National Black Worker Center

In response to disproportionately high levels of unemployment and low-wage work in Black communities, the National Black Worker Center (NBWC) – a national network of Black worker centers – launched in 2011. We support and incubate worker centers that empower Black workers to advance their rights and improve the quality of jobs in key employment sectors. We provide education about the impacts of low-wage work and unemployment on Black communities and work to prevent racial discrimination in hiring and other employment practices and policies.

We intervene in the labor market through our network to improve racial and economic employment conditions. Partnering regional Black worker centers are in Los Angeles, California; Oakland, California; Chicago, Illinois; New Orleans, Louisiana; Baltimore, Maryland; Raleigh, North Carolina; Rocky Mount, North Carolina; Greenville, Mississippi; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Washington, District of Columbia.

Our network consists of membership-based and member-driven organizations that utilize a combination of leadership development, organizing, policy advocacy, and strategic communications to build power to address the Black job crisis.