Gina Parker Collins: Support and Diversity on the Rise!

Posted: March 5th, 2010 | 2 Comments »

As a professional woman with an active family life, Gina Parker Collins has balanced it all – high-profile job, fulsome kids’ schedule and time for her husband. These days, Gina is juggling a bit more, as she has launched RIISE www.4RIISE.org, a wonderful resource for families of color at independent schools. With a mission to help these schools accurately reflect the diversity of their communities, and the families integrate into the school environment, Gina provides much needed support, bridging gaps for a more harmonious tomorrow.

Job: Founder, RIISE-Resources In Independent School Education: www.4RIISE.org

Age: 40 somethin’

Family situation: Married to Keith for 13 years and blessed to have Elon & Chaz as my kids!

How do you make sure you feel good everyday? I wake up giving thanks to God.

What inspires you to do the work that you do? I’m living my work.

I am fundamentally inspired by women and other people of color who came before me to live a life unadulterated by what others think we can and cannot achieve. I am also inspired by my children and the incredible educational privilege they have in attending an independent school. Because they are traversing an environment where they are not part of the dominant culture there is this desire to be fully supportive of private school education and the community it serves by protecting, retaining, and attracting a diverse community.

I was more intimately inspired to start RIISE because of personally witnessing many families of color not returning to school, along with statistically increased attrition rates of families of color at private schools.

Although I did not attend private schools I did find institutional familiarity through my tenure in the corporate world. I too was in a privileged community of executives, yet not part of the dominant culture. I had a vision to implement some of the strategies I had learned from my corporate experience around diversity and inclusion to support well-balanced retention in our schools.

How did you muster up the courage/confidence/stamina to create the life you have? By visualizing it, asking for it, working towards it, plus a whole lot of faith.

What’s your approach to nutrition? A twice a year Vibrant Cleanse allows my body time to heal and rest from overindulgence. When I finish the fast, my body seems to seek out a more healthy diet full of veggies, less dairy, less meat, and less craving for the foods I don’t tolerate well.

How do you stay inspired when difficult challenges arise? I try to be still and count my blessings. This, along with prayer, puts things in proper perspective so I can move ahead successfully.

What do you do to stay in balance? I’m still working on the balancing act, but one thing is for sure, if I don’t overschedule myself and the kids, we are all less stressed. Eating well and exercise helps me stay focused and energized. And date night with the spouse always helps.

What’s your ultimate indulgence – just for you? Facials and great wine!

What advice do you have for women aiming to have it all? Realize that you already have it all. The manifestation of what it is you want requires patience and faith.

Vision boards and affirmations are another contributor to getting what you want. And then there is this thing called hesitation…

If you stare at it long enough / the mountain becomes unclimbable. / Tally it up. How much time have you spent / waiting for the soup to cool? / Icicles hang from January gutters / only as long as they can. Fingers pause above piano keys for the chord / that will not form. Slam them down / I say. Make music of what you can.
- Charles Rafferty, from “Against Hesitation”

Any other thoughts? I need to post my inspired profile on my mirror for daily reference!