Noire Impact Collective looks to connect people to resources and career opportunities
Sydney Holman started Noire Impact Collective to elevate women of color in politics, policy, and law and other underrepresented sectors. Photos provided by Sydney Holman
When Sydney Holman started a position as a staff member of the Illinois Speaker of the House, she noticed there was a lack of representation of people of color and women of color in leadership. She wanted to create an avenue for job opportunities and professional development. She started hosting dinners in Springfield and reached out to her professional network of women of color there.
At the first meeting in 2017, there were between 15-16 Black and Brown staffers and lobbyist getting to know each other. Holman then started to host brunches and created a monthly newsletter, with job opportunities and events so people could stay connected.
Holman created the nonprofit organization Noire Impact Collective from that and hosted the first event in August at the Semicolon Bookstore. At that event, the attendees were able to get professional headshots, and there were elected officials in attendance as guest speakers. It was an opportunity for women who were interested in politics, government, advocacy and law to network.
Holman has worked in Springfield, with the Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle and Governor J.B. Pritzker. She now works as a lobbyist.
Holman said when she started, Black and Brown staffers and lobbyist oftentimes felt isolated and out of place in Springfield. They also felt overlooked and not given the same opportunities for growth as some of their white counterparts.
“I think that slowly has changed in the last couple of years. I don’t think the people of color are given the same opportunities to grow and to make mistakes and to really be molded and matured,” Holman said.
The inability for growth opportunities can result in disparities when it comes to Black and Brown representation of lobbyist, CEOs and leaders. There hasn’t been the same type of mentorship and investment of Black and Brown people in leadership positions. But, Holman said with a focus on hiring more Black and Brown people, the network is growing. She pointed to Emanuel “Chris” Welch, the first Black Speaker of the House, as a step in the right direction.
Holman wants people to come to Noire Impact Collective when they are looking for jobs, looking for a connection an for questions about professional development. She has received phone calls from people who are looking to hire people, and she has been able to give names and make those connections. She wants Noire Collective to be a one-stop shop for networking and career opportunities.
“Hopefully, I would like to grow this into a full fledge minority hiring and training firm. I can collect resumes. I hope to put together an online database that collects resumes, in addition to job postings,” Holman said.
Holman wants to create a professional development kit for people who graduate from college so they will have access to skills necessary to get hired for careers in politics, advocacy and law. The goal is for the graduates to use the tool kits and learn skills that will allow them to thrive in their careers.
Noire Impact Collective partnered with the Illinois Justice Project to host an event where they made care packages for youth impacted by the criminal justice system. It was an opportunity for the group to serve.
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