Deborah Yungner: My Story
I have been vision and mission driven throughout life which is reflective of my love for people and life. My family’s commitment to service to country, combined with my personal and professional growth, knowledge, insight and self awareness to live a purpose filled driven life for what matters most in life for me is summed up in God, Country, Freedom and Duty. …All to say, that my love for God, people and life matter to me… You Matter To Me.
My family has a rich history and heritage in Minnesota and the City of St. Paul since the early 1900’s. As a first generation U.S. born Chinese-Japanese Asian American, our family beginnings started in the United States with my entrepreneurial Chinese grandfather immigrating into the city of St. Paul and pioneering Chinese cuisine in the Capital City during the roaring ‘30’s through the early 60’s! My Chinese Grandmother, Julie, through a blessed encounter in China with the Catholic nuns from St. Catherine’s College, was reunited with grandfather in Minnesota. My father, at age 17 immigrated from China to the United States and served in the U.S. Air Force where he met and married my mother in Japan and returned with her and my sister to be united with grandfather and grandmother to begin our life and family in Minnesota. My father and two brothers have served over 50 years of combined military service in the U.S. Air force, Army, Navy, and National Guard. I graduate from the St. Paul School System as a first generation Asian-American and only Asian family in the community throughout most of my school years. I was the first college graduate in our family, attending the University of Minnesota and graduating from the College of Education. My college was self-funded through work and work study. As a senior woman business leader with over 30 years of professional career experience pioneering technology in education and as a first generation Asian American military minority child growing up in a highly ethnic and economically diverse community in an English as a second language household, I am blessed to have a unique set of skills, insight, experience and expertise combined with sensitivity and self-reflective understanding and awareness. I believe this combined personal and professional business and industry experience, knowledge, and know-how brings true recognition of the rooted needs and challenges facing our children and their families with their abilities to succeed in life, work, career, society... With that said, my professional career business experience and training, industry knowledge and expertise serving education, business, industry, government, and community organizations provides for an excellent fit and alignment to bring support and advocacy work to my platform, Be The Light- Help Secure Our Nations Future... In addition, visionary leadership, professional skills, personal experience and wisdom to help provide deep, relevant insight to help navigate partnership discussions with organizations as the Minnesota Service Cooperatives and to innovate new programs, plans, models and solutions that will posture transformational change initiatives in education and the marketplace in the 21st century. As a woman minority business leader, my career work has positioned me to pioneer and serve non-traditional technical industries not traditionally pursued by women. I have had many successful accomplishments, recognition and rewards but also have faced many challenges. These challenges have inspired me to step up to becoming an active supporter, advocate, role model, leader and mentor for women, young women, and girls with the hope of breaking the glass ceiling to advance the role of women and minorities in non traditional industries. Also, to advocate strongly around character education and ethical leadership... With that said, at this time and season, my next steps goals include posturing my personal and professional accomplishments that engages my abilities and opportunities to play a key role to serve and influence Corporate America’s leadership team and board room as a way ahead to support my business, industry and advocacy work focused on the personal and professional development of women, minorities, and students pursuing non-traditional industry careers. I am very proud and blessed to have had a wonderful, supportive family through these formulative entrepreneurial small business development years. Additionally, the blessings of raising and caring for a blended family. My husband Steve, works for Patterson Dental as an equipment specialist and loves bringing new technology and innovation to the dental industry. Our son John, is an amazing athlete and scholar, lettering varsity in his first year as a football player for Eastview High School as well as tied 10th in the state out of 2000 students his first year in trap shooting. Mom Keiko hand made over 3,000 cranes in less than 90 days. Many were given to the local church as part of Easter Service. We love having her with us every day! The two oldest children, who I helped raise in the formulative pre-teen years are grown adults on successful career paths and growing their young families. Jesse (and Lori), Tracy (and Matt), and grandchild, Eli, live north of the Twin Cities. Jesse is an award winning graphic design artist. His work is becoming well recognized throughout the Twin Cities and recently named SEGD Minnesota Chapter Co-Chair. Jesse and Lori will be welcoming their son Jasper, in the coming weeks! Tracy just returned from a 3 month general management training program for Yard House, an exciting new restaurant and brewery concept unveiling at West End this Spring! Little Eli is our busy little 5 year old grandson along with our new grandson, Jasper, we will be keeping all of us busy and poised to seeing, shaping, and being centered front to the possibilities of the future for their lives…and all children, as I’ve seen through my own experiences and realities of a blended family that all children are our own and we must be actively involved to help guide and navigate their learning and development. As my wise mother, Keiko, and I discuss the topic of people, human behavior and life often, her wise words and wisdom is always on target and resonates with my understanding. From my mother’s wisdom to share with you, human relations is the most important part of family… It is the most important part of being people. We must teach this to our next generation and help them learn that our relationship with one another is the most important part of life, living, being and community. We must take on the mindset and recognize the responsibility that all children are our children and need our help, love, support, and care as they are our future. Be THE LIGHT – Help Secure Our Nation's Future is the platform I have chosen as a business technology career mom and award winning inventor/innovator