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About Me

Chief Imagination Officer and Co-Creator of KitchenKids! and president and owner of lms consulting, inc. Leslie has enjoyed an extensive career in the areas of organizational relationship development and transformational management for the past 30 years. Prior to establishing lms consulting, inc., Ms. Saunders served as Vice President of Diversity Management Services for the Greater Cleveland Roundtable, President and Chief Executive Officer for the nationally and internationally recognized Memphis Diversity Institute, Director of Pluralism Strategy for Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA), Director of Midsize Cities Management Services, GSUSA. Associate National Field Center Director, GSUSA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Kaw Valley Girl Scott Council, and Coordinator of Special Projects for the University of Kansas.
Leslie’s work in the areas of diversity and inclusion, organizational relationship and reputation management, and organizational and regional transformation have earned the recognition of the White House, the President’s Commission on Race Relationship, The International Labor Organization (an agency of the United Nations), the Conference Board, the World Future Society, the Society for Culture and Communications, and the Aspen Institute. Her diversity management processes and educational products have been written about in several publications, including, Winning with Diversity by Norris & Lofton; Bridging the Racial Divide by De Bois and Hutson; The African-American Marketing Council; and, the Pathways to One America in the 21st Century by The President’s Initiative on Race. The author of several articles focusing on the economic benefits of inclusive relationship management, Leslie is one of several authors featured in The Handbook on Diversity Management, published in February of 2003. Her awards include being named one of the Ohio’s 500 Most Influential Women, 2nd place prizewinner in the Fast Company/Johnnie Walker “Keep Walking” Contest, the Most Outstanding Northern Ohio Rainmaker, Memphis’s Women to Watch in the New Millennium, Women Changing the South, Pathways to a New America/The White House Commission on Race Relations and IBM’s Top 1% Not-for-Profit Managers. In 2005, Leslie was one of 2,000 women nominated from 150 nations for the Nobel Peace Prize Foundation’s Project 1,000 Women.
Leslie attended Stella Viae Institute of Rome, Italy and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Kansas, where she majored in American Literature and African-American Studies. She earned a Master of Arts degree in Folklore and Mythology from UCLA, where her research focused on the encoding and decoding of multi-cultural communications in assimilation-driven environments. Her work as a graduate student received recognition from the Professional Society of Culture and Communications and the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art.
Leslie's current and former volunteer affiliations include the National Civil Rights Museum board of directors, The International Women’s Forum, The World Future Society, Action Without Borders, The Red Cross, the National Mental Health Association Nominating Committee, North Fulton County (Georgia) Charities, Links, Inc. and The National Center For Human Rights Education She serves as an editorial advisor for Grace Magazine and Northern Ohio Live Magazine. Leslie hosts a blog called "Ask Di Versity" and is also a published poet and composer/songwriter who’s music has been featured in off-Broadway productions, the Kansas City Women’s Jazz Festival and in commercials for Girl Scouts of the USA. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., Leslie resides in Roswell, Georgia with her Labradoodle, Mr. Scrappy.

Location:
United States, Roswell, GA
Current organization:
KitchenKids! Inc.
Past organizations:
LMS Consulting, Greater Cleveland Roundtable, Memphis Diversity Institute, Girl Scouts USA
Gender:
Female
Areas of expertise:
Organizational Development & Transformation, Diversity and Inclusion Management, Diversity and Inclusion Speaking and Training, Organizational Relationship Management, Non-Profit Consulting, Innovative Creative Education
I am:
Activist, Brainstormer, Change Agent, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Social entrepreneur
Associations:
World Future Society, Screen writers guild, Action Without Borders, National Roundtable for Church Leadership, International Women's Forum, LinkedIn, Voice of Women Worldwide
Languages:
English
My website links:
KitchenKids! Cool Beans iNews, LMS Consulting, LinkedIn
Universities:
UCLA, University of Kansas - USA
Member Picture Member Picture Member Picture Member Picture

More About Me

I'm passionate about

Innovative educational reform that involves community-based non-profits, educators and children in the solutions identification and implementation processes

An idea worth spreading

KitchenKids! Inc. - where smart is the new cool. Based on the notion that the kitchen is the world's original Established in 2004 by a diverse group of parents and educators, the non-profit creates edu-tainment resources for children ages 5-12. In March 2011, KitchenKids! launched an eLearning website that now serves members in 15 States for an annual. fee of $5.00. The site promotes reading, writing, math, science, nutrition, fitness, cross-cultural appreciation, computer literacy & s.voter, youth empowerment, community engagement, responsible role-modeling and provides kids with an introduction to reading, writing and speaking 52 different languages It has earned the endorsement of nationally/internationally recognized educators and business thought leaders for its affordability and commitment to help grow kids into adults who think children, think frugal, think inclusion, think humanitarian and pay it forward. 100% of the funding has come from co-founders and friends.

