Sister Table Talk

Resilience is the ability to recover from adversity. For women facing economic instability, it’s not just about bouncing back; it’s about rising stronger, becoming more determined, and having a clearer vision for the future. The SOFEI Group knows firsthand how resilience transforms lives by empowering women to overcome challenges and redefine their success stories. The Power of Resilience in Overcoming Economic Instability Women facing divorce, spousal abandonment, job loss, domestic violence, and health decline often experience economic instability, which can be overwhelming. However, resilience is the foundation for recovery and growth. It empowers women to adapt, learn, and persevere - even with insurmountable challenges. Consider Monica (name changed for privacy), a participant in one of our workforce development programs. After losing her spouse during the pandemic, Monica became the sole provider for her family without support and a safety net. With resilience and a readiness ...

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed the Stop Terror-Financing and Tax Penalties on American Hostages Act (H.R. 9495), which aims to expand the authority of the Secretary of the Treasury to revoke tax-exempt status of nonprofit organizations suspected of supporting terrorism. On the surface, this legislation seems to address terrorism financing, which poses a significant threat to global stability and safety. Under this law, nonprofits could lose their tax-exempt status within 90 days unless they can prove they are not supporting terrorist groups. However, critics of the bill have expressed concerns regarding its potential for misuse. One major issue highlighted is the absence of a requirement for the government to disclose evidence or ensure due process before labeling an organization as a supporter of terrorism. This lack of transparency and fairness could lead to unjust repercussions for nonprofit organizations, especially those unrelated to terrorism. The implication...

The connection between Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and the legacy of slavery is undeniable. Slavery systematically entrenched racial hierarchies, denying generations of Black Americans access to economic, educational, and social opportunities. DEI initiatives seek to repair structural inequities rooted in the enduring legacy of slavery and respond directly to these historical injustices to create equitable opportunities and representation for marginalized communities. The historical dehumanization and exploitation of enslaved individuals established systemic inequalities that continue to permeate society. DEI efforts acknowledge these foundations by addressing disparities in education, employment, and representation, particularly for descendants of enslaved populations. The connection between DEI and the legacy of slavery is undeniable. Slavery systematically entrenched racial hierarchies, denying generations of Black Americans access to economic, educational, and social...

The outcome of an election tells a story about what people value, prioritize, and concern them at that moment in history. The decision to elect Donald Trump instead of Madam Vice President Kamala Harris carries complex implications. On the surface, this choice reflects political leanings and party preferences. However, on a deeper level, it reveals significant insights about representation, leadership style, and the desire for change. Desire for Traditional Leadership Models Voters viewed the assertive leadership style of Donald Trump as the strength that aligns with the confidence and dominance they desire from a leader. The leadership style of Kamala Harris offered a more progressive, empathetic, and collaborative model that resonated with voters who regard leadership as more than command and control; however, this led voters to opt for a more traditional figure like Trump - a demonstration of how Americans view his style as power through dominance rather than power through coll...

In a world where the intersection of race and gender often leads to misunderstood and marginalized experiences, the upcoming C1B1 Summit organized by The SOFEI Group will host a pivotal panel titled "Black Femininity: Humanizing Our Experiences." This timely and crucial topic aims to shed light on the challenges and experiences of Black women while celebrating their strength, resilience, and multifaceted identities. Black femininity has stereotypes—whether it's the strong, resilient woman who needs no help or the over-sexualized image that strips away humanity. These narrow perceptions do a disservice to the rich, complex realities of Black women. The C1B1 Summit's panel seeks to dismantle these harmful stereotypes by diving deep into what Black femininity truly means in today's society. This conversation is vital not only for Black women but for everyone. Understanding Black femininity through a humanized lens helps break down barriers and fosters greater ...

The C1B1 Summit, organized and hosted by The SOFEI Group, will feature a panel discussion on "Black Polity: Building Solidarity and Mobilizing Justice" led by the Honorable Jolene Ivey and Honorable Nicole Williams to address the ongoing challenges experienced by women of color and explore strategies for collective action and social change. Why This Matters Women of Color continue to face systemic inequalities across many aspects of society, including: Economic disparities Unequal access to education and healthcare Discrimination in the workplace Disproportionate impacts of the criminal justice system Focusing on building solidarity and mobilizing justice, this panel will empower summit attendees to drive meaningful change, and this panel will cover: Strategies for fostering unity within diverse Black communities Effective methods for grassroots organizing and activism Leveraging technology and social media for mobilization Building coalitions with allies and oth...

