Vanity Jenkins

The Spencer Foundation is seeking applications for its Racial Equity Research Grants Program to support education research projects that will contribute to understanding and ameliorating racial inequality in education. For more information, visit https://lnkd.in/gqmuVD9v

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Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today (DYLOTT)‘s Black Diplomats Academy has stayed true to our commitment to address youth unemployment and representation challenges for almost a decade now. As a youth focused organization, we understand the significant negative headwinds that young workers face generally. Yesterday’s employment report published by Workforce WindsorEssex details the stark reality of the challenges facing young people in Windsor’s employment sector. Some key data findings in the report noted that: 📈 Windsor is Canada’s unemployment capital boasting “the highest youth unemployment rate at 18.2%” according to Statistics Canada | Statistique Canada. 📊 The national youth unemployment rate is currently 14.20%, while Ontario’s provincial rate stands at 13.5%. These datapoints represent the uphill climb that young people face and the urgent need for sustained investment in social and economic infrastructure for Canada’s fastest growing population demographic - Black youth. Our Black Diplomats Academy is meeting these challenges by creating our own innovative solutions utilizing the Sustainable Development Goals #SDGs. We’re excited to be able to unveil some of the ways we’re changing the narrative on youth employment in Windsor specifically and 🇨🇦 generally. Announcements loading………

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I am grateful to have been asked to contribute to this important discussion, and thank you to Katica Roy and MSNBC for highlighting the impact job losses have on Black women. When Black women are excluded from the workplace, decision-making tables lose insight, innovation, and resilience. That’s not just our loss, it’s everyone’s 🤷🏾‍♀️ Over 300,000 Black women have lost their jobs in the US since Trump’s return. Heartbreaking but not shocking. History shows us in both the US and the UK: when the economy dips, Black women are the first to feel it and the last to recover. Let’s be clear, this is not about capability, talent, or ambition. Black women bring immense value, perspective, and leadership to the workplace. These losses are about systems and biases that continue to push us out. The real tragedy is that when Black women are excluded, organisations and economies miss out on the very leadership and innovation needed to thrive in uncertain times. To all the Black women impacted in the US and here in the UK — your value is not diminished by this moment 👸🏾👸🏾 To leaders — protect your pipelines, invest in sponsorship, and recognise that the cost of losing Black women is far greater than any single job cut 💪🏾🙌🏾 Representation isn’t symbolic. It’s the difference between organisations that stagnate and those that thrive. POCIT 68/90

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The Impact of Black Women in Business & Leadership Black women have been powerhouses in business and leadership for centuries, shaping industries, breaking barriers, and creating opportunities where none existed. Their journey has been marked by resilience, brilliance, and an unshakable determination to succeed despite systemic obstacles. Take Madam C.J. Walker, a visionary entrepreneur who became the first self-made woman millionaire in America by revolutionizing the beauty industry. She didn’t just build wealth—she created jobs, empowered Black women economically, and paved the way for future generations. Today, and we see leaders like Rosalind Brewer, CEO of Walgreens, and Thasunda Brown Duckett, CEO of TIAA, steering billion-dollar companies with excellence. Bozoma Saint John, a marketing genius, has shaped global brands, while Janice Bryant Howroyd, the first Black woman to build a billion-dollar company, redefined what’s possible in business. Yet, their paths are not without struggle. Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, yet they receive less than 1% of venture capital funding. In corporate America, they are often underrepresented in executive roles and face both racial and gender biases that make leadership an uphill battle. And still, they rise—defying odds, setting new standards, and proving that diversity in leadership is not just a concept but a necessity. Their impact is undeniable: 🔹 Economic Growth: Black women-owned businesses generate billions, creating jobs and driving innovation. 🔹 Corporate Leadership: They are transforming industries, advocating for equity, and proving that representation at the top matters. 🔹 Legacy & Inspiration: Their success stories empower future generations to dream bigger and push further. "I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it!" Madam C.J. Walker This Black History Month, let’s not just celebrate Black women in leadership—let’s invest in them, amplify their voices, and ensure their contributions are recognized all year long. #CNJAssociates #BlackHistoryMonth #BlackWomenLeaders #WomenInBusiness #BlackExcellence

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Writing this book, I interviewed Black leaders who have mastered the art of navigating race in professional spaces. Their insights are both powerful and necessary. By examining the obstacles they face and the strategies they employ, we can gain a deeper understanding of the structures that shape Black professionals' work experiences. This understanding challenges us to reevaluate our workplaces and the day-to-day climate. It prompts us to ask: Do our policies truly support inclusion? By recognising the unseen hurdles black professionals navigate, we can look for other areas where systems may be failing individuals and take actionable steps to embed inclusive practices that ensure every employee has the opportunity to thrive. #Leadership #OrganisationalChange

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Excited to have participated in a women's panel at the Women’s Educational Leadership Network Conference alongside Dr. Abrams and Dr. Tahiliani. Our discussion centered on strategies to dismantle systemic barriers and empower women of color. Sharing insights from our research, we emphasized the significance of building relational trust among leaders, providing tools to break through glass and concrete ceilings in leadership, and highlighting the importance of self-care in these roles. #Empowerment #LeadershipDevelopment #WomenInLeadership

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Today, Apprenticeships for America released a new report documenting the growing diversity in apprenticeship degrees. Our report brings together interviews from twenty-three leading practitioners and illustrates the range of approaches educational institutions are taking in developing and implementing apprenticeship degree efforts. Thanks to report authors Jooyoung Voeller, Ed.D. and Chris Zirkle who created an amazing report. We're also grateful to the many schools who participated in the study, including: Reach University, Trident Technical College, Foothill College, Columbus State Community College, Dallas College, Front Range Community College, Harper College, Howard Community College, Ivy Tech Community College, Lake Region State College, Macomb Community College, Metropolitan State University of Denver, Pima Community College, and Santiago Canyon College. These institutions are leading the way in creating a world where jobs lead to degrees, instead of the other way around. Finally, AFA is grateful to the ECMC Foundation for supporting this work. https://lnkd.in/gjb9_Kmy

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