Leadership Development -EQ Training

My sister Sandra died of a heart attack on October 24, 2022. She was alone and childless. Her body was found by my youngest child. Her niece. We were devastated.

Sandra insisted on family members and friends calling her SWan (an homage to her first and last names. Sandra Dee Natalie Wan's father was from Hong Kong).

SWan was a Kid in the Middle, literally. She was the third of my mother's five children, and me being the fourth girl.

When I was four, Sandra saved me from a near drowning in White River. We were floating on our backs in the river in Charlestown, Portland, Jamaica, W.I. The river picked up speed. Sandra noticed I was missing and noticed me holding on for dear life with both legs wrapped around a huge rock. I owe her my life. Literally.  My sister always showed up for me, my daughters, and all fourteen of her nieces and nephews. She was the best.

Sandra was brilliant, passionate, thoughtful, purposeful, and devoted to her family and close childhood friends. She never reached her full potential because of a disability. 

Sandra had untapped potential. She could have been a doctor, lawyer, engineer, or corporate executive if given the opportunity (even with her disability). I often wondered what type of life she could have lived if she had a chance to attend and finish college or university. What would her life be like had she had the benefit of being mentored by a professional in her field of interest? And what if she had the benefit of having a professional coach, trained in emotional intelligence, who could help her see her full potential?

Her disability robbed her of manifesting her true potential but her life was not in vain. Her legacy is one of fierce love, empathy, and grace. She loved me and celebrated Duncan Tree's work.

Now Duncan Tree moves forward to launch our Kids in the Middle (KITM) program to carve out a path for kids like Sandra. 

Our pilot program is a unique combination of mentorship and coaching designed to empower students like Sandra, by building up their critical thinking skills, self-confidence, self-awareness, and self-empowerment. The KITM program is designed to carve out a path for talented high-school students interested in STEM and they make decisions about their career paths.

Kids from broken families, living at or near the poverty line, living in neighborhoods and homes where they are being bullied, ignored or overlooked.  Kids who might be interested in careers focused on Science (think all healthcare professions), Technology (think Google, Amazon, and Netflix), Engineering (think skyscrapers, bridges, and tunnels) and Math (think Accounting, investment banking, computer programming, pharmacy technician).

Duncan Tree is connecting each student with:

• Mentors from Medtronic — already working in the field of STEM
• Certified professional coaches who will offer insight through the ELI assessment tool, to facilitate the relationship between the mentor and student mentee, and coach the student mentee weekly throughout the program

Duncan Tree is excited to partner with volunteer iPEC coaches and Medtronic mentors who are passionate about empowering future leaders to awaken their potential and pursue dream careers that might otherwise feel out of reach.

Will you open your heart to lend your support to our unique program pilot?

I thank you and SWan thanks you for your gift.

Links:

• Duncan Tree About Us Page