professional to encourage all stakeholders including family, individuals, businesses, education, government, military, and community leaders to be involved and engaged in active collaborative conversations about youth development and student strengthening from cradle to career readiness. Additionally, safety and security of our nation’s homeland. This includes focusing on development of skills and trade; STEM/STEEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Arts, Math), diversity, health/wellness, and essential skills, going into the 21st century at this critical time of life, economy, community, and family to strengthening and securing our nation's global future and homeland. My business, community, and industry expert involvement along with my many professional colleagues from education, government, business, military, and community sectors have helped shaped my knowledge and understanding of my platform. Collective collaborative conversations in the community is where it all starts to begin the process of building for the future. I am passionate to represent this platform and appreciate your support of my work for the two key critical components I believe necessary to securing our nations future going forward in the 21st century - The Development of People and Infrastructure.... Personal and professional development of these two frontiers for which has been the heart of my life long career work and passion focusing on youth development, student strengthening, safety and security of our communities...! Vison and Mission Driven Throughout Life Deborah’s Platform Vision: The traditional education model has served our schools well for many years. The advancements in technology and the needs of the workforce are rapidly changing. All education stakeholders, business, industry and government are feeling the pressures and demands on the traditional approach to education and impact of technology on society. The classroom is transitioning and broadening outside its four walls. Technology is providing new and unlimited opportunities, possibilities, and limitless boundaries outside the classroom with planned curriculum including online learning, classroom and teacher interaction across the world, and access to science and innovation, to name a few. Cities are no longer the nexus of social, cultural and economic diversity. First, second, and outer ring suburbs are now facing the practical challenges of meeting their students’ academic and developmental needs (ie.. cultural, social, spiritual, physical, economic…). Today’s students are faced with expectations and challenges that are unique in the history of American education as technology rapidly evolves and advances its way through all areas of industry and society throughout the global world. Students and families are immigrating from many countries, representing linguistically, culturally, socially, and economically diverse backgrounds. This in itself is not new. What is unique is the rapidly growing diverse population with increase pressure on educators to tighten up the achievement gap, academic focus on STEM and STEEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Arts, Math) skills for industry readiness, economic, and social challenges with varying level of disparities all funneling through an environment of accelerated technological and societal change. These challenges are complex, diverse, and often competing. Students today face a convergence of rapidly evolving technology demands and the pressure from schools, home, and the workplace to be STEM ready and math and science smart. Industry and Education Leaders, parents, teachers, counselors, and advisors must begin working together to transform a new educational system vision and innovative mindset that includes an integrated collaborative partnership model for student strengthening. Gone are the days of the traditional education system. Today’s students, their families, business, community, and government leaders must be actively pursuing a holistic and integrated solution approach to student strengthening programs, recognizing their stakeholder involvement in order to optimize the success of the child and nations future. And, with that said, provide an environment where students feel safe, engaged and respected – a critical and vital component to help them achieve their academic goals, be more connected to school, and reach their highest potential. A transformational change is needed with partnerships, resources and support for a new education system approach in and outside the classroom. Change is required with new velocity, approach, philosophy, modality… It is imperative for the education system and all stakeholders to begin working collaboratively for change and move beyond the traditional confines of the way it has been built, created, looked at, paced and regulated, as a system. We must move beyond No Child Left Behind to accelerate the closure of the achievement gap and move the education landscape and system beyond “change” to “transformation.” Our education system must become recognized as a fore and front runner if we are to compete in the global world, especially in STEM and STEEAM for overall student strengthening; health, fitness, wellness/well-being, character education and quality of life. Foreign countries are showing stronger results in their education system through the strength of their economics and skilled workforce. Additionally, through the statistics, measurement, profiles of the health, wellness and fitness of their population. The Minnesota Service Cooperatives (MSC) can be a significant force to propel the education system and model forward to a new frontier. It has been a long standing partner to state education since its inception to provide support and capacity to the demands of a quality education system. To stay vibrant and forward thinking, the MSC organizations need to be economically sound and innovative through the creation of service support programs and partnerships in industry, communities, government, and education, etc., including mission driven organizations that focus on youth development, student strengthening, healthy living, and social responsibility as the YMCA, The Power of People Leadership Institute, Impact Lives, S.T.R.I.P.E.S, etc.… MSC can be a catalyst and change agent in and outside of Minnesota and its education system to creating the optimum education programs that advance and support the education/industry pipeline for STEM / STEEAM readiness in Science, Technology, Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Art, Math for the critical need of industry workforce development if we are to remain strong on the forefront of leadership in a highly global competitive state, nation and world… Additionally, to bring the necessary essential skills to students through enhanced and expanded student enrichment programs. |