Talk to me about

Empowering & engaging kids in community transformation processes...identifying potential sources of funding and in-kind contributions

People don't know that I'm good at

Developing & executing successful change models with limited resources...speech writing... empowering others to become leaders

My TED Story

Friends and collegues have been encouraging me to join TED for years. My motivation for joining now was inspired by Adora Svitak's address regarding why adults need to listen to and learn from kids. I am personally and professionally committed to the notion that relationships are the ONLY human-generated source of energy on the planet and we need to value them and manage them well. After listening to Adora, it dawned on me that TED reflected a group of creative-minded people who are willing to listen to and share good ideas - regardless of the age, race, ethnicity and/or socioeconomic status of their source. TED is a network of idea engineers who know the world can be better and are willing to explore and exchange innovative ideas. I am joining because the people involved in TED's are creating a new source of energy that is feuling much-needed social change

Comments

  • TEDCred score: +0.80 TEDCred reflects your contribution to the TED community.

  • A reply on Conversation: International Children's Day Focus

    Oct 31 2011: Greetings Karina!

    Thanks for the feedback! We have selected 12 individuals who we consider role-models worthy on international emulation and we will be awarding gift memberships for the 2012 calendar year to 25 elementary school children in the respective cities where each of our honorees grew up. The principals of the recipient schools will select the students who will receive the membership gifts and we are encouraging the principals to give special consideration to children in foster care, children from financially-challenged families and/or children dealing with the military deployment of a parent.

    KitchenKids! develops edu-tainment resources and programs for kids ages 5-12. On our eLearning website - COOL BEANS iNEWS - we provide activities that promote reading, writing, math, science, geography, history, nutrition, fitness, computer literacy, community engagement, cross-cultural appreciation, responsible role-modeling, voter literacy and provide kids with an introduction to reading, writing and speaking 52 different languages.

    We are based in Roswell, Georgia but via our website we currently serve members in 14 U.S. States, Johannesburg, South Africa and - soon - Liberia and India. We are a Community Partner of the U.S.Department of Agriculture and several regional organizations in the Atlanta Metropolitan Area. We have a relationship with an elementary school in Dallas, TX that serves as a lab for us and we also have also just initiated a partnership with the University of Delaware's Education Department that will allow s to work with teachers-in-training who seek integrative learning materials to use with their future students. We are a membership organization and the annual fee is $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for kids ages 5-12.

    Please contact me directly - KitchenKids@yahoo.com - re: resources you can use in your classroom/school. I'll be be happy to send you additional information about us and the numerous endorsements we've received

  • A comment on Conversation: International Children's Day Focus

    Oct 18 2011: Jaime - I laughed when I read your comment. Perhaps that's why "tolerance" is ineffective when applied to people - because it's an engineering concept and not a people/relationship management concept.

    Karina - where do you reside where "tolerance is now the law"...I'm only inquiring because it's certainly not the law in the USA. And I wold argue that come ideas are "intolerant" of others's differences because they disrespect, devalue and discount the importance of difference.

    NEVERTHELESS - let's get back to the idea on the table here. My organization is going to do the following to celebrate International Children's Day on November 24th:
    * gift membership scholarships to needy children/families
    * we're also going to participate in a global International Children's Day Celebration via Voices of Women
    Worldwide
    * we've created a video to share promoting why people are thankful for their respective cultural heritages

    PLEASE SHARE WHAT YOU AND/OR YOUR RESPECTIVE ORGANIZATIONS PLANNING TO DO & ENCOURAGE OTHER TED MEMBERS TO GET ON BOARD!!!

  • A comment on Conversation: International Children's Day Focus

    Oct 15 2011: I have major problems with the word "tolerance"...people want to be respected and valued not tolerated

  • A comment on Conversation: International Children's Day Focus

    Oct 12 2011: Jaime, I invited other folks from other conversations in which I've been involve to join our activity. Perhaps you will be willing to do the same.
    ______________________________________________________________________________________________

    Jaime, me invitó a otra gente de otras conversaciones en las que he sido involucrar a unirse a nuestra actividad. Tal vez usted esté dispuesto a hacer lo mismo.

  • A comment on Conversation: It seems the conversationalists herein have relegated the golden rule to the worldâs list of bad ideas.

