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In Honor of Rev. Jesse Jackson 🕊️ "Never look down on anybody unless you're helping them up." These words, spoken by a man who dedicated his life to lifting people communities, movements, and the forgotten live on in the work we do every single day. Rev. Jesse Jackson taught us that true leadership is found in the act of reaching down and pulling someone up with you. At the CA Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute, we carry that lesson forward and we pour it into th

I recently transitioned from the world of federal executive leadership and strategic consulting into a role that feels deeply personal: leading research and programs at the CA Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute  (CABWCEI) . This move was sparked by a simple, albeit heavy, realization. Having spent years in the rooms where national policy is shaped, I’ve seen firsthand how high-level decisions often fail to reach the very people they are meant to protect. My journe

CA Black Women's Collective welcomes Dr. Rhianna C. Rogers as SVP of Research & Programs

I didn’t set out to build an organization. I set out to build a container, a place sturdy enough to hold the truth of Black women’s lives.

By Kellie Todd Griffin

When Black girls receive support, guidance, and opportunity, their brilliance expands what is possible for all of us. Unfortunately, data from our 2025 State of Black Women in California  Report shows that many of our girls are navigating systems where opportunity is unevenly distributed. But in spite of challenges like limited access to advanced coursework and higher rates of family housing and economic instability, they continue to demonstrate exceptional ambition and resil

Black women are an essential part of California’s progress — leading classrooms, businesses, and movements that keep our communities strong. Yet, as the 2025 State of Black Women in California Report  makes clear, we continue to face barriers that limit opportunity and threaten well-being. Today, the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute releases this year’s report — the most comprehensive look yet at how Black women are faring across the state. The findin

We've always known that when Black women work, our communities rise. This isn't just a saying; it's a truth woven into the fabric of our history. Yet, recent national trends reveal a disturbing reality. Across the country, Black women are facing disproportionate job losses, pushing them out of the workforce at alarming rates. This isn't a simple economic downturn—it is the result of deep-seated systemic inequities that have always placed an unequal burden on our shoulders. It

Black women have always been the heartbeat of democracy—organizing neighbors, turning out voters, and holding power accountable. In California, that work is unmistakably changing who leads and how policy is made. From statewide constitutional offices to city halls and county government, our votes and our voice are moving the needle—often against the headwinds of under-representation and structural barriers. The wins we can see Two statewide constitutional offices led by Black

This year, more than 300,000 Black women have been laid off or pushed out of the U.S. workforce.

By Dr. Sharon Uche & Kellie Todd Griffin   Executive Summary For far too long, Black women have been caught in the crosshairs of race and...

– Report Reveals Persistent Wage Gaps Compared to White Men and Provides Policy Solutions to Address Economic Inequalities – SACRAMENTO,...

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from my journey—it’s that progress is never promised. Every step forward in our history, every...

Colette Harris Mathews discusses policy priorities at the CA Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute's Leg Day in Sacramento....

"I am my sister’s keeper," recited Dr. Kimberlé Crenshaw, a leading scholar on intersectionality, during her powerful TED Talk addressing...

The 2023 California Black Women's Quality of Life Survey, commissioned by the California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute...

In a society as richly diverse as ours, the beauty of Black women shines with unparalleled grace and strength. This beauty is more than...

California Black Women's Collective Empowerment Institute launches the The Beauty of Black Women Campaign , a multifaceted initiative...

By Raksha Kopparam, Senior Research Associate California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute Last month, the U.S. Bureau of...

For Immediate Release Contact: Phyllis Banks pbanks@cablackwomenscollective.org CARSON, CA – (Jan. 13, 2024) – In response to Gov. Gavin...