Uplift: Recognizing Dr. Gladys West's significant contribtions to GPS technology and importance of June 19th.

Two-time Emmy and Three-time NAACP Image Award-winning, television Executive Producer Rushion McDonald interviewed Dr. Jacque Rushin & Robyn Donaldson. ROBYN DONALDSON & JACKIE RUSHIN 🎙️ Podcast Overview This special Juneteenth episode of Money Making Conversations Masterclass , hosted by Rushion McDonald, features Dr. Jacque Rushin and Robyn Donladson, two award-winning educators and thought leaders. The episode commemorates the legacy of Dr. Gladys B. West , a pioneering mathematician whose calculations led to the creation of GPS. Together, the guests discuss how her story ties into the mission of Juneteenth , the importance of STEM education, and their newly launched Westward Bound life and STEM skills program. 📚 About Dr. Gladys B. West • Legacy : Mathematician and GPS pioneer • Era : Born in 1930, came of age during segregation • Alma Mater : Virginia State University (HBCU), later earned a PhD • Recognition : Often called a “living hidden figure”—though not featured in the Hidden Figures film • Current Home : Fredericksburg, VA 📘 Books Discussed • It Began With a Dream : Dr. West’s memoir, chronicling her life from sharecropping roots to GPS trailblazer • Westward Bound : A curriculum-based program developed by Dunson and Rushing inspired by Dr. West’s principles 💡 Key Themes & Insights • Juneteenth Connection : The delayed recognition of Dr. West mirrors the delayed liberation of enslaved Black Americans • STEM Equity : Many students aren’t underperforming—they’re underexposed. The Westward Bound program seeks to close that gap • Mental Health & Tech : While Dr. West helped pioneer GPS, she herself still uses maps to keep her mind sharp—a warning about over-reliance on tech • AI & Overconsumption : Dr. Rushin draws attention to how misuse of AI and technology can impair critical thinking and mental wellness • STEM as Liberation : STEM exposure is not just about careers—it’s a path to freedom, agency, and long-term resilience 🎓 About Westward Bound • Mission : Teach not just hard skills (STEM) but soul skills —endurance, vision, self-awareness, and purpose • Framework : Uses the acronym W.E.S.T. (Wisdom, Endurance, Strategy, Tracking) • Audience : Underserved communities, students, adults in transition, entrepreneurs • Access : Currently partnering with colleges, camps, and educational programs nationwide 🔁 Personal Journeys • Dr. Jacque Rushin : A humanitarian, mental health expert, and curriculum developer who fuses wellness and educational development • Robyn Donaldson : A global STEM advocate and 2025 Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. She discovered Dr. West’s book and launched the movement to amplify her story 📣 Call to Action Listeners are encouraged to include Dr. Gladys West in Juneteenth programming, integrate It Began With a Dream into school libraries, and explore the Westward Bound program as a tool for transformative education. Visit stemxposure.org or call (813) 990‑7700 for more info. #best #straw #shms Support the show: https://www.steveharveyfm.com/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.