BTI Friday Meetup
September #SpeakerSeries Line-Up
Our Friday Meetup is your go-to source for information and inspiration within the Black Talent Initiative community. This is a space for sharing and learning from our community's incredibly talented leaders who are making impactful changes.
Every week, our community members come together to share updates, engage in meaningful discussions, and hear from our amazing guest speakers 🌟
Check out our upcoming Friday Meetup #SpeakerSeries Lineup:
🗓 September 20 - Khary Adams, Founder, C.O.D.E. Sports Academy
🗓 September 27 - Grandmother Kim Wheatley, Anishinaabe Cultural Consultant & Motivational Public Speaker
Don't miss out on this opportunity to connect and grow. We welcome you to join us for an inspiring month of learning and community! 📚🤝🌍
Friday Meetup #SpeakerSeries Session Recaps
September 6, 2024
Thank you to Freda Uwa, National Executive Director at Independent Living Canada for joining BTI to emphasize the critical role of self-awareness and resilience in personal and professional development. She spoke about the importance of understanding one's strengths and how this self-knowledge can be a foundation for growth. Freda also addressed the challenges people face, offering strategies on how to navigate obstacles and bounce back from setbacks effectively. She shared practical tools and advice on maintaining resilience, encouraging participants to persevere in dynamic environments and to thrive despite adversity.
Connect with Freda: https://www.linkedin.com/in/freda-uwa-7515a235/
September 13, 2024
Thank you to Delaney Hines, Lead Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, at Heart and Stroke Foundation for joining BTI to share his professional journey and the pivotal role he plays at Heart and Stroke in driving equity-focused initiatives. He emphasized the importance of addressing the disproportionate impact of heart disease and stroke on equity-deserving communities. Delaney discussed specific programs and strategies aimed at reducing these health disparities, focusing on increasing awareness, improving access to care, and fostering community partnerships. He also highlighted the challenges and successes of his work in promoting heart and brain health for marginalized groups.
For anyone who has follow-up questions, please use Delaney Hines’s contact information below:
Personnel Awards: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/what-we-do/research/for-researchers
FAST: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/stroke/signs-of-stroke/share-the-fast-stroke-signs
Women's Initiative: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/women
SCAGO: https://www.sicklecellanemia.ca/
Heart and Stroke Personnel Awards for Black Scholars: https://www.heartandstroke.ca/what-we-do/research/for-researchers/personnel-awards-for-black-scholars
Connect with Delaney: https://www.linkedin.com/in/delaneyhines/ or delaney.hines@heartandstroke.ca
Join A BTI Friday Meetup
*Please note our next Friday Meetup will be on September 16th, 2024, with guest speaker Khary Adams, Founder of C.O.D.E. Sports Academy.
BTI Community Initiatives
Black Youth Fellowship 2024 Cohort Application
The Black Youth Fellowship is a 12-week, paid political and professional skill-building program designed to provide Black youth in Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) with hands-on experience at the Toronto City Council. Running from mid-January to mid-April 2025, fellows will collaborate with elected officials and City staff, gaining exposure to key areas of politics, including research, advocacy, communications, policy development, and casework.
Application Process:
Personal Information
Short-Answer Questions
Supporting Document(s)
Eligibility Requirements:
Black youth aged 18-30
Demonstrated sustained civic engagement
Active involvement in Black community development or improvement
Understanding of civic issues affecting both the Black Canadian community and the broader Canadian population
Availability for 8-12 hours per week, weekdays only, from mid-January to mid-April 2025
Eligible to work in Canada during the program
BTI Community Events
Roadmap to Billions Toronto: The Ultimate Tech Conference for Black Women Founders
Roadmap to Billions is coming to Toronto for the first time! After seven successful years of delivering world-class tech and business insights, the conference is expanding internationally. This is the only tech event created by Black women founders, for Black women founders and their allies. It’s an unparalleled opportunity to learn from leading experts, forge meaningful connections, and build impactful partnerships.
Why Attend?
Roadmap to Billions Toronto is more than just a conference—it’s a movement. Created from the unique perspective of Black women in tech, the event aims to:
Showcase the brilliance and achievements of Black women founders
Build a community of strong connections with industry experts and peers
Provide actionable insights to help secure funding and scale businesses
Share valuable lessons from trailblazing entrepreneurs to guide attendees toward success
📅 Date: September 29-30, 2024
📍 Location: East Room, 50 Carroll St, Toronto, ON M4M 3G3
As the largest global gathering of Black women tech founders, this event is tailored to provide founders—whether just starting out or seasoned—with the tools, network, and inspiration needed to grow and thrive. Don’t miss this opportunity!
The Canada Leadership Summit & Nation Builders Award Gala 2024
Join us on Saturday, October 5th, 2024, at the Hilton Toronto Airport Hotel in Mississauga, Ontario, for an extraordinary two-day event celebrating transformational leadership, nation building, and social justice.
The event will bring together top political leaders, government officials, and changemakers dedicated to shaping a brighter future.
With high-impact training sessions on leadership development, networking strategies, and nation building, this is a must-attend for those looking to make a difference.
Black Opportunity Fund presents a National Townhall
The Black Opportunity Fund (BOF) invites you to a pivotal National Townhall to discuss the Steering Committee's recommendations for Canada’s Black Justice Strategy, currently under government consideration for implementation.
The event will feature presentations by Zilla Jones and Akwasi Owusu-Bempah, who will share insights from their work on A Roadmap for Transformative Change: Canada’s Black Justice Strategy. They will outline the Steering Committee’s process, key recommendations, and anticipated government responses, followed by a Q&A session. The discussion will be further enriched by a distinguished panel, including Dr. Myrna Lashley, DeRico Symonds, Dunia Nur, and Craig Wellington, who will offer additional perspectives on the topic.
They extend their gratitude to the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF) and the University of Toronto’s Criminology and Socio-Legal departments for their generous sponsorship and support of this important conversation on the Black Justice Strategy.
This event will be hosted both in person and online.
📅 Date: October 8, 2024
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM Eastern Time
📍 In-Person Location: Northrop Frye Hall, University of Toronto
(73 Queen's Park Cres E, Building 515, Toronto, ON M5S 2C3)
Have a great week BTI community!