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Why You Still Need Career Training in the Age of AI: 3 Powerful Courses to Reclaim Your Future

While AI can provide instant responses, it can’t replicate the confidence, qualifications, or actionable guidance that comes from real experience. At The SOFEI Group, we empower women to escape the cycle of poverty through practical, skill-focused career training that opens doors to genuine opportunities! If you’re contemplating the value of investing in professional training, here’s why these three online programs are crucial for success in today’s job market: 💻 1. Microsoft Office 2019 Complete Training Bundle You can’t afford to “kinda know” Word or Excel anymore. Our complete Microsoft Office course gives you hands-on practice to confidently manage documents, spreadsheets, email, and more skills employers still ask for every day. What You’ll Learn: Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook Time-saving tools for managing tasks Document formatting and spreadsheet functions How to stand out in admin or entry-level roles 🟣 Perfect for Job seekers, career starters, and ...

Boycotts and the Broken Promise of DEI: The Real Cost in Economically Vulnerable Communities

Several major corporations, including Target, Walmart, and Dollar General, have retracted their commitments to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This shift has sparked a public backlash, with many individuals and groups calling for boycotts of these companies. While the reactions are rooted in genuine frustration over DEI practices, it is essential to consider the potential consequences of these actions, particularly for employees in communities that already face challenges related to limited job opportunities and career growth. The Economic Reality Numerous companies play a significant role as major employers in rural areas, urban food deserts, and communities of color. They provide job opportunities, often the sole options available, that require minimal qualifications - making these positions accessible entry points for individuals facing employment challenges, including single mothers, formerly incarcerated individuals, and those without higher education. The C...

At the Crossroads: Black Women and Employment in the Post-Trump Era

Since 2017, Black women’s labor market experience has reflected both deep systemic inequities and the fallout from significant policy shifts. Our analysis of employment trends, using data from the Department of Labor and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, reveals a nuanced picture: Black women made pre-pandemic employment gains but suffered greater economic losses during the COVID-19 pandemic, followed by an uneven and incomplete recovery. Key Trends: Occupational Segregation: Many Black women remain in underpaid, undervalued roles in caregiving, retail, and service industries—jobs most vulnerable to job cuts and instability. Policy Rollbacks: The erosion of DEI programs and worker protections has closed off paths to career advancement. Childcare Crisis: The lack of investment in affordable, accessible childcare has forced many women to reduce hours or leave the workforce entirely. Persistent Pay Gap: Black women earn just 66¢ for every dollar earned by white men—a figure that h...

Thriving With Joy: Why Women Deserve More Than Just Survival

Society has long conditioned women to subtly and overtly regard daily survival as sufficient. Many women live minimally and celebrate getting through the day rather than striving for personal growth and achievement. This mindset often leads to feelings of guilt when desiring more from life. However, operating in survival mode is not a natural state; it restricts our true potential and possibilities for a fulfilling life. Embracing the idea of thriving can unlock opportunities for spiritual, emotional, and financial growth and fulfillment as a daily practice, not as a once-a-year vacation. The Survival Trap Many women who feel like they are simply existing often prioritize the needs of others above their own. They may experience guilt when taking time to rest or believe that struggling is a virtue. Survival mode can deceive them with messages like, "You should be grateful for what you have" when they dare to dream, or "That's selfish" when they try to prior...

Trump Administration's Recent Policies: Impact on Women of Color

An analysis of recent policy changes and their implications for economic equity, healthcare access, and opportunity Since returning to office in January 2025, the Trump administration has implemented several significant policy changes that directly impact women of color across multiple dimensions of economic and social life. This analysis examines these policies through the lens of pay equity, career advancement, childcare access, healthcare, and affordable housing. Pay Equity and Career Advancement The administration's approach to workplace regulations has raised concerns among equity advocates. In March 2025, the Labor Department suspended the implementation of pay data collection requirements intended to identify wage disparities based on gender and race. This rollback of transparency measures could make it more challenging to identify and address systemic pay gaps that disproportionately affect women of color, who continue to experience the widest wage disparities in the Am...

From Summit to Senate: Seeing Ourselves in Every Seat of Power

I’ve been thinking about Marian Wright Edelman’s reminder that “you can’t be what you can’t see.” Those seven words sit at the heart of our C1B1 Summit, and if I’m honest, they sit at the heart of my story, too. A Moment of Recognition When I was a young girl thumbing through social-studies textbooks, powerful Black women were footnotes at best; however, I felt an unmistakable tug inside: One day, I’ll help women like me step onto bigger stages. Fast forward to today, that tug has a name inspired by Marian Wright Edelman: The C1B1 Summit. From Conference Ballroom to Congressional Floor At each summit, we spotlight women who have overcome barriers in tech, finance, health, and public service. However, in the current political climate, I find myself drawn to one arena in particular: Congress. Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm - was not supposed to win in 1968, yet she became the first Black woman in the House. Representative Ayanna Pressley - said she ran “not to make history but to...

When You Feel Stuck, Build a Bridge: A Message for Every Woman on the Edge of Her Purpose

The unique ache that comes from knowing your calling and feeling like you can't afford to answer it is a raw, painful space between knowing what you're meant to do and having the resources to embrace it. This is where many brilliant women find themselves today, and where I found myself just this week. The Confession No One Expects from a Leader I woke up feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and unsure about my next career move because I know my purpose and love what I do through my nonprofit, The SOFEI Group. Bills, burnout, and lack of support felt heavier than my vision, and the thought that "my time on this earth is running out, and I still haven't made it", crept in before I could stop it. This harsh thought motivated me to share this blog post with you today. If you feel like you're racing the clock while running on empty, this message is especially for you because the world needs your purpose-driven work, even though you need a sustainable path to deliver...