The recent comments by former President Donald Trump questioning Vice President Kamala Harris's racial identity highlight the critical importance of cultural competence in leadership, especially in diverse societies like the United States. At a recent event with Black journalists, Trump remarked, "She [was] Indian all [the] way, then, [of a] sudden she made [a] turn, she became a Black person," referring to Harris, whose heritage includes an Indian American mother and a Black father. This statement demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of multiracial identity and the complexities of race in America. The Context of Trump's Comments Donald Trump's comments about Vice President Kamala Harris, the first woman, first Black, and first South Asian Vice President of the United States, highlight a critical need for cultural sensitivity. His political discourse and comments that fail to recognize and respect cultural diversity can have far-reaching negative impact...

The Certified Scrum Master (CSM) online course is a transformative approach for individuals seeking to enhance their project management skills. For women of color, this course offers benefits that can contribute to their career growth and foster leadership empowerment in the workplace. This blog post explores the specific advantages the CSM online course provides women of color, emphasizing the potential for skill acquisition, network expansion, and leadership development. Accessibility and Flexibility - One of the primary benefits of a CSM online course for women of color is the accessibility and flexibility they offer. Many women face unique challenges, like balancing self-care, work, and family; however, online courses allow women to tailor their educational journey to fit their schedules to pursue professional development without sacrificing other essential aspects of their lives. Inclusive Learning Environment - Online CSM courses foster an inclusive learning environm...

Realists seem to shun (i.e., people who tend to view or accept things as they are) people who live by faith. On the surface, realists and people who govern their lives by faith are different. But at their core, they are quite the same because they consciously and unconsciously live by faith. When realists work, they expect payment after completion of their project or workweek. That is unconscious faith because payment is expected, not guaranteed. Conscious faith is an unemployed person who is confident they will secure work with God's help. Faith is not magic; it is a process of life. We are not faithless beings. The question is, where do we direct our faith and the energy we release when we exercise it? Realists may not believe in a deity like God. Their lives are inspired by what they see. People who believe in God are led by what they cannot see because their hope and assurance are in God's ability to honor His promises! Click here to view journal pages for this blog ...

According to Fortune Magazine , the average Black woman will have finally earned the same amount the average non-Hispanic white man earned a year earlier—eight months later. That’s a problem, not just for Black women who lose out on $900,000 in lifetime earnings, but for everyone. Black women who normally are the heads of their households (i.e., primary breadwinners) earn 63 cents of every dollar a white man makes. Shannon Williams, director of Equal Pay Today - a project of Equal Rights Advocates stated, "The issue of equal pay is not just a woman’s issue because it trickles down into our families, communities, and the overall economy." The Black Women’s Wage Gap is a problem for everyone, but everyone isn’t working to address it! One way to close the wage gap is to close the skill gap. The SOFEI Group is working to decrease pay inequity among women of color through free professional, technical, and certification training for women who want to upgrade their skills to el...

Living within your means is well-intended advice to prevent people from acquiring debt. But could this advice prevent individuals from believing and achieving a bigger and better life? Mean among many definitions is average. Living outside your means spiritually, emotionally, and socially can lead to an extraordinary life. Here’s how: Write your big dreams and read them daily Create a vision board with images that coincide with your dreams Review, envision, and mediate daily of you achieving your dreams Surround yourself with people who have what you desire Strive for purpose and not security Live by faith and not fear

When you’re a manager, there are some basic, essential skills everyone should have. Whether it’s setting clear work priorities, building great teamwork, listening well to others, or performing a performance review. Each of the skills impact how effective you’ll be as a manager. The Management Essentials e-course will help you build these skills and others. By giving you on the job development exercises to evaluate performance, set clear expectations, and create the right level of challenging work, you’ll build the skills required to be a great and motivating manager for each of your employees. This bite-sized course includes: Giving Clear Work Priorities What Employees Need Reinforce Great Teamwork Valuing Employees Listening to Others’ Ideas and Opinions Problem Solving Expectations The Right Workload for Employees The Great Things Employees Do An Ethics and Integrity Discussion Perform a Performance Review Creating Challenging Work Receive Feedback From Your Creating a Great Work...

Approximately, 1 in 54 children is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrem Disorder (ASD) in the United States. And, many parents, teachers, and caregivers are scrambling to understand: What is ASD? The cause of ASD The signs of ASD ASD symptoms If you're a parent, teacher, or caregiver of a child that may have ASD, the Autism 101 online course will guide you through these challenging questions. The SOFEI Group wants to provide you with information and resources to help you create a plan to support your child emotionally, physically, and academically. We believe that the more informed you are, the more equipped your child will be for success.

