Fellow UT alums and others ... enjoy !
Longtime AKA Soror Arleas Kea was a member of Delta Xi Chapter of AKA at UT (with me...)
The link below takes you to podcasts-- you will see “A Woman of Many Firsts” on Arleas
https://www.fdic.gov/news/
“Moving On” article on Arleas: https://fdicnet.fdic.gov/
The CFC profile piece from the Washington Post profile on Arleas as a Philanthropic leader is now available --the digital version.
The Center for Women in Law hosted a Perspectives Series Event: A Conversation with Distinguished Alumna Arleas Upton Kea, ’82, Deputy to the Chairman for External Affairs, FDIC, and Veronica Vargas Stidvent, Executive Director of the Center for Women in Law. A video of the interview can be found here.
UT video—Arleas Distinguished Alumni video is now published too! https://www.youtube.com/watch?
Wash Post profile on Arleas! https://ourpublicservice.org/
Arleas’ Talking Points (EXCELLENT TO SHARE!!)
Chairman’s Town Hall 12-2-21
·
Thank you, to the Chairman for
inviting me to speak
one last town hall meeting for 2021 - a
significant year for me.
·
And
I especially want to thank you, and all
of the senior leadership for empowering all of the members of the team to use so much creativity to put together such a beautiful program on
yesterday --commemorating my 40
years of service.
·
For
those of you did not get a chance to log into the program, I will just take
this moment to also express my appreciation to everyone who touched the plans
for the program and contributed to it. The
team included DOA, OCOM, and OMWI. It
was a wonderful example of collaboration to get something done in these unusual
times.
·
I did not know what to expect – for those of
you who had schedules that did not allow you to view the program- I understand
it will be available for you to watch later.
·
Chairman McWilliams, when you called me a LEGEND - I knew I would not be able to
go to sleep last night, but would reflect on the program for most of the night
·
The
combination of Dan Bendler as the
moderator who had a brilliant mix of
humor and seriousness all at the same time --and the content selected for the
program made me feel like I was at a production made for Hollywood- and I am
still in awe that it was made for me.
·
And
the great silver lining to the
program was that so many from around the nation were able to join me in the
celebration.
·
I have to recap-
especially for those of you who were not able to watch
·
The
program began with the singing of the National
Anthem by the National combined
choir of the National Historically Black Colleges and Univ., followed by --
to my pleasant surprise, a showing of tribute video that was made
to honor me as a distinguished graduate at my alma mater, the Univ. of Texas
just a few weeks ago….Then there was a thoughtful photo montage, and the tributes - that walk down memory lane with
all of those former Chairmen was terrific- and good to see that the former
Chairmen remain active as they have gone on to make contributions in other
areas
o Then there were the very touching
remarks from Director
Gruenberg,
o Remarks from the Employee Resource Groups, friends, professional colleagues external
to FDIC and then the awesome Board
Resolution presented by Chairman McWilliams
·
It
is one thing to have had a storied journey like mine, but it is an
extraordinary experience to listen to how others have experienced my journey
through their eyes
·
Chairman McWilliams, I just want you and
everyone to know that you have done an excellent job commemorating my service
and I could not have expected anything more.
It was perfect.
·
I
have received more e-mail messages
than I can respond to in one day- but I will try my best to respond to all of you who have written to me and in
response to your many requests, I also promise
to e-mail my Kea’s Keys that I referred to as well.
· As I prepare to end my nearly forty
years of federal service to our great nation – and let me just say 40 years is a
long time --- I really want to pay tribute to the FDIC
·
For
only at the FDIC are people like me – able to work within the organization to seek out and grab opportunities that I have had. I had to laugh as my children- who were able to watch
the virtual program with me kept pointing out things that they did not know
about me--- and my work and they kept telling me that they had no idea of the
extent of my difficult early history or the
breath of my accomplishments external to the FDIC.
·
And
so before I leave the FDIC, I want you to know that I have been preparing for this moment – not just
over the past few months since I announced my retirement. Rather, I would like to think that in
everything that I have done throughout my career – was done in an effort to positively
impact the future of this great organization.
·
I’ve
learned so much over the years, collected a lot of treasure, and I’d like to
now briefly share with you some
reflections –- which I hope will inspire you to continue to understand and
support the mission of the FDIC and at the same time be the best you can be.
o Listen well –
this results in better understanding, better relationships, better teamwork
o Don’t be afraid to be a change agent
o Be a forever learner – continue to develop yourself – we have so many resources here at the
FDIC
o Study hard to connect to the mission – no matter what your position or job description
says… Determine how it fits in the big picture and always keep in mind that
whatever contribution you are making ultimately supports the mission
o Seek to understand how the FDIC’s mission impacts you, families,
communities, and the nation as a whole
o No matter what division or office
you’re in – when you are asked by family and friends – what do you do at the
FDIC – your response should be – to
ensure the safety and soundness of our nation’s banking system
o There are so many resources, opportunities, in some cases they present
themselves as a void or a need in our organization.
This is where you your own initiative comes in – seek those
opportunities, find out how you can be more involved to support it
·
As
you all continue to the face the challenges associated with DEI - I would ask you to remember that,
here at the FDIC, as you all work
together – there is more that connects
you than separates you, and there is enough of everything to ensure that
everyone gets what they need
·
I
would encourage you to continue to be supportive of one another at all levels
·
In
addition, the pandemic has provided us
with the opportunity to think about all aspects of our work differently. It has allowed us to examine how we can take advantage of technology, to be
more flexible in every aspect of our mission
·
I
would say to all of you to continue to embrace
technology and keep it at the forefront of everything that you do.
·
So
much of what has been attributed to me as accomplishments – could not have been
possible without the help and support, and encouragement of so many.
·
As
I am in my last few days of addressing many of you as an officer and leader of
this great organization – parting is
indeed bitter sweet – but I have come to realize that for this part of my life journey – I have reached my destination
·
I
will now be exploring new venture, charting new journeys, & seeking new
destinations
·
From the bottom of my heart – I thank
you all. May God continue to bless you
all richly & I wish you all a very happy holiday season.
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