After nearly 10 years of experience in the political organizing and nonprofit sectors, I never expected to find myself behind the counter at a cannabis dispensary. But when I graduated from college during the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, like so many others, I struggled to find a job in my field. The pandemic upended the job market, leaving graduates and seasoned professionals alike facing a new, uncertain reality.

As we recognize Black History Month, it is impossible to ignore the troubling reality that DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives are being rolled back across industries. This regression goes against everything WWO stands for. DEI was created to level the playing field for marginalized communities—people of color, women, older workers, and other underrepresented groups—and its dismantling signals a blatant disregard for workplace equity.