Tara Jae, PhD, MFA’s Post

🌟 **Supporting Black Women: Steps to Make a Difference** 🌟 Black women face unique challenges and struggles that often go unnoticed. It's time to step up (or continue stepping up) and show our support in meaningful ways. Here are some impactful steps you can take: 1. **Listen and Learn** 🧠   Take the time to listen to the experiences and stories of Black women. Educate yourself on the issues they face and understand the systemic barriers in place. Don't discount their experiences - they are valid and they have value. 2. **Amplify Their Voices** 🎤   Use your platform to amplify the voices of Black women. Share their work, stories, and achievements. Ensure they are heard and recognized. 3. **Support Black-Owned Businesses** 💼   Make a conscious effort to support Black-owned businesses. Your support can help create economic opportunities and growth within the community. 4. **Advocate for Equity** ⚖️   Stand up against discrimination and inequality. Advocate for policies and practices that promote equity and inclusion in your workplace and community. 5. **Mentorship and Sponsorship** 🤝   Offer mentorship and sponsorship to Black women in your professional network. Help them navigate their careers and open doors to new opportunities. 6. **Donate and Volunteer** 💖   Contribute to organizations that support Black women and their causes. Volunteering your time and resources can make a significant impact. 7. **Check Your Privilege** 🛑   Acknowledge your own privilege and use it to support and uplift Black women. Be an ally in both words and actions. Supporting Black women is not just a moment but a commitment to ongoing action and solidarity. Together, we can create a more just and equitable world. 💪🏾✨ #SupportBlackWomen #Equity #Inclusion #Allyship #BlackLivesMatter #CommunitySupport

🌟 Celebrating Women's History Month! 🌟  Black feminists worldwide are doing powerful, transformative, intersectional work. Yet, according to a 2018 Human Rights Funders Network study, less than half of one percent of the nearly $70 billion in foundation giving globally goes to Black feminist groups and initiatives. Of all human rights groups that receive philanthropic funding, only five percent focus on issues that primarily affect Black women, girls, and trans and gender-diverse people. But not for long. Founded in 2021, the Black Feminist Fund aims to significantly increase the resources available to Black feminist movements globally and radically change the way Black feminist movements are funded. BFF is dedicated to supporting grassroots movements around the world that are fighting oppressive systems and building a world that offers Black women and gender-expansive people space, security, and autonomy. #WomensHistoryMonth #Empowerment #Equality #Inspiration

This post perfectly articulates the need for a shift in focus within the DEI industry. By acknowledging its roots in the Civil Rights Movement and the fight against White supremacy, we can begin to dismantle systemic inequities and work towards true justice and equality. The emphasis on values, history, and collective action is crucial for meaningful change. It's time for DEI efforts to move beyond surface-level engagement and profit-driven motivations to truly address the issues. #antiracist #diversity #inclusion #equity

Unpopular opinion: DEI has failed Black women. I’m writing a story about how DEI hasn’t done enough for Black women. Some enslaved Black women raised and breast fed enslavers children. Many of them picked cotton from sunrise to sundown or until they were shot for passing out or stopping. Others threw their babies overboard before even getting to the colonies. Black women have been and continue to be the backbone of this country. So many of us have fought and died for a country that doesn’t even love us back. DEI has failed all of us by not recognizing three things. 1) We are not a monolith 2) We are more than our trauma 3) We are no longer accepting performative allyship DEI advocates, we don’t want more trainings and initiatives. We want to be hired in leadership roles and have decision making power. We want to truly be seen and heard. Is that too much to ask for? #blacklinkedin #linkedin #linkedincommunity #DEI #deib #diversity #equity #inclusion #blackwomen #blackpeople #inclusion #blackexcellence #blackgirlsrock #blackgirlmagic #quotestoliveby #quotesdaily

