• Improving democracy
The majority of Americans today say they believe living in a democracy is crucial but also think democracy in the United States is currently weak. A report from the Center for High Impact Philosophy (CHIP) at the University of Pennsylvania suggests two ways for people to help: One, increase civic engagement, which includes anything from donating to a charity to running for office. The second is to reinvigorate local media, not only larger newspapers and television stations that cover the area but also hyperlocal websites and other communication outlets that tell a community’s stories. “Our goal,” said Katherina M. Rosqueta, CHIP’s executive director, “is to help people turn their concern, good intentions, and charitable dollars into positive social change.” (EDITORS: Please feel free to use the Brief above or the complete story.)
• Guaranteed income
The mayor’s office in Stockton, Calif., launched a pilot program that gives $500 debit cards, funded by grants, to 125 randomly selected citizens as part of research on “guaranteed income” spending. The research is being conducted by two professors of social work, Amy Castro Baker of the University of Pennsylvania and Stacia Martin-West of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. “The idea behind guaranteed income is really based on the thought that people are experts of their own lives and they know best where they can leverage that money to help smooth income volatility and help their family achieve upward mobility,” Castro Baker said. “The idea is, ‘What would happen if we gave people cash and let them match that benefit to their needs, which change and flux over the course of the year? What potential would be unleashed in families and communities if they had a modest cushion to rely on instead of having to take on additional jobs or shifts that are detrimental to their health?’” (EDITORS: Please feel free to use the Brief above or the complete story.)
• Gun violence
Gun violence has taken a particularly hard toll on black boys. A sociological study centered on an all-boys high school in a high-poverty area of Philadelphia, where multiple students had been lost to gun violence, revealed that the school’s students and staff were ill-equipped to manage the emotional toll. The work, conducted by Nora Gross, a doctoral student in the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education, highlights the ways in which the misunderstanding of black boys’ pain can play out, oftentimes leading to interventions that may not be helpful. (EDITORS: Please feel free to use the Brief above or the complete story.)
• Americans & the Constitution
The American public knows more about the U.S. Constitution and the separation of powers than in the recent past, according to the 2019 Constitution Day Civics Survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania. The survey found that 39% of American adults correctly named the three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. That is the highest in five years; last year 32% could do the same. “While this marks an improvement, the overall results remain dismal,” said Kathleen Hall Jamieson, director of the APPC. “A quarter of U.S. adults can name only one of the three branches of government and more than a fifth can’t name any. The resilience of our system of government is best protected by an informed citizenry. And civics education and attention to news increase that likelihood.” (EDITORS: Please feel free to use the Brief above or the complete story.)
• Med school & minorities
Black, Hispanic and American Indian students remain underrepresented in medical schools despite decade-long efforts to increase physician diversity. A new study from the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine found that, while absolute numbers of historically-underrepresented medical students have increased, the rate of increase is slower than their age-matched counterparts. “In light of the evidence that physicians from underrepresented backgrounds are more likely to serve populations with significant health disparities and that a diverse physician workforce improves health care for all, the need for representation is an evidence-based imperative,” said researcher Lanair Amaad Lett. (EDITORS: Please feel free to use the Brief above or the complete story.)
*For a review copy of Muddy Roads Blue Skies or an interview with Vella Mbenna, please contact Dottie DeHart, DeHart & Company Public Relations, at (828) 325-4966 or simply reply to this email.
Want a Successful Career Working in the Foreign Service?
A US Diplomat with Nearly 30 Years of Experience Shares Some Advice
If you want a career made up of thrilling adventure, travel, nonstop learning, and even a little danger, the Foreign Service may be the place for you. Vella Mbenna, a 26-year veteran, shares the habits you should master to excel in one of the most exciting jobs around.
Amelia Island, FL (September 2019)—Think you want a career in the Foreign Service? It's not for the faint of heart. Being a diplomat with the US Department of State demands intellect, courage, and a sense of adventure—not to mention an unshakable work ethic. But if you have what it takes, you can join the ranks of hardworking citizens making a difference in our global society. Just ask Vella Mbenna, who worked in the Foreign Service for 26 years and now has a lifetime of adventures to show for it.
