BlackNorth Initiative and CivicAction Partner to Increase Black Leadership Opportunities and Representation in Canadian Workplaces

These two organizations will break down systemic barriers by bringing together established and rising Black leaders to accelerate career growth and opportunities

TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The BlackNorth Initiative is proud to partner with CivicAction, a civic engagement organization focused on building better, more inclusive cities, to address anti-Black racism in the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA), and communities across the country.

“We’re looking forward to collaborating with CivicAction by combining our network of successful leaders with their initiatives to create real opportunity for Black Canadians in the Greater Toronto Hamilton area,” says Dahabo Ahmed-Omer, Executive Director of the BlackNorth Initiative. “By offering impactful programs to support emerging leaders we are able to introduce diversity from the top down, creating real change for the whole organization.”

From the classroom to the boardroom, Black Canadians face systemic barriers to equity and success. According to a 2020 report by CivicAction and Boston Consulting Group (BCG), Black university graduates earn only 80 cents for every dollar earned by White university graduates – despite having the same credentials.

To address anti-Black racism in our workplaces, over the next two years, the BlackNorth Initiative will assist in further expanding the pipeline of candidates for existing CivicAction programs, including CivicMatch. This initiative connects C-suite established leaders with Indigenous, Black, and racialized rising leaders in group conversations with a focus on accelerating leadership opportunities.

“As we look to rebuild an inclusive economy, we must begin by asking ourselves what actions we can each take every day to continue the momentum and create change,” said Leslie Woo, CEO of CivicAction. “To address systemic inequities and the pervasive nature of anti-Black racism in our workplaces, we’re working with BlackNorth Initiative to create deeper connections between established Black leaders and rising racialized leaders.”

Together, these organizations will work to increase Black leadership representation in the workplace, breakdown systemic barriers that young Black people face when applying for jobs, and work to accelerate leadership opportunities for racialized emerging leaders in our regions.