of all backgrounds and abilities who are transcending barriers to unleash their fullest potential and live a life of purpose.

One runner-up team received $2,000 to help it implement its project:

• Century High School, Rochester, Minn., included five students led by teacher Michael
 Eckerman. The team proposed a social storytelling platform for students to share personal 
stories of hardships and barriers, with the goal of creating a sense of unity by highlighting 
the differences of others and the difficulties they face.

About No Barriers Youth
No Barriers Youth helps middle and high school youth develop through experiential learning, collaborative problem-solving, service learning, and field-based experiences rooted in international travel and the outdoors. Educator-focused programs include professional development, curriculum resources, and coaching.

About No Barriers USA
What barriers do you face? This question lies at the heart of our organization. Whether in our personal lives, at work, or in our communities, we all face challenges that can prevent us from reaching our full potential. At No Barriers, we believe that what’s within you is stronger than what’s in your way. No Barriers empowers people of all walks of life to overcome obstacles, live a life of purpose, and give back to the world, all through our ground-breaking curriculum, the No Barriers Life. Learn more about No Barriers at NoBarriersUSA.org.

About Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE: WFC) is a diversified, community-based financial services company with $1.9 trillion in assets. Wells Fargo’s vision is to satisfy our customers’ financial needs and help them succeed financially. Founded in 1852 and headquartered in San Francisco, Wells Fargo provides banking, investments, mortgage, and consumer and commercial finance through more than 8,300 locations, 13,000 ATMs, the internet (wellsfargo.com) and mobile banking, and has offices in 42 countries and territories to support customers who conduct business in the global economy. With approximately 263,000 team members, Wells Fargo serves one in three households in the United States. Wells Fargo & Company was ranked No. 25 on Fortune’s 2017 rankings of America’s largest corporations. News, insights and perspectives from Wells Fargo are also available at Wells Fargo Stories.

For more information and interviews, contact:

Jaime Donnelly
Marketing Director – No Barriers USA
(970) 484-3633 x316
Jaime.Donnelly@nobarriersusa.org
@NoBarriersUSA

Lisa Westermann
Wells Fargo
(415) 845-7759 (cell)
Lisa.B.Westermann@wellsfargo.com
@LWestermannWF