Dear Supporters, Advocates, and Changemakers, The truth has never been clearer—and the time to act has never been more urgent. Black Women in California are navigating systems that were never built with us in mind. Our brilliance is evident in our communities, our leadership, our resilience—but so too are the structural barriers that threaten our ability to thrive. The 2025 State of Black Women in California Report lays bare the depth of these inequities. Despite being just 6.6% of the state’s female population, we are overrepresented in poverty, chronic health conditions, housing instability, and workplace discrimination. We are earning less—just $0.60 on the dollar compared to white men. We are paying more—spending nearly 70% of our income on childcare if we are a single mother without subsidies. Our unemployment rate is 6.4%, higher than White workers (4.9%) and Latino workers (6.2%). We are leading more—but being promoted less. And yet, we continue to survive. This report is not just data—it is a mirror of our lived experience and a map for collective action. It confirms what we’ve always known: Black Women carry more than our share. But we are not powerless, we are essential. That’s why the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment Institute was created. Since launching in 2023, we’ve moved beyond rhetoric to measurable impact: 💼 Trained 1,460 Black Women in leadership, economic mobility, and advocacy to shape systems that once excluded us. 🏽 Trained 596 middle and high school girls in financial literacy and leadership development—investing early in the next generation. 📊 Conducted 6 research reports capturing the lived experiences of Black Women in California—grounding our advocacy in truth and data.
5
CA BLACK WOMEN’S COLLECTIVE
EMPOWERMENT INSTITUTE
Made with FlippingBook interactive PDF creator