Weekly Community Updates
February 14, 2022
Welcome to BTI
Welcome our new members to the BTI:
Guest Speaker
Thank you to Dr. Laurie Samuel, Criminologist and Founder of Cupid's Sting, for joining us last week to share how her organization is teaching women life-saving skills through an interpersonal violence reduction program, discussing race and the impacts on Black employees' overall health and wellness when they are not seen, and educating employers on how to address violence and safety in the workplace.
For anyone who has follow up questions, please see Dr. Laurie Samuel’s contact information below.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauriejsamuelphd/
Website: www.cupidssting.org
Email: laurie@cupidssting.org
Cupid Sting’s My Community, My Safety is an initiative for Racialized women living in Peel to help build connections and learn safety information. There are a couple of months left and Cupid Sting welcomes new attendees, free of cost. To sign-up, interested women may email hello@cupidssting.org.
Community Spotlight Speaker
Thank you to André Morgan, Endurance Ultra Runner & Photographer for joining the BTI to showcase an initiative of a graphic label to identify small businesses across Canada owned by people of colour.
For anyone who has follow up questions, please see André Morgan’s contact information below.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andremorgan/
Website: https://andremorgan.com/
Email: andre@a-designs.ca
Black Talent Initiative Welcomes Our New Executive Director, Hildah Juma!
Join us in welcoming Hildah (Otieno) Juma who has assumed her role as Black Talent Initiative’s Executive Director.
“Securing a confident leader with a proven record of successfully advocating in the not-for-profit space is a tremendous milestone for BTI. BTI is building a community of changemakers and with Hildah's leadership we will continue fuelling our momentum to change the future for Black talent.” - Mark Harrison, Founder, MH3 Collective and Black Talent Initiative.
Read the full announcement here: https://lnkd.in/eamgiPSk
Metro Morning with Ismaila Alfa featuring BTI’s Co-founder Mark Harrison:
How is the corporate world stepping up to push against anti-Black racism?
Our own Co-founder, Mark Harrison spoke with CBC/Radio-Canada's Metro Morning with Ismaila Alfa on anti-Black racism in the corporate world. Take a listen here.
Create an Inclusive Work Environment During Black History Month and Beyond: Ten Thousand Coffees’ Report
Ten Thousand Coffees interviewed 15 Black Business, HR, DEI and Talent Leaders and Consultants from North American organizations like Accenture, RBC, Black Professionals In Tech Network (BPTN) Inc. and our very own organization, Black Talent Initiative for their new report, "How Black History Month Can Be a Catalyst for Year-Long Inclusive Action".
Through their advice and learnings, the report provides strategies, insights and advice for enterprise HR, DEI, and Business Leaders on how to:
- Recognize and Celebrate Black History Month
- Elevate Black Talent Through Career Development, Mentorship, and Networking
- Foster & Promote Allyship
Download Ten Thousand Coffees’ report to learn how you can support and develop underrepresented talent during Black History Month and beyond: https://lnkd.in/d5XYavh8
BTI x MiQ Internship Program & Internship Launch Event
In collaboration with our partner MiQ, a leader in the programmatic industry, we will be looking for three interns to join their 12-week paid internship program beginning in May. The program features hands-on opportunities in sales, account management and trading and is committed to supporting our network of Black students and entry-level professionals through setting goals, development opportunities, and interactive initiatives.
Check out the internship opportunities available:
Missed BTI x MiQ’s Internship Launch Virtual Event? Catch the recording here.
Interested in applying for one of the internship opportunities? Please send your resume to ca-talent@miqdigital.com and indicate the role that you are applying for. Application deadline is February 18th at 11:59 pm EST.
Questions? Feel free to reach out to talent@blacktalentinitiative.network
BGC Canada’s National Board of Directors: Recruiting for Board of Director Members
Through life-changing programs, community-based services, and relationships with peers and caring adults, BGC Canada helps kids and teens develop the skills they need to succeed.
