Systems thinking is an approach that focuses on understanding how different parts of a system interact and influence one another within a whole. It is a holistic framework considering interrelationships and patterns rather than static snapshots. By expanding perspectives, systems thinking clarifies complex situations and can spur innovation.

A definite ‘NO’ to the question if struggling families had child care asked by a group of committed volunteers in the San Fernando Valley in 1974, urged the volunteers to look for a way to support families struggling to find quality child care, development, and education services for their families. That year, the San Fernando Valley Child Care Consortium and the Mayor’s Child Care and Junior Task Force proposed the first child care resource center in the San Fernando Valley. Doris McLain was elected chairperson as Mayor Bradley accepted the proposal and gave the newly founded Child Care Resource Center (CCRC) space in Van Nuys City Hall Center. CCRC began 45 years to help working moms find child care.

Dr. Louis B. Lynn, President and Founder of ENVIRO Ag Science, grew up in Darlington County South Carolina before graduating from Clemson University. He has been a member of the Clemson University Board of Trustees since 1988 and takes pride in having attended almost all the 96 Graduation Ceremonies that have occurred during his board tenure. He hasalso served as Adjunct Professor of Horticulture at Clemson. Dr. Lynn also currently serves on the Board of Trustees of the NYC headquarters of the National Urban League. Dr. Lynn is a retired Corporate Bank Director of BB&T now TRUIST Financial (NYSE – TFC). Dr. Lynn formerly served as a national board member of the American Horticulture Society; a national board member of the National Association of Minority Contractors, a two-term Commissioner for the SCCommission on Higher Education; a Commissioner forthe StateWorkforce Development Board.

Julia Martin has relentless energy and celebrates the benefits of her neurodiversity. She uses creative thinking and problem-solving to see the bigger picture and create smaller steps to realise those ambitions. She can fit double a normal workload into five days and motivate staff to achieve things they didn’t think were possible. She can see ways to do something quickly by breaking things down, which means her productivity is incredibly high. It also helps to love what you do and set a strategy you believe in wholeheartedly! She can trust staff to deliver and sees leadership as guiding and mentoring rather than micromanaging.