Center for Racial Economic Equity
Solutions to disrupt occupational segregation and eradicate the Black-white wealth gap.
Occupational segregation and a vast Black-white wealth gap limit opportunities for success and advancement for Black learners and workers. Through research, thought leadership, network building, and advisory services, Jobs for the Future’s Center for Racial Economic Equity works to create a world where race no longer determines outcomes.
We take a solutions-first, data-driven, nonpartisan, and practitioner-informed approach and rely on a trusted network of cross-sector partners committed to promoting Black economic advancement.
Key Initiatives
Reimagine Education and Training Systems
We conduct research, offer advisory services, and partner across the ecosystem to ensure Black learners are entering and succeeding in high-value programs of study.
Eliminate Workplace Racial Discrimination
In collaboration with major employers, we work with corporations and industries to ensure Black workers are being hired, compensated, and promoted equitably.
Explore Social and Financial Aspects of Advancement
We develop strategies to invest in Black entrepreneurship, explore financial innovations, and identify supports to end the Black-white wealth gap.
News & Ideas
Wraparound Strategies for Supporting Black Working Mothers’ Career Success
To boost the economy and create conditions for equitable economic advancement for all, employers must focus on the recruitment, retention, and advancement of Black working moms and other populations facing systemic barriers. Conclusion Employers have…
Innovative Wraparound Support Solutions That Help Workers Succeed
An in-depth scan of the market of solutions employers can use to expand employee access to wraparound supports that remove barriers to success on the job. Key Takeaways Employers need to understand the factors such…
Black Learners in IT Associate’s Degree and Credential College Programs
Associate’s degrees and credentials in information technology (IT) can open up pathways to high-wage careers with opportunities for economic advancement. But Black learners and workers face structural barriers that limit their ability to access and…
Impact Stories
JFF and Comcast NBCUniversal Partner to Boost Number and Proportion of Black Tech Workers
New $500,000 initiative will generate insights and develop strategies to increase access and success for Black learners and workers within fast-growing digital and IT careers.
Black Employees Make Up Just 7.4% of the Tech Workforce—These Nonprofits Are Working to Change That
JFF Vice President Michael Collins was quoted in recent article on CNBC’s Make It website that focused on JFF's racial economic equity initiative and specifically reported on the release of our latest market scan, Purpose-Built to Advance Equity: Expanding Opportunities in Tech for Black Americans, which highlights organizations that are working to increase the number of Black Americans in the IT workforce.
Survey Reveals Barriers That Prevent Black Workers From Entering and Advancing in Tech Careers
Jobs for the Future survey finds financial constraints, lack of STEM education, mentorship gap as top barriers for Black Americans in tech
JFF’s Michael Collins in “The Great Resignation Narrative Ignores the Black Experience in America”
In an article published in HR Dive, JFF Vice President Michael Collins discusses the implications of the “Great Resignation”—and a potential recession—for Black workers.
Professional Social Capital is Key to Economic Advancement
JFF calls on all education, training, and workforce development programs to be more intentional about helping Black learners and workers build professional social capital.
Team
Michael Collins
Vice PresidentMichael Collins is vice president of the Center for Racial Economic Equity at JFF. He leads the development and implementation of JFF’s strategy to influence the practices of educational institutions, workforce organizations, intermediaries, associations, states,…
Christel Perkins
Senior DirectorChristel Perkins is a senior director in the Center for Racial Economic Equity at JFF. She leads the center’s strategic plan to enhance the experience of Black learners and workers in education and the workforce…
Andrea Juncos
DirectorAndrea Juncos is a director in the Center for Racial Economic Equity at JFF. She leads research and advisory services focused on accelerating economic advancement for Black learners and workers in the United States. Juncos’s…