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By: Lavanya Kathirgamanathan
Canada is one of the most diverse and safest countries to live in. Toronto, in particular, is a city that embodies diversity and is occupied by various ethnicities. The Black community holds a significant place in the city with its contributions in society. In a large city, it is expected that the community will benefit from an extensive list of resources. These resources can include support in mental health, education, and the workplace through donations, organizations, and people.
Many of the organizations listed below are created within the black community to support the needs of academic support, health disparities, mental health support, and legal aid assistance.
It is crucial that Toronto provides resources that focus on the growth and success of the Black community. As of 2023, there are currently 6.3 million people living in Toronto, and without the appropriate resource it does not give Black people the opportunity to put forth their talent and skill. To ensure the Black community is able to meet their goals, support in these sectors are crucial.
Outlined below are a few links, support groups, and resources offered by the City of Toronto that focus on connecting and supporting Black-owned businesses that are widely accessible to everyone.
The Black Health Alliance / BHA
The Black Health Alliance aims to provide the Black community with support and care to access equal health care services. They seek to advance opportunities among all genders, races, and sexualities to ensure an organized structure when facilitating health protocols. They are avid on doing their research to provide the appropriate statistics before implementing changes in health care. This demonstrates their credibility to uphold safe health care practices that are fair.
The Black Legal Action Centre / BLAC
The Black Legan Action Centre offers legal services and support to low-income residents within the Black community in Ontario. This centre is intended to provide a comprehensive list of legal resources to those who need a robust consultation on managing issues. It further provides free legal aid and advice to those who have inquiries about education, the workplace, and government support. This allows citizens to become aware of their services and have an understanding of their disadvantages in society and how to combat them.
The Nia Centre for Arts is a Toronto-based organization that showcases artistic talent and excellency on behalf of the Black community. The organization promotes creativity, different colour profiles, and connects young and aspiring artists with reputable mentors. To strengthen the arts world, the organization makes it a priority to provide viable skills that artists can use in the workplace. These skills hone in on leadership roles, artistic designs, and networking that can be useful when crafting their own personal artwork portfolio.
Black Women in Motion provides resources in leadership development and mental health for Black women in Toronto. This organization aims to provide healing initiatives to confront the trauma endured on behalf of Black women and provide them with the support and care they require. This community led organization focuses on communication and open discussions to tackle adversities and confront barriers. The organization prioritizes respect and encourages Black women to share their personal stories that are supported in a candid and non-judgemental setting.
The Black Business and Professional Association / BBPA
The BBPA provides financial assistance to Black students in the educational system and those who wish to advance their business ventures. It is an association that advocates on behalf of Black professionals entering the business sector. It provides connections and networking opportunities to make launching business ventures accessible and efficient. It further issues scholarships that are useful when obtaining resources and support to attend classes relative to their area of expertise and field of study.
Toronto is one of the many cities that celebrates diversity and appreciates hard work ethic. It is a welcoming place that offers support towards health and wellness, education, and contronts language barriers to help provide a safe space in the Black community. These organizations help support and strengthen cohesion in the Black community. As Toronto’s population continues to increase, so must the support. It is important to keep encouraging the expansion of resources within the Black community to ensure unique talent and innovation is being accepted and recognized.
Lavanya Kathirgamanathan is one of the Writers for this year’s publication at Black Voice. She’s a recent graduate from Toronto Metropolitan University, where she studied Journalism and will further her education in