During transitional phases, folding a chair at the table often feels like the only option. As international students navigating U.S. higher education, we must stay mindful of the prejudices we face in the job market. Today, I had a wake-up call: not all organizations that claim authenticity live up to their mission and objectives. Social justice is a buzzword, especially in today’s job market. It’s tossed around so often that its meaning has become layered and diluted. One of the most glaring challenges is how a candidate's status in a foreign country carries immense weight with hiring managers, staff, and faculty. The moment status is brought up, candidates can be sidelined and dismissed. Status is a token of power and influence, but one that many don’t fully grasp. This fixation on status has weighed on me for over a decade. Recently, in reflecting with my therapist and a frat brother, I realized that for the past decade, I’ve been searching for the “perfect” job. I’ve admired Black professionals in marketing, social media, and education, witnessing their determination and success. I’ve even sought to understand how they’ve achieved their accomplishments, but their journeys—while beautiful—are incomparable to mine. Life is not linear. One solution may not fit everyone's life. Sometimes, you have to create your own table and take control. Don’t be afraid to step into your power and your purpose. Fold that chair and take a seat—what are they going to do about it? Radical acts create radical change. #SocialJustice #InternationalStudents #JobMarket #HigherEd #BlackProfessionals #PowerAndStatus #CreateYourOwnTable #RadicalChange #StepIntoYourPurpose

Every Level Leadership's Black Women Thriving report highlights how workplaces can support Black women to thrive, not just survive at work. The report also includes specific sections on #burnout. It surveys 1,431 Black women (cisgender and transgender) and gender-expansive professionals working in the public sector, private sector, and non-profit organizations across the U.S. 🌟Read the report: https://lnkd.in/gQy-N9PB 🌟Follow Ericka Hines, JD, Principal of Every Level Leadership for more of this content. #blackmentalhealthmatters #blackmentalhealth #workplacementalhealth #workplacewellbeing #blackhistorymonth

Funding Black feminist convening spaces is even more important with the increasing rollback on rights, attacks on racial justice wins, and the uncertain context racial justice activists and organizations are having to navigate. As we reflect on the Black Feminisms Forum organized by the Black Feminist Fund, Jewel Antoine and I share our thoughts on the effort, impact and joy of having inter-generational Black feminist convening spaces, and the importance of funding them.🌼

"...far too few people beyond other Black women and femmes care about our victimization or the energy we expend struggling against injustice." What will it take for folks to not use our ideas and strategies without crediting us or centering injustices against us? Should Black women, girls and femmes give up on expecting anyone other than us to care? Is solidarity even a meaningful goal if folks continuously fail to cite our labor and center our marginalization?The problem we endure is one of constant erasure. For example, the origins of anti-rape activism in the U.S., although largely attributed to feminist activists in the 1970s, date back more than 150 years."... examining the conditions in which harm thrives...compels us to care about, prevent and address harm outside of a punitive context through investment in areas like #nonprofit #education, #health, #housing and #employment, areas in which Black women, femmes and girls combat notable #bias, #disparities and #inequities.https://https://lnkd.in/gpFw-4_n

Looking for a space to connect over Black girl magic and innovation? Save the date for #BlackGirlFreedomWeek! Join and participate in virtual events and conversations that celebrate our stories, creativity, and leadership! Register now and tune in this week, February 12-18, 2024: https://lnkd.in/dfJ6aPz Black Girls Freedom Week is an annual celebration of Black Girls and Gender Expansive youth designed to uplift the infinite possibilities that lie before them. This year’s theme is “Black Girl Freedom Week: A Future of Justice and Democracy”. This particular week was chosen in honor of Black History Month and the birthdays of pioneering thought leaders in the Black Feminist movement, Audre Lorde and Toni Morrison. Black Girl Freedom Week is hosted as part of the Black Girl Freedom Fund campaign, #1Billion4BlackGirls. This campaign, launched in 2020, is a 10-year philanthropic initiative designed to invest one billion dollars in the brain trust, innovation, health, safety, education, artistic visions, research, and joy of Black girls and their families. According to the Ms. Foundation for Women's landmark study on philanthropy, women and girls of color account for 0.5% of $66.9 billion given by foundations, totaling just $5.48 per woman and girls of color in the United States. Black Girl Freedom Fund is the largest initiative at Grantmakers for Girls of Color which is fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy advisors; this partnership highlights the systemic change that can be achieved through collaboration and the targeted philanthropy organizations with a common vision and shared commitment to dismantling oppressive systems.  For too long, philanthropy has overlooked the needs of Black girls and gender-expansive youth. Until now. Help us mobilize #1Billion4BlackGirls and support our collective liberation with 1billion4blackgirls.org