About the Author
Patti cultivates homegrown changemakers prepared to step into their power and work with others to create the world they want to live in. Get in touch to find out how you can grow the social changemaker in yourself and those you serve with Blue Roads Changemaker YOU.
As you follow Changemaker Sixcia Devine's amazing journey, you will see the spark she was born with ignite the hearts and minds of others as her generous spirit catches FIRE and turns into something truly magical.
Tune in to this episode of “On Your Own Terms,” to learn about Sixcia's special twist on our “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”. You can watch, you can listen, or your can read – whatever strikes your fancy below.
Homegrown Sixcia
My parents came from a small village in the northern part of Dominican Republic, and they were married very young. They fell in love. They wanted to live their life in a way that was different from others by coming to the United States.
Sixcia's unique name came from her grandfather. When she was born, her grandfather suggested her name include the word “Six,” reflecting the number of years and the number of surgeries it took before she was born. He also suggested her mother include the letters “CIA” in her name because it took so much determination to get her here! Six + CIA = Sixcia!
Despite having to explain her name often and sometimes being teased, Sixcia learned to appreciate the beauty and uniqueness of her special name.
Everybody has some kind of a story. The power of your name and how you became the individual you are through your parents, through your environment, through your upbringing and the experiences that you've collected is something to share with others.
Solution-Focused Sixcia
My grandmother’s message was, “Listen, life is going to be tough. Life is going to be hard.” Life is difficult, but you could always make it.
Sixcia's journey included limited resources and a challenging environment in high school.
There was just a lot of violence, a lot of shootings. Many of my friends ended up dying, getting pregnant, or going to jail.
After-school inner city programs were instrumental in transforming her life. Despite the challenges faced in the inner city, programs like Upward Bound provided her with vital academic skills. Through her dedication and involvement in these initiatives, she achieved a significant milestone—acceptance into the University of Rhode Island via the esteemed Talent Development program. Talent Development focuses on recruiting and supporting Rhode Island high school graduates from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, with a majority of its recipients being Scholars of color.
With their support and her own determination, Sixcia finally acquired the study skills, thinking skills, and math skills that had been lacking in her high school education. Most significantly, she developed a learning system all her own that proved to be invaluable in her academic journey.
Her learning system included a three-part philosophy: Vision, Strategy, and Action. Sixcia approached all her challenges with these three steps:
- Determine the VISION – Where do I want to go?
- Establish a STRATEGY – What will it take to get there?
- Take ACTION – DO what it takes to get there!
With this kind of hard work and dedication, Sixcia graduated with a dual degree in communication and Spanish and a minor in international development. Her accomplishment was a testament to her resilience and determination to succeed despite the challenges she had faced.
Although Sixcia wanted to attend graduate school, she couldn't afford it at the time. With some savvy networking, she landed a job at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. This position was the launching point from which her career took off in a big way.
Sixcia's Patchwork
I was in the same room with these worldly leaders that were making important decisions. I was just so grateful to be present, the importance of seeing how education can be put to use on a worldly level. It inspired me to move on.
Sixcia's next stop was pursuing her dreams in Paris with her eye on a graduate degree. Although she eventually decided that wasn't for her, the experience in Paris gave her the courage to start her own business called Speak Now, where she taught people to speak Spanish.
Sixcia's dedication to helping others in her business venture did not go unnoticed. She was soon recruited to work at the Center for Women and Enterprise, where she helped women start and grow their own businesses, too. Sixcia was witnessing first hand, the impact of generosity in business development and the importance of empowering others.
Sixcia is a visionary strategist and inspiring model of servant leadership, dedicated to empowering thousands of entrepreneurs. Through her transformative approach known as Vision Strategy and Action, she has guided countless individuals in starting and growing their businesses. With her unwavering commitment to being of service, Sixcia emerged as an exceptional leader in her industry. Her remarkable achievements include collaborations with renowned companies like Google, and her influence has extended globally as she has traveled to 14 different countries to date.
Sixcia's expertise and passion have inspired a new wave of aspiring leaders around the world, making a lasting impact on the entrepreneurial landscape. Through it all, she has maintained the mind and heart of a learner and a giver.
Changemaker Sixcia
Sixcia tells the story of how her mother's model of generosity inspired her. When her mom visited the Dominican Republic, she would carry whatever toys she could fit in her suitcase back to give to children there. Sixcia saw this and knew that she could do something more.
If a few toys could make a few children happy, what could many more toys do? A trip to D.R. with hundreds of stuffed animals soon gave her the answer.
Since that first toy delivery trip in 2010, Sixcia's generosity and influence have grown exponentially.
Sixcia spreads the word about her changemaking initiatives as a highly sought after keynote speaker captivating audiences from corporations, universities, and nonprofits alike as she shares her remarkable journey and humanitarian work. Her compelling style of storytelling sheds light on the transformative impact of her efforts, leaving a lasting impression on her listeners. Her engagements serve as a catalyst for change, motivating individuals and organizations to make a positive difference in the world.
To extend an invitation to Sixcia Devine as a speaker for your upcoming conference or to join her on the transformative “Take a Trip, Change a Life” Humanitarian Retreats, please visit her official websites at www.SixciaDevine.com andwww.caritasmile.org.
For direct communication, she welcomes you to email her at sixcia@gmail.com.
Don't miss the opportunity to engage with Sixcia and experience her generous spirit and life-changing insights firsthand.
Sixcia's acts of compassion are a catalyst for the kinds of positive changes that can advance many of the Sustainable Development Goals by the year 2030.
Do you see her work in these goals?
Goal #1 – No Poverty
Goal #3 – Good Health and Well-Being
Goal #4 – Quality Education. She is also advancing
Goal #11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities.
Have I missed anything?
Please get in touch and let me know!
I also hope you'll let us know what YOU and people you know are doing to realize these Global Goals.
They are attainable when we all take our places as Changemakers!
CHECK OUT our CHANGEMAKER YOU course to help you get started today!
Patti cultivates homegrown changemakers prepared to step into their power and work with others to create the world they want to live in. Get in touch to find out how you can grow the social changemaker in yourself and those you serve with Blue Roads Changemaker YOU.
