Working with many Black-led organizations, the Future Skills Centre (external link) (FSC) and the Diversity Institute (DI) recognize that Canada has to tackle the supply and demand sides of the job market and everything in between. To be effective, there is a need to build capacity and skills to succeed in the Black community, but also to work with employers to create more diverse, equitable and inclusive workplaces that tackle anti-Black racism head-on. Here are just a few examples of successful programs.
Study Buddy with the Lifelong Leadership Institute (external link) and other partners – which matches tutors with Black families to support their K-12 students in online, one-on-one free tutoring sessions.
Experiential Learning in Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneurship (external link) (ELITE) provides Black youth aged 15 to 22 years old with access to hands-on learning and paid work-integrated training in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields and entrepreneurship.
Advanced Digital and Professional Training (ADaPT) for Black Youth, with the support from the Government of Ontario, provides Black youth with digital skills career coaching, work placements and wrap-around supports they need.
Monumental Projects (external link) , which is promoting representation of Black and racialized professionals in the real estate development sector.
The Black Women’s Leadership Program, with the Peel District School Board, Government of Ontario and the Canadian Black Nurses Alliance, focuses on supporting women seeking advancement and board roles.
The Black African and Caribbean Entrepreneurship Leadership (external link) (BACEL) and Capital Skills programs focus on building capacity among Black entrepreneurs.
Even more important is the work that FSC and DI do with employers harnessing the Diversity Assessment Tool and other training and capacity-building tools to promote diverse, inclusive and equitable workplaces across sectors and large, medium and small organizations. The Future Skills Centre is a pan-Canadian initiative dedicated to helping Canadians gain the skills needed to thrive in a changing labour market. FSC is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program (external link) .