Where are you? Where do you want to go? How are you going to get there? These are the questions a technical instructor asked to help trainees learn how to change directories using DOS (i.e., Disk Operating System). Post-DOS days, the technical instructor realized these questions apply to our everyday lives, and we believe these questions can help individuals get unstuck in their careers, relationships, or finances. If you feel stuck, click here and download our guide that can help you get unstuck.

Immerse yourself in the fields of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence! With over 40 hours of expert instruction, you’ll have a firm grasp of core machine learning concepts and be positioned to apply this technology to your career. This course includes: An Introduction to Deep Learning & Computer Vision Recommendation Systems in Python Machine Learning: Decision Trees & Random Forests Twitter Sentiment Analysis in Python Python Programming: From Beginner to Intermediate Quant Trading Using Machine Learning Factor Analysis Linear & Logistic Regression Course Outcome Upon successful completion of this course, you will have learned the following concepts & so much more! Discover Core Machine Learning Concepts & Build an Artificial Neural Network. Build a movie recommendation system in Python. Learn Intuitive Machine Learning Techniques by Exploring a Classic Problem. Use Python and the Twitter API to build your own sentiment analyzer. Go from beginner to ...

Based on the violence that has spurred in America, one could conclude, America is heading towards a downward spiral. What's the underlying cause? Is race the culprit? Who or what has given life to an issue that was assumed dead? The underlying force contributing to the demise of America isn't physical, but spiritual. And if we're going to make America great, we have to learn how to fight in a realm that's spiritual. (Ephesians 6:10-13) According to John 10:10, the enemy comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. What was stolen, killed, and destroyed during the recent weeks of violence and who's to blame? Believe it or not, it's the enemy and his mission is gaining footage. Luke 6:27-28 states, "But I say to you who hear: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who spitefully use you. Remember the motto, "United We Stand, divided we fall." The power to make America great is within all of u...

When women stop seeking validation and approval from men, their equity will grow. Some women dress seductively for men. Wear heels for the approval of men. Buy hair and make-up for men. Quit their jobs for men. Surrender their will to men who don't surrender their will to God. Live under the pretense that man knows what's best instead of God. Should women who live subjectively to men expect equal treatment? According to Genesis 1:26, God said, Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and to let them have dominion over every living thing that creeps on the earth . And, according to Genesis 1:27 , "God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." These verses share how God equally created men and women in His image to have dominion over the earth in our own distinctive roles. If women grasp hold of this knowledge, maybe women will seek equality through the Image of God instead of man.

‘The greatest tragedy in life is not death, but a life without a purpose.” – Dr. Myles Munroe On Sunday, November 9, Dr. Myles Munroe, a leader, prominent pastor, and author expressed his concern about the next generation of leaders not passing on the legacy of leadership. He described this as – a person dying with their baton. And if someone wanted that baton, they would have to pry it from the hands of the person who was dead. Exodus 32:9 states, I have seen these people, and indeed they are a stiff-necked people! This verse signifies the depiction of people with hardened hearts and ears who are unwilling to listen or heed to the voice of God. Pride is the culprit of a stiff-necked generation, and this generational type implies growing from the strength of pride. Individuals who are unwilling to learn are not willing to lead. And, they should not question or complain about the demise of their communities or society? God did not create humanity to receive and keep but to r...

In 1980, Mary Catherine Swanson (an English teacher) created AVID - a program designed to help underrepresented students succeed in high school and college. The program's philosophy is: "Hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge." A group of AVID middle school students completed their assignments fifteen minutes early and wanted to watch YouTube videos which were unrelated to AVID. When asked to turn off their videos, a student responded with: "My mom watches YouTube videos all the time at work, so why can't we watch them at school?" What legacy are we leaving our children in reference to work, finances, or service? Students need role models to coincide with their lessons to advance academically, socially, or economically. And their parents should be their first point of reference. The industrialized workforce is depleting and individuals that choose to watch YouTube ...

What would the world look like without women? Take a few minutes to ponder this thought. What did you come up with? Women who are abused, neglected, or subjected to sexism, are invisible. And, women weren’t created to be second-class citizens to men, but equally to build a fruitful and noble world for all humanity to enjoy. Subjection of women can stem from pride and ignorance. It’s ignorance when people don’t know the reason for women’s existence; pride when people are self-serving and would do anything to fulfill their wants and needs. If women want to strengthen their presence and voice in society, they should: Discover their purpose and not allow people or external circumstances deter them from their destined path. Live according to their uniqueness and convictions; not societal norms. Know their rights as a citizen and in the workplace and hold people accountable who inflict harm to them. Increase and stabilize their self- and net-worth to create personal and financial st...