The struggle is real…
but so is the opportunity
to Thrive!
The Thrive is a private network for Black professionals at all levels who want a safe space to network, share stories, ask for help, and help one another find success on our collective and individual paths.The Thrive is not just about professional growth, but improving mental, emotional, and social health. In fact, we believe it is even more important to nurture our minds and bodies before we endeavor to make our marks on the world.
In a study published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities in 2020 on suicidal thoughts in Black people in the USA, hopelessness was given as the most common reason for Black men while it ranked near the top for Black women. Other high risk factors included not living up to expectations of others, feeling like a failure in life, and believing they could not accomplish something important. This study came on the heels of data showing a 36% increase in suicide from Black youth aged between 10-24 between 2016-2021. It couldn’t be clearer that we need to inspire and support young Black minds.
Black Excellence is NOT a Monolith!
Jennifer D. Turner deftly dispelled the myth of the low aspirations of Black youth in her brilliant paper, Freedom to Aspire: Black children’s career dreams, perceived aspirational supports, and Africentric values, Race Ethnicity and Education. In an age where excellence for anyone can now take shape in more ways than ever, we still have not given our Black youth, including the ones entering the workforce, access to enough examples to see how that excellence takes flight.
This is why Black Thrive Matters, because we need to show Black youth that they are capable of success in a myriad of different ways. We need to help young Black career-seekers to not confuse stumbling blocks for dead ends, and lend them a helping hand when necessary. We need to inspire and encourage Black professionals who have trepidation about starting a second or third act later on in life. How we prosper individually can have major effects on how we prosper as a community.
Team Thrive
Representing the Black experience in countries that include USA, the UK, Canada, Belgium, Angola, Portugal, and Spain, team Thrive has witnessed firsthand the obstacles and opportunities that present themselves to Black professionals on the path to success on their own terms.
Although the Thrive can only survive through the common efforts of the community at large, our team behind the scenes are working hard to make sure this space continues to serve its purpose. Team Thrive is comprised of Sarah Diedro, based in Portugal, EJ Jacobs who calls both the USA and Canada home, and Hawah Bunduka, who is based in Spain.