2022 Black Well-being Final w links for Web 11.29.22 - Flipbook - Page 14
BLACK WELL-BEING REPORT 2022
BLACK FUTURE CO-OP FUND
A Global Pandemic
In 2020, COVID became a new reality for us. COVID data, like many other data sets, show that Black people continue to be disproportionately
harmed.9 We felt those impacts most harshly on our physical health, jobs, housing, education, and mental health — all the result of systems
that have not produced well-being for us. Yet, we mobilized to form mutual aid networks, advocated for more services, and did for each other
what our systems did not.
The Political Landscape
Nationally, we’ve had many shifts in the political landscape. The 2016
presidential election and resulting political action drew so much
of our attention. Most recently, the overturning of Roe v. Wade will
impact Black women greatly as we represent four of 10 abortions in
the U.S.10 Locally, we began redistricting — a process to create new
political boundaries, changing who votes for which people and laws
in a district. Washington voters haven’t passed important measures
like Referendum 88 on affirmative action, which impacts Black
people across experiences in education, health, economics, and
more.11
Workforce Shifts
Following the onset of the pandemic, people have and continue to
quit their jobs in record numbers.12 Black people are over-represented in
industries where people are traditionally overworked and underpaid.
For those able to work from home, a reduction in the emotional labor
and the ability to be with family have been a welcome change for
many. Many Black-led organizations are shifting work practices to
support the well-being of both the organization and the people who
work there. This includes raising salaries to a living wage for all staff,13
moving to four-day work weeks,14 encouraging rest and sabbaticals,15
and shifting leadership models to that of shared leadership.16
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