COnnection Synergies

Helping STEM ecosystem players advance their community missions

through synergistic connections.

Are your goals to increase STEM education and Silicon Valley career access for youth who have the least access?

Do you believe that you can only achieve this mission with other organizations and individuals in the lives of our youth?

Do you struggle to find the right partners and the time to cultivate trusting win-win partnerships?

I’d love to help!

CONSULTATION

About your partnerships:

Thought partner
Real-time feedback
Suggestions & connections

COLLABORATIONS

Partnership supports:

Partner listening
Collaborative structure co-design
Customized content development

CONVENINGS

Collaborative convening supports:

Agenda co-design
Meeting facilitation
Partner recruitment

CLIENTS & PARTNERS

Alum Rock Union School District

East Side Education Foundation

East Side High School District

Envisioneers

Evergreen Valley College

Franklin-McKinley School District

San José State University

SETI Institute

Synopsys Outreach Foundation

WHAT I BRING:

I have over 20 years of experience building synergistic, deep partnerships for NASA, The Tech Interactive and Stanford University with K-12 school districts, higher education, government, and non-profits and a focus on partnerships serving communities most impacted by systemic inequities. I also bring a wealth of experience as a former Title I school teacher, expanded learning educator, program manager and extensive training in youth development, instructional design, facilitation, coaching for equity, community listening, community co-creation and conflict resolution.

I believe that every young person has enormous potential to achieve their dreams, but for many it truly requires a web of support to ensure youth have the exposure and resources to do so. Coordination and alignment of partners around shared communities is critical. Having a neutral facilitator can ensure equity of voice and power, especially as partnership norms and structures are established. A neutral facilitator can also help established collaborations when there is turnover in key partner representatives or as conflicts arise. Finally, as a connector, I’m happy to leverage my relationships and understanding of the cross-sector STEM Ecosystem players in Silicon Valley to amplify your impact, wherever possible.

TESTIMONIALS

Christina O'Guinn is the type of partner you want to work with. She follows through and knows how to get things done. If she is involved, I know the outcome will be a successful one. - Manny Barbara, Vice President, Board of Directors, East Side Education Foundation

I have known Christina professionally for more than 25 years, and she has always had an outstanding commitment to STEM education in all of its forms. Her experience working for, and partnering with, government agencies, non-profit informal education organizations, school districts, and universities ensures that she can build the crucial connections needed to bring your STEM programs to another level. - Dr. Michael Kaufman, Dean, College of Science, SJSU

Our partnership with Christina and COnnection Synergies has been invaluable. Her industry expertise and strong pedagogy have allowed us to create new partnerships which have led to deeper, long lasting, collaborations. Christina's ability to match mission aligned partners, led us to partner with San Jose State University's GEAR UP team for our annual event - sciencepalooza!. With Christina's coaching, we were able to not only to partner with GEAR UP, to increase participation, but also to deepen our mutual capacity and become champions for each others programs. - Lauren Foote CEO, Synopsys Outreach Foundation

TRAINING

Coaching for Educational Equity (Bay Area Coalition for Equitable Schools)
Co-Active Coach Training Fundamentals (Co-Active Training Institute)
Conflict Resolution With Power and Privilege in Mind (Compass Point)
Facilitative Leadership for Social Change (Instruction Institute for Social Change)
M.A. Instructional Technology, SJSU
California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential, Santa Clara University

NETWORKS

California STEM Network
International Society of Performance Improvement
Children’s Agenda/ Kids in Common
Leadership San José
National STEM Ecosystem
Region 5 STEAM
STEM Pathways Committee founder

MODELS

Appreciative Inquiry
ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, Evaluation)
Collective Impact
Community Participation Model
Community Schools
Community Youth Development
Design Thinking
Instructional Systems Design
STEM Ecosystems

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