Over the past few months, we have focused on creating more access for BIPOC marketers and developers through events, partnerships, mentorship, and career opportunities.
From helping members secure paid work to hosting sold-out meetups and expanding our partnerships, here’s what we achieved together in Q1.
We raised £2,250 through Sip & Search London 🎉
In March, we hosted Sip & Search London and raised £2,250 to support FCDC programs and community initiatives.
Sip & Search is our free SEO meetup series built around learning, networking, and creating opportunities for underrepresented talent in marketing and tech.
The funds raised will directly support our 2026 programs and help us continue building opportunities for members around the world.
An FCDC member secured a senior content role
One of our proudest moments this quarter was helping Adanna Nnamani secure a Senior Content Writer role with Treatment Room in the UK.
At the FCDC, our mission has always been to put money in the pockets of BIPOC talent.
Every role secured doesn’t just represent employment, but also visibility, confidence, stability, and global access.
Speaking about the opportunity, Adanna shared:
“For 5 years in SEO, I couldn’t find a decent-paying gig or role. The FCDC came to my rescue and gave me a plane ticket to the global SEO space. I am deeply grateful to FCDC for this opportunity.”
We hosted two sold-out meetups in Nigeria 🇳🇬
In February, we brought our community together in Lagos and Abuja through our Sip & Search meetup series.
Both events sold out, giving marketers, freelancers, and founders a space to connect, learn, and discuss how search is evolving in an increasingly AI-driven world.
Online communities are powerful, but in-person gatherings help create the relationships and support systems that lead to long-term opportunities.
We distributed two laptops to community members 💻
Access to equipment remains a major barrier for many talented people in developing countries.
This quarter, two community members, Umasoye Igwe and Lindsay Eke, received laptops donated by Garrett Simpson from Seeker Digital.
We’re grateful to Garrett Simpson and Seeker Digital for making this possible.
The FCDC attended WTSFest and the Marketing Meetup Conference
Members of the FCDC community attended WTSFest and the Marketing Meetup Conference.
These events gave our members opportunities to connect with professionals across the global search industry, learn from experienced marketers, and stay current with emerging trends in SEO and digital marketing.
Three members completed their internship with Citation Labs 👏🏾
Three members of our developer community completed their three-month internship program with Citation Labs:
- Favour Ezinne Arua
- Benjamin Acheampong
- Naomi Ibe
During the internship, they deepened their knowledge of AI and machine learning while working with AI-related packages and libraries in real-world environments.
We’re thankful to Citation Labs for continuing to invest in talent from our community and helping create pathways into global careers.
Three members received tickets to Search London
Thanks to Jo Turnbull, three FCDC members received tickets to attend Search London:
- Jennifer Aigbini
- Chidinma Egwuogu
- Shweta Gupta
Industry events like Search London create opportunities for networking, visibility, collaboration, and career growth, especially for professionals who may not otherwise have access to these spaces.
Citation Labs and RR Digital renewed their partnership 🤝
This quarter, Citation Labs and RR Digital renewed their annual partnerships with the FCDC.
Support from long-term partners helps us continue to fund programs, host community events, and create opportunities for BIPOC talent globally.
We’re deeply grateful for their continued trust and support.
We welcomed Profound as our headline sponsor
We also welcomed Profound as the headline sponsor for upcoming FCDC events in the UK and the US.
Profound is an AI search analytics platform that helps brands measure and improve visibility in AI-generated answers.
Their support helps us to continue expanding our community events and creating more learning opportunities for our members worldwide.
What’s coming in Q2 🚀
We’re excited about the momentum we’re building and what’s ahead in Q2.
Here’s what we’re working on next:
- Launching the FCDC Expert Series, our monthly webinar program
- Launching our mentorship program in June
- Hosting a Sip & Search fringe event at BrightonSEO
- Hosting another Sip & Search meetup in London
- Running monthly CV review, LinkedIn review, and AMA sessions for members
Everything we achieved in Q1 was powered by volunteers, mentors, sponsors, partners, and community members who continue to believe in this mission and support our work.
If you believe in creating fair opportunities for BIPOC talent globally, we’d love your support.
To sponsor a program or partner with us, reach out to chima at freelancecoalition dot org.
Johnson Ishola
Johnson Ayomide Ishola is a content marketer at the FCDC. With a background in Economics, he brings a strategic, analytical edge to storytelling and brand development.
He specializes in lead generation and community-driven content, focusing on building authentic audience connections. At the FCDC, Johnson develops initiatives across various events and programs, using data-backed insights to craft narratives that drive engagement and growth.
