Dear friends,

It’s Thanksgiving week in the U.S.  How is that possible? Time has flown forward yet again. 2026 will be here in a matter of weeks, but our economy, the job market, and our civil liberties seem to indicate it’s closer to 1980—or worse, 1939. The weight of it all is, at times, almost unbearable.

But my Waymaker spirit urges me to push aside the weight of backward thinking and fear-laced policies and look forward—with realism, yes, but also with a healthy dose of accountability for what I can control and with trust in the meaningful relationships I’ve built with others. There is significant grief over 600,000 Black women being out of work. But there is incredible opportunity in us finding ways to leverage the talent of those women to invest in and build more resilient communities, economies, and people. So instead of wallowing in the heaviness of doubt and cruel astonishment, I’m choosing to be thankful for the dismantling of a shared, false sense of security and grateful for the chance to build true, sustainable, equitable environments where all people can succeed. And today, I’m asking you to join me.

Think about a time in your life when someone made a way for you—extended an introduction that led to an incredible opportunity. Invited you to a meeting you didn’t receive an invitation to. Kept you safe during a merger or layoff. Mentioned your name at the right time to the right person. Where would you be without those connections? How might your career—your life—be different without those open doors?

This Thanksgiving, I’m asking you to join me in being a Waymaker for someone who, historically, has not been given the tools, resources, or guidance they need. Or who’ve had those things snatched away. People who need Waymakers don’t need or want a handout. But they do need an outstretched hand—someone who will shine the light, open the door, and guide them successfully through unfamiliar territory.

I hope you accept this invitation to Waymaking. There are people in your community right now—especially the 600,000 Black women who’ve been pushed out of the job market—with untapped ideas, skills, and creativity that, when unleashed, can improve your workplace culture, drive innovation, and fuel growth. Ensure they are seen, respected, valued, and most of all, protected. Be the change. Make a way.

They will be thankful and better for it. Your organization will benefit. Our communities will. And so will you.

Together in Waymaking,
Tara Jaye
& The Waymakers Change Group