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Black Women’s Economic Security (BWES) Project
Our Objectives
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Enhancing Leadership and Representation: Supporting Black female students to create and lead affinity groups and Black-focused clubs in schools, fostering safe spaces for community-building and advocacy.
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Empowering Through Education and Training: Providing workshops on diversity, equity, professional development, and emotional intelligence to help Black girls succeed academically and professionally.
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Advancing Systemic Change: Partnering with educational institutions to incorporate Afrocentric perspectives into curricula, creating inclusive experiences for all students.
Our Approach
To achieve our mission, we are:
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Mobilizing Community Partners
Partnering with schools, businesses, and organizations to build support networks and create opportunities for Black women. -
Advocating for Policy Change
Addressing systemic barriers through policy changes that promote equity for Black girls and women. -
Empowering Young Leaders
Supporting the formation of Black-Focused Affinity Groups to foster leadership and support networks within schools and communities.
Why This Matters
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20% of Black students in Toronto drop out of high school, nearly double the rate for white students.
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Only 32.4% of Black Canadians (aged 25-64) hold a bachelor’s degree or higher.Black women with post-secondary education face a 9.2% unemployment rate, above the national average.
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25% of Black women live below the poverty line, compared to 13% of non-racialized women.
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Over 46% of Black children in Toronto live in poverty, compared to 17% nationally.
How You Can Get Involved
High Schools
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Establish Affinity Groups to support Black female students in leadership and community-building.
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Host Workshops on professional development and equity topics.
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Collaborate on Curriculum Development to promote inclusive learning environments.
Organizations & Community Partners
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Provide Resources for events, workshops, and mentorship programs.
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Assist in Policy Development that tackles systemic barriers for Black women in Ontario.
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Offer Sponsorship, Mentorship, and Training in fields such as tech, law, and finance.
Individuals
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Volunteer Your Expertise as a mentor, speaker, or trainer.
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Attend Events and Spread the Word to help raise awareness.
To collaberate you will:
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Submit an expression of interest to FBF on or before March 31st, 2025
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Commit to hosting an event post approval of EOI
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Plan and execute an event with a minimum of 8 participants
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Report and share event details using reporting template provided by FBF
What we will provide:
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FBF will contribute towards travel expenses for participants, refreshments, honoraria for speakers, marketing and promotional support, and a reporting template.
What’s the Impact?
This project will amplify Black voices, improve representation, and empower young Black women to thrive across Ontario. We aim to increase the number of Black women who complete their education, secure stable employment, and advance into leadership roles, ultimately fostering greater economic security.
Interested?
Please see the attached link to the fill and submit your Expression of Interest.BWES Expression of Interest Form.
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