Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

Dr. Foust Mead, president of Shared Knowledge is a recognized writer and advisor on
health and wellness concerns of the global workforce; school reform, children,
teen and young adult contemporary issues; and socio-economic policies affecting
international, global, local communities to include companies and individuals.

Shared Knowledge was founded in 1994 and operates globally. In addition ...<< MORE >>

President-elect Obama described the US economy as “very sick.” After discussing the severity of the situation with his economic team, he further elaborated, “The situation is getting worse. We have to act and act now to break the momentum of this recession.” While the ‘act now’ phrase may send a resounding message to legislative policy makers and corporate decision makers—caution is required to avoid making decisions in desperation. Decisions, which we may regret later. Please see the examples below for the consequences of hasty decisions. << MORE >>

There have been rumors circulating that President-elect Obama’s projected $750 billion stimulus plan will be heavily weighted toward education and that a huge chunk will be spent ensuring that there are ‘internet hook-ups in every classroom.’

Shift From Classroom  Lecture to  Unconventional Methods of Teaching
As a professional serving administrators,  parents and children, it has always been my view that the less television, the better; the less video game playing allowed, the better; the less time spent surfing computer internet sites; the better. Like other parents, I have been quick to applaud calls for increases in educational spending by states and ...<< MORE >>

The findings of Dr. Mead's research regarding expatriates, life abroad and family wellness have been referenced in several articles. Please click the links below to read the articles  (you will be taken outside of this site). Use your browser to return to this website
...<< MORE >>

By: Tonya Foust Mead

Too often teachers complain that a child is not
participating in class, is a slow learner, lacks interest, is inattentive, or
is disengaged. Comments such as these serve as lead-ins to ‘he is disruptive in
class,’ or ‘she is too talkative to friends,’ the list goes on.

As a concerned parent, one might such teacher feedback
particularly alarming. Thoughts of learning disabilities, potential ADD/ADHA
diagnosis, Section 504 or IEP special education hearings follow.

Why not take a breath? This is not to minimize your worries,
 trivialize the teacher’s concerns nor to
negate the expert opinion of medical professionals such as school-based
psychologists ...<< MORE >>

By: Tonya Foust Mead

Recent Scandals

In the wake of the Blagojevich scandal, whereby the
President-elect’s  Senate seat appeared
to be up for grabs to the highest bidder, other scandals which bring the moral
integrity of our political leaders come to mind.  The foibles of  Former New York Governor Elliot Spitzer,
former Florida Congressman Mark Foley and retiring Idaho Senator Larry Craig
come to mind, to name a few.

In the corporate area, the story of Bernard Madoff’s $50
billion Ponzi scheme operated through his New York
investment firm, caps off years of scandalous reports from Enron, Tyco
International, Adelphia, ...<< MORE >>

By: Tonya Foust Mead

To paraphrase Glenn and Nelson (1988), there are four
critical factors are involved when raising self reliant children in modern
times.

 

1. Solid networks versus poor access
   to support groups.
2. Meaningful contribution to society
   versus boredom rising from irrelevancy.
3. Hands-on-involvement through
   active living versus over-indulgence in passive television, video watching
   and game playing.
4. Abundant nuclear and extended ...<< MORE >>

Please help participate in this nationwide research project.  A group of researchers are working to determine how  and if the intentions of teachers, their spoken communication, attitudes, behavior and other mannerisms affect our kids.

Let us know some of the weirdest things that a teacher has said or done to your child, adolescent, teen or young adult. You may send an email to tonya@ishareknowledge.com to elaborate if necessary. Thank you.

Awaken From your Slumbers and Rise on Your Wings

By Tonya J. Foust

ISBN: 1-86106-734-8
Publisher: : Minerva Press; Pub. Date: 1998; Media: Books; Soft cover.

Languages: English

Preface

This book is the result of my attempts to understand the mysteries of life. As members of a disfranchised group, we resemble bumble bees. Aerodynamically, according to the laws of physics, we should not be able to fly. Items negating our abilities include: reports of intellectual limitations and genetic inferiority; professional journals and literature valuing homogeneous managers as more productive given a diverse and heterogeneous environment; prejudicial myths of predisposition to violence and reproduction; and the mass media hystericising the plight of the urban poor and the backlash of the white male.

If we allow others-- those on the outside-- to dictate our lives, we will never realize our mission in life-- to fly with strength, beauty, grace and dignity. No matter how much training, education, and business experience we obtain, hatred and prejudice will always obscure and overrule the obvious.

The missing ingredient is perfect love. Selfless love, unyielding love, forgiving love; a love not prone to envy, hate and boastfulness. This love-- perfect love-- magnifies the three dependent variables; training, education and experience, which allows us to fly in the midst of oppression, negativity and false beliefs.

So, the bumble bee bumbles and buzzes happily from flower to flower, enjoying fully the nectar of life, unaware of the commotion around him. All he knows-- innately-- is that God gave him the ability to fly, and so he does...

Reader Comments

"I like your optimism and faith. I see your book useful for youth/career initiatives, church groups, women's studies, professional society conferences and more. Keep up the good work." Elaine J. from Massachusetts

"It is very well written and timely for the hour we are living in. Very impressive and highly anointed. God bless you." Lonnie S. from North Carolina.

"Allow me to first reiterate that I think your efforts at creating a spiritual approach to the personal empowerment of Black people is commendable. The book raises some very important issues and brings the reader to consider some of the ways in which he or she can begin to break free of the internal and external forces that can give rise to feelings of racial inferiority. I'm ecstatically glad that you looked at this from a spiritual perspective." Robin S. from New York.

"I hope your book tour brings you here. Your book is everything I have ever thought, felt, believed and known. I LOVED IT! You have done a wonderful task of telling some truths that needed to be told with love... There is a lot you have said in a few words." Linda C. from California

"I am a 30 year old African American male. On Sunday night I started to read your book and I finished it today at work. I have read numerous self-empowerment books over the past few years AND YOURS BY FAR WAS THE BEST. You touched on topics that are often overlooked in these types of books. Yours was the FIRST BOOK I read and really felt that you were trying to reach our people and not just sell a book. Your words hit home. Kevin R. from Washington, DC.

"I thought your book was an eye opener for people who have low self esteem and spiritual awakening." Kim B. from New York.

I have a Quaker background. Your book attuned me to statistics of different cultures and attuned me to other historical statistics that I wasn't aware of. Its a wonderful book." Jackie T., from North Carolina.

"It was refreshing to hear an African American woman on the Tom Pope Radio Show who has lived in Brazil and Europe. Someone who has experienced us outside of the US can be very threatening. All too often we don't have a global vision." Femi A. from Connecticut.

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Campbell
begins his journey for this book by recalling a time in which he had a physical
element (a blood clot formed in the right hemisphere of his brain). The
protagonist, in this case, Campbell
reached a point of no return in his life. Presented with three options by his
vascular surgeon: (1) to undergo an operation as soon as possible, (2) to be
admitted into a hospital for a period of six to eight weeks under constant
monitoring, or (3) to wait for a few days to see what would happen Campbell had
to make a decision- and quickly.

Campbell
elected to wait to see ...<< MORE >>