"I knew early on in my life that I wanted excitement, independence, education, and travel," says Mbenna, author of Muddy Roads Blue Skies: My Journey to the Foreign Service, from the Rural South to Tanzania and Beyond (Muddy Roads Press, 2019, ISBN: 978-1-7327918-0-0, $16.99). "I found all of that and more with my career in the Foreign Service.
"But these jobs are not easy to come by," she adds. "In my opinion, they are one of the hardest government positions to obtain. And once you're doing the work, you'll be challenged daily to push yourself and find out what you're truly made of. You must have the right mindset and the right skill set—and acquiring them is absolutely worth it."
Early in her life, Mbenna never suspected that she would someday work as a US diplomat with the Foreign Service. After getting her college degree, she wound up back in her hometown in rural Georgia with a young child and few career prospects. But staying put was not an option. Her wanderlust prompted her to apply for a position with the US Department of State, where she eventually became an information programs officer (IPO) in charge of information technology (IT) and communications, working in places like the Philippines, Tanzania, and Beirut.
There, among her primarily "male, white, Yale" colleagues, Mbenna (a minority three times over: black, Southern, and female) started the long journey to the top. Despite facing instances of insubordination, racism, sexism, and culture shaming, Mbenna worked her way up to level "01," the highest-grade level you can earn in the Foreign Service—provided there is no desire to hang around for some years to see if you will be selected to join the cadre of senior, policy-level foreign affairs professionals.
For a self-proclaimed adrenaline junkie, the challenges, victories, and even the near misses Mbenna experienced were the very definition of a fulfilling career. Part memoir and part how-to success guide, Muddy Roads Blue Skies tells the remarkable story of Mbenna's journey from the backwoods of Georgia to the far reaches of the globe.
If you're a student or young professional who thinks a career in the Foreign Service may be right for you, here are the skills and behaviors Mbenna says you should turn into habits right now:
Do the work—and more. Dutifully do your work every day, and do it well. And when your work is done, see if you can help someone else with theirs. Mbenna routinely went above and beyond throughout her career, including her courageous efforts in the aftermath of the 1998 bombing of the US Embassy in Dar es Salaam. Her contributions during this dangerous time even earned her a Heroism Award from the Foreign Service.
"My mother's 'hard work from dawn to dusk' mandate, which I was raised with, shaped my professional work ethic," says Mbenna. "The good news is, anyone can learn this skill with enough perseverance. Challenge yourself daily to not just show up for your work—whatever it may be—but come with a contagiously positive attitude that shows your gratefulness for the type of work you do. Rise to the occasion consistently, and soon it will become second nature, and people will take notice."
Find a role model/mentor. Develop trusting relationships with colleagues—in the field or not—who can help guide and develop you in your career. Think of someone you admire in your organization whom you could learn from and ask them if they will offer you career guidance. The Department of State also has an excellent formal mentor program, which Mbenna highly recommends newer diplomats take full advantage of.
Don't be afraid to share ideas. "Never sit around the table with colleagues thinking you are too low in rank or too ignorant of the subject matter to contribute," says Mbenna. "You would not be there if you did not have something to contribute. Meetings are the ideal time for discussing ideas; come prepared with at least one or two ideas or questions, and then communicate them. Around mid-career, I became tired of sitting in meetings and rarely contributing. So, my motto became: 'If you think it, share it.' It paid off for me, and it will for you too."
Respect the chain of command. Remember, no leader wants to be second-guessed or challenged by a subordinate, especially not in public. The leader is the leader for a reason. Respect the chain of command and insist on it regardless of whether you are the leader, the second-in-command, or the follower.
"Overstepping boundaries without being invited to, especially if it is not your project or post, makes for a rough ride and stressful work environment for the entire team," says Mbenna. "As someone who has served as a leader and follower in my career, I can confirm that the chain of command works when everyone follows it."