    Oct 12 2011: Hey Phil & everyone involved in this conversation,

    In the idea incubator section of TED, there's a conversation going on about what TED members can do to Celebrate International Children's Day on November 24th. The basic idea is provided below (in English & Spanish...your participation is greatly encouraged! Just imagine if every TED member did at least one special thing to help even one child on International Children's Day!

    Leslie


    I was thinking we might start a blog & conversation ask all TED members to specify at least one action they will commit to doing on International Children's Day to improve the lives of children in their respective communities. In that manner, people can participate in a way that best suits their individual/organizational needs and interests. On the actual day, we can ask participants to say what they did and how many children were impacted by their actions AND total the number of children worldwide who benefited from our concerted efforts.
    __________________________________________________________________________________________
    Yo estaba pensando que podríamos iniciar un blog y una conversación pedir a todos los miembros de TED para especificar al menos una acción que se comprometen a hacer en el Día Internacional de la Infancia para mejorar las vidas de los niños en sus respectivas comunidades. De esa manera, las personas pueden participar en la forma que mejor se adapte a sus necesidades individuales / organizacionales e intereses. En el día actual, podemos pedir a los participantes a decir lo que hizo y cómo muchos niños se vieron afectados por sus acciones y el total del número de niños en el mundo que se benefician de nuestros esfuerzos concertados.

  • A comment on Conversation: International Children's Day Focus

    Oct 12 2011: Jaime..

    .I was thinking we might start a blog & conversation ask all TED members to specify at least one action they will commit to doing on International Children's Day to improve the lives of children in their respective communities. In that manner, people can participate in a way that best suits their individual/organizational needs and interests. On the actual day, we can ask participants to say what they did and how many children were impacted by their actions AND total the number of children worldwide who benefited from our concerted efforts.
    __________________________________________________________________________________________
    Yo estaba pensando que podríamos iniciar un blog y una conversación pedir a todos los miembros de TED para especificar al menos una acción que se comprometen a hacer en el Día Internacional de la Infancia para mejorar las vidas de los niños en sus respectivas comunidades. De esa manera, las personas pueden participar en la forma que mejor se adapte a sus necesidades individuales / organizacionales e intereses. En el día actual, podemos pedir a los participantes a decir lo que hizo y cómo muchos niños se vieron afectados por sus acciones y el total del número de niños en el mundo que se benefician de nuestros esfuerzos concertados.

  • A comment on Conversation: It seems the conversationalists herein have relegated the golden rule to the worldâs list of bad ideas.

    Oct 12 2011: Great idea! Perhaps we'll introduce the idea to our members and our facebook followers in the future. The kids in my family LOVE eating everything with chopsticks...we're a pretty diverse group - African American, Latino, French, Korean, Native American and English. Their respective lives would be boring without the cultural infusions they've had from other people - YIKES! - they'd really be unhappy with the idea of no pizza, tacos, bagels, bulgogi

  • A comment on Conversation: It seems the conversationalists herein have relegated the golden rule to the worldâs list of bad ideas.

    Oct 12 2011: Thanks Nicholas!

  • A comment on Conversation: It seems the conversationalists herein have relegated the golden rule to the worldâs list of bad ideas.

    Oct 12 2011: Great idea! Perhaps we'll introduce the idea to our members and our facebook followers in the future. The kids in my family LOVE eating everything with chopsticks...we're a pretty diverse group - African American, Latino, French, Korean, Native American and English. Their respective lives would be boring without the cultural infusions they've had from other people - YIKES! - they'd really be unhappy with the idea of no pizza, tacos, bagels, bulgogi, sushi, baklava, hummus, won ton soup, etc.
  • +1

    A comment on Conversation: It seems the conversationalists herein have relegated the golden rule to the worldâs list of bad ideas.

    Oct 12 2011: Phil, I'm I'm new to TED so I'm not sure I'd do a better job than you. But for years, I've attempted to move beyond the notion of "tolerance" - and actually find the notion of being "tolerant" of others somewhat offensive.

    To me, being tolerant of someone else's differences implies that I don't necessarily respect, value and/or appreciate them but that - for the sake of appearing politically correct/safe - I'm willing to "put up with them." This represents a very passive attitude that is closer to exclusion than it is to inclusion. I truly believe that valuing someone else's difference does NOT require us to discount our own.

    I lead a non-profit organization that serves kids ages 5-12 and encouraging inclusion vs. tolerance is one of our core values. When you have a minute, take a look at our All-American-Kid Diversity Thanksgiving Video at: http://youtu.be/BjvDpF2YvFA - to see what I mean re:valuing another's own culture without discounting one's own.
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