Empowering Black LGBTQ+ Workers: A Reflection on Lighthouse Foundation's First Workforce Development Conference
Lighthouse Foundation of Chicagoland paved the way towards professional empowerment and equity with our inaugural Workforce Development Conference. Held at Hiltons at McCormick Place on Saturday, March 25, the conference was a monumental convergence of Black LGBTQ+ professionals and job seekers from across Illinois, all dedicated to fostering a culturally specific, inclusive, and empowering approach to career advancement.
With a keen focus on addressing the unique challenges and aspirations of Black LGBTQ+ individuals, the Workforce Development Conference set out to provide attendees with culturally responsive insights, strategies, and best practices to catalyze their career journeys. The event was carefully curated to cater to a diverse spectrum of career experiences within the industry, spanning from seasoned senior leaders to those at the entry-level of their professions.
At the heart of our work is the Black Queer Equity Index (BQEI), a participatory action research project aimed at evaluating the cultures within nonprofit organizations as they pertain to Black LGBTQ+ staff and board members. With the ultimate goal of rectifying organizational inequities, the BQEI is set to make a lasting impact through its annual report card publication and actionable interventions.
A pivotal discovery emerged from the BQEI's research: a significant portion of Black LGBTQ+ employees found themselves in organizations seeking to fulfill grant-related criteria and were consequently left feeling tokenized. They felt unsupported in their growth due to the absence of mentorship, employee assistance, professional training, and leadership opportunities. Responding to these crucial needs, the Workforce Development Conference emerged as a solution.
The conference encompassed an array of enriching experiences. Attendees enjoyed complimentary professional headshots, thought-provoking panel discussions featuring industry experts, targeted workshops catered to specific sub-communities such as transgender individuals and seniors, personalized resume reviews, and mock interview sessions.
The event commenced with a keynote presentation by an award-winning speaker, Janel Bailey. Bailey's impactful career has been dedicated to uplifting the lives of working individuals, with a particular emphasis on the experiences of Queer and Black workers. The words of their keynote resonated deeply: "When we come together to strategically address issues, we are shifting power dynamics. Be encouraged and lean on your community."
Workshop highlights included a Resume Writing Workshop led by Rodney Matthews, a seasoned Career Coach, and a LinkedIn Strategies workshop helmed by Ben Adkins, a certified agile coach. Raymond Wise, Talent Acquisition Specialist, delved into strategies for leveraging uniqueness to stand out in both corporate and non-corporate settings. Michael Stone, Legal Director for the Center for Disability & Elder Law, led a know-your-rights session on navigating the professional workplace as a member of the LGBTQ+ community or as an ally, while SaCora Williams, LCSW, lent her expertise in a discussion centered on maintaining mental health within a demanding work environment.
The event also featured compelling panels. D'Ontace Keyes, former Communications Director of AIDS Foundation Chicago, led a panel where he provided personal antidotes on navigating identity, dealing with institutional racism, community building, and career planning. "Black & Trans in the Workplace," featured Terra Campbell, the Community Impact Coordinator for Howard Brown Health; Morgan Murdock, a media producer and journalist; and The Honorable Angelina Nordstrom, a lyricist, poet, and advocate. The panel, hosted by Channyn Lynne Parker, Director of Strategic Relations for Howard Brown Health, offered insights into the challenges faced by Black trans individuals in the workplace and provided valuable advice for navigating a career in the midst of adversity.
Reflecting on the conference, Executive Director Jamie Frazier remarked, "The 2023 Workforce Development Conference has been a powerful experience. This event came from the responses of Black LGBTQ+ people. They wanted the skills to participate in their upward professional social mobility. One of the most powerful things that I've experienced in this space is to look around the room and see my Black Queer kin with a 360 view. We are brilliant, we are talented, we are insightful, and we are funny, and spaces like this give us opportunity to build authentic connections, establish vulnerability within our community, and acquire the professional skills necessary to excel in the workplace."
The Workforce Development Conference is a testament to our dedication to fostering excellence and empowerment within the Black LGBTQ+ community. As Janel Bailey spoke to in their keynote, it is by coming together as Black Queer folks and combining our own power and brilliance that we can collectively shape the professional growth opportunities we’re asking for.
