She said the current moment makes her “a little sad” because of the “swiftness of the change in temperature” of how people feel about “providing opportunities for underrepresented communities.” While she described her outlook as “melancholy,” she added that she has hope this moment is temporary. 

“I hope to look back and say that that was a moment in time and that joy returns again and support returns again,” she said.

For Adcolor’s part, Ana Leen, vice president of partnerships, said the community is only growing stronger. 

“What we’re seeing with these community groups is there is such a hunger to connect to learn from each other to support each other. The networks that the Adcolor community builds are really strong and supportive,” she said. 

People are also becoming more vulnerable, Leen added, pointing to individuals asking for help on LinkedIn amid layoffs and job uncertainty. “We are seeing people very willingly help out a stranger just because they’re part of this community,” she said. 

This sense of mutual support will sustain Adcolor through challenging periods, she said. 

“This is a true community of people who believe in the mission in a way that they’re not just talking about it, they are acting on it,” Leen added.