I am again asking for help for Cat 🐈⬛🛰️ @catbailey on her behalf.
Cat is a single mother of two in the DC area. You may know her on the Fediverse as @catbailey , or formerly as catbailey on Infosec Exchange, or as @blackcatswhitehats.org from Bluesky, and you may recall a previous GoFundMe aimed at supporting the return of her car from repossession efforts that was successful thanks to your help.
In late 2023, Cat landed a contract position as a senior penetration tester on a contract red team, and for the roughly 18 months it lasted, was instrumental in supporting operational security, with her work earning internal accolades and awards. Her trajectory was trending positive, and she was able to address outstanding expenses that had piled up during her prior unemployment.
All that changed last February, when Cat's contract was abruptly cut off.
Cat is fiercely independent and would not ask for help for herself, so others began asking for help on Cat's behalf. Cat expected to be hired again, and to get back on her feet soon after. It has not turned out that way. No one is hiring. Ever since then, Cat's situation has been getting worse. It is thanks only to those who have helped Cat that she and her family have held out for this long.
Unfortunately, nothing turned out as expected. Since losing her job, Cat could not keep the mortgage current and the house has gone into foreclosure. Expenses are not being covered, resulting in storage rents and car payments falling behind again. Utility bills are behind. Medical expenses are not being covered leaving Cat without needed medications, and with needed healthcare being deferred. Cat is also not eating well, trying to ensure that the kids and the cats have enough to eat. Cat has been submitting resumes and applications for open positions all year but no one is hiring.
Cat is extremely grateful for all the help she has received. It has all helped her keep her family together and safe...so far, and has helped Cat to focus on finding employment.
Cat is looking into other sources of income, including writing, editing, et cetera, since it has been impossible to find work in infosec.
Cat is also trying to make changes. One of those is to become digital nomads, which needs initial funding. Cat has a separate GoFundMe for that, set to hold funds instead of paying out so that the money doesn't get eaten by other things.
Please help Cat and family if you can. Every little bit helps and it is all tremendously appreciated. Everything Cat receives is going to immediate needs: utilities, internet, phone, car payment, storage rents, and to food and the cats' medical needs. But there just hasn't been enough to do more than that. Unfortunately it has also been inconsistent, and there are, from time to time, a bunch of late fees and penalties which take up much of the money Cat receives.
If you have any leads on work as a project manager, an information security manager, blue teamer, or pentester, you will have a difficult time finding someone more qualified and capable. Likewise for any kind of team leader, management, private security consultant, space and orbital operations, and so much more. Please do reach out to Cat and share opportunities, and promote or recommend her to others in your networks.
Please also subscribe to Cat's Ko-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/catacruthachadh . There is some good writing, and $5 per month isn't really all that much. Ko-Fi PayPal is immediate but Stripe takes a day or two.
Venmo/PayPal/CashApp are best.
PayPal: https://paypal.me/catalystediting
Venmo: @BlackCatHackers
CashApp: $BlackCatOps
There is a GoFundMe specifically for truck/POD/RV (does not pay out at the moment, deliberately -- it's very specifically for the nomad goal):
https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-cat-family-seek-out-new-life-new-civilizations
cc: @mutualaid
#MutualAidRequest #MutualAid #Infosec #HelpCatAndCo #GetFediHired #FediHire
