A Message from our CEO
When I embarked on my journey in economics, I was a junior in college, and was blown away by the tools and uses the discipline offers to effect practical change. During a summer program at Princeton (Public Policy and International Affairs program), a policymaker joined my cohort for the day and she shared how she was able to end a food desert through the instating of a Pathmark on 125th and Lexington. Her direct impact, in a neighborhood I frequented, was enough for me to understand how powerful a study of economics can be. That practical application of economics tools is what led me to return to Howard University my senior year and sprint towards a second major of economics, taking TEN economics courses in one year, which in hindsight - is one of the best career decisions I’ve made.
Since then, I’ve used the quantitative toolkit of economics to launch a career in social impact, contributed as an analyst of economics research in International Finance at the Federal Reserve, and worked on projects that affect the material well-being of vulnerable communities all through leveraging the economics toolkit.
As I matriculate through the profession, I recognized that stumbling upon the economics toolkit, and building a community as I traverse through the field, has changed my career trajectory. However, as our research to date, shows: Black women are interested in economics, but simply are not aware of what it takes to explore and thrive in the space. This makes sense: the alignment and desire to create the kind of change it allows often is there, but simple information on how and why to use a study of economics for a force of good is not widely accessible in a culturally competent way. The Sadie Collective’s goal is to democratize economic education access because the study of economics: who gets what, where, when, why, and how - is critical to a working economy for everyone. If you look close enough, almost every field that shapes the world is informed by the work of economists.
When Black women and women of color do not have a seat at the table to inform or implement policy change, yet face the brunt of the negative externalities of the COVID-19 pandemic, then a change must be prioritized. A representation of only about 0-2% of Black women across the profession is dismal. Centering Black Women Best, in this upcoming year, I am honored to continue working alongside each of you and our incredible team at the Sadie Collective to ensure the very real outcomes that economics research enables, can be made a reality for Black women everywhere.
The work continues,
Fanta Traore
Chief Executive Officer of The Sadie Collective