BGC Canada (formally known as Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada) is seeking candidates for positions of Director on their national board. Directors serve for two-year terms, which are renewable three times, as part of a 15-member board. Directors are responsible for the good governance of BGC Canada and function as a Governance Board supporting the CEO. Directors are expected to attend a majority of meetings each year. To learn more about this opportunity, please visit here.
Deadline for applications is March 31, 2022. Please submit a cover letter and your resume/curriculum vitae to nominate@bgccan.com. Candidates selected for interviews will be contacted by a member of the Nominations Committee.
For more information about BGC Canada please visit their website at www.bgccan.com.
Community Events
SponsorshipX’s LinkedIn Live: Cultivating Black Talent in Sponsorship Marketing
Join SponsorshipX on February 17th from 2:00-3:00 PM, to celebrate black excellence in sponsorship marketing!
Featuring Gina Scott, NFL Players Association, Shane Beharry, Learfield IMG College, Mike Long, NASCAR, Sherí Barros, American Cancer Society, Leonard "Leo" Edwards, Evil Geniuses, Shawn Small, Sponsorship Canadaand Mark Harrison, SponsorshipX.
Hear inspiring personal journeys from talent in the industry. Learn what organizations can do to cultivate Black talent both within and beyond their four walls. Hear about successful partnerships that have made an impact on promoting diversity and inclusion in society and learn what you can do to recruit, amplify and invest in people of colour.
Sign up to attend here.
Black Daddies Club and the AGO, Art tour and making for Family Day
The Black Daddies Club and the AGO would like to invite you to a moment to celebrate Black Families on Monday, February 21, from 1:00-2:00 PM. They welcome families that self-identify as Black, Black families from the diaspora, families from the Caribbean, families who are allies and families who want to learn more about art and culture. The AGO is closed as per provincial health guidelines, but they would like to share the exhibition, Fragments of Epic Memory which invites visitors to experience the multiple ways of encountering the Caribbean and its diaspora, from the period following emancipation through today.
Hosted by Brandon Hay, MES (founder of Black Daddies Club) and Audrey Hudson, PhD (Richard and Elizabeth Currie Chief, Education and Programming). For this event, they invited Curator, Julie Crooks, to do a talk on the big ideas, art works and artists in the exhibition and we will also have Art Educators conduct a mini-art tour and making lesson geared towards families. As a thank you for participating, they would like to mail you a care package of art supplies to use in the session.
Please include your mailing address in the zoom registration form so they can ensure the packages get to your family on time. Limited quantity of 100.
Please see the link to register here.
Future of Good’s Black Leadership In Social Impact Summit
Future of Good’s panel on 'building anti-racist philanthropy and social finance' at the Black Leadership Summit on February 25th at 2:15 PM ET, will be moderated by Sydney Piggott, with panelists: Amina Doherty, Black Feminist Fund; Liban Abokor, Youth LEAPS; and Paulette Senior, The Canadian Women's Foundation.
Miniscule percentages of Canadian philanthropic and impact investment dollars go to Black-led, Black-serving organizations — despite that these organizations are doing some of the country’s most urgent and important work. But anti-racism in funding isn’t just about increasing those percentages; it’s also about changing the way funding is done. What does that mean in practice?
Learn more and get your tickets here for the summit happening next week!
Upcoming Guest Speakers
February 18th - Kwaku Agyeman, a Registered Psychotherapist who provides Individual and Relational Therapy Services will be joining the BTI to share more about his work, perspectives and how it positively contributes to Black Health and Wellness. He will also speak to the importance of culturally-responsive organizations and programming for Black and Racialized youth , which was the driving motivation and community-building intention of the Rexdale Youth Mentorship (RXYM), where he is the Founder and Executive Director.
February 25th - Jaqui Parchment, CEO of Mercer Canada
March 4th - TBA
Have a great week!