Black Women Turn to One Another as Their Career Paths Suddenly Recede
The New York Times • • business
Key Points:
- Nneka Obiekwe, a consultant and networker, created a WhatsApp group called Black Women Rising in September to support out-of-work Black women professionals seeking job referrals and community.
- The group quickly grew to over 500 members within 24 hours, mostly midcareer or senior Black women who had been laid off recently.
- To better manage the high volume of daily messages, Obiekwe moved the group to Discord, where members share job updates, support, and experiences in organized channels.
- The community serves as both a networking platform and an emotional support space for Black women navigating job loss and career challenges.
