Creating Change through Discomfort with Sandee Kastrul

Nancy Harris chats with Sandee Kastrul, President and co-founder of I.C. Stars, an innovative nonprofit leadership and development program that prepares inner-city youth for employment in the IT industry. Nancy and Sandee discuss how the I.C. Stars program challenges clients and the participants themselves to change their perceptions through fun and memorable experiences.Here are a few highlights from their inspiring conversation:The I.C.Stars program is not only a learning environment, but also creates a space for reflection through the daily high tea. A cornerstone of their culture, this daily ritual allows participants to reimagine their future. It’s also a chief element of how the program changes perceptions about inner-city youth.Sandee says that the program flips the paradigm of the traditional charity model. It’s about making opportunities for others, she says.The I.C.Stars program is at the intersection of social justice, leadership and community involvement.The other side of conflict is change. When we embrace diversity and inclusion, we become more valuable as someone who can walk between worlds, Sandee says. We now have more ideas and innovations, and new ways to connect to our customers.The more you can create an experience for stakeholders, the greater the connection they feel to your organization, and the more they are willing to support the work you’re doing.We should look at people for their potential versus their pedigree. Adversity builds resilience, inside of which is reciprocity, critical thinking skills, creativity and chutzpah. ResourcesICStars.org