Be strategic. Don't leave your career up to chance, advises Mbenna. Think carefully about the path you would like to take, then plan your career trajectory accordingly. Keep in mind that every position and grade level you attain are stepping stones to the next one, so be on the lookout for opportunities to learn and develop while whole-heartedly contributing to the mission. Finally, remember that new skills can qualify you for more advanced positions, so seize every chance to acquire them.
Know when to lead and when to follow. The higher you climb in the Foreign Service (and in most other fields), the more leadership responsibilities you will have. Still, different positions require you to serve in different capacities. Sometimes you will be asked to lead, and other times you will be asked to follow. Learn to do both with ease—and be aware of when either is appropriate—and you will be more valuable to your team and organization.
"After having been a leader in previous roles, I accepted a position on a 'hardship' tour in Kabul, Afghanistan," says Mbenna. "I went in knowing and accepting that this time I would be a follower, and I became a good one because of that mindset. I did what I was supposed to do, and I did it as specified with a smile. Keep in mind that whether you're a follower or a leader, your work counts. Whatever role you find yourself in, it matters, so be sure to make it work for you."
Be dedicated/be useful, even in bad conditions. Learn to stay on task even during chaotic times (whether the chaos is work-related or personal). Mbenna's last Foreign Service assignment was in Tunis, Tunisia, several years after the uprisings of the Arab Spring. Even though the turmoil had resulted in staff reduction and a revolving door of temporary staff at the embassy, Mbenna never stopped working and striving to uphold her responsibilities—not even when a broken leg forced her to work from a hotel and home for several weeks while she recovered.
"Don't hesitate to do more than your specific duties in calm and chaotic periods," says Mbenna. "Pitch in and help others, even if they do not ask. If they do not need your help, they will tell you. You'll never regret going the extra mile, because eventually it will pay off for you, even if it only brings a smile to your face or a good memory years later when telling your Foreign Service story."
Know when to leave. "When it's time to leave the Foreign Service, you will know it," says Mbenna. "This comes at a different time for everyone. It could be a few years into your career, or you may stay until you reach the mandatory retirement age of 65. You might start feeling restless, unsatisfied, or unhappy at work; or missing your family and friends so much that it distracts you from your duties; or simply realizing that you're ready for your next adventure. Regardless of what it is, pack your bags and leave before you are burned-out or forced to leave. I reached my desired rank and left on my own terms, and what a happy feeling that was!"
"If you want to succeed in a high-stakes work environment like the Foreign Service, you'd better be ready to put your heart and soul into it," concludes Mbenna. "Be ready to work hard and go all in, and from there the experience acquired and skills you are sharpening each day will help you truly excel. Yes, there are easier careers out there, but few are as rewarding or exhilarating. So if you want it, dig deep into who you are, find your greatness, and let it shine every day."
# # #
About the Author:
Vella Mbenna is the author of Muddy Roads Blue Skies: My Journey to the Foreign Service, from the Rural South to Tanzania and Beyond. She was born in the Holmestown community of Midway, Georgia, where she grew up with eight siblings and parents who instilled in her the important values that would set her on the path to success. Throughout her youth, Vella dreamed of escaping small-town USA and traveling the world. In 1989, that dream came true when she was offered a position with the US Department of State Foreign Service. During her highly successful 26-year career as a diplomat, Vella served with honor in 13 foreign countries as well as two tours in Washington, DC.
For more information, please visit vellambenna.com.
She can also be found on:
LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/vellambenna/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Muddy-Roads-Blue-Skies-230262701234427/
Twitter @VMbenna
About the Book:
Muddy Roads Blue Skies: My Journey to the Foreign Service, from the Rural South to Tanzania and Beyond (Muddy Roads Press, 2019, ISBN: 978-1-7327918-0-0, $16.99) is available from major online booksellers. It is also available in ebook and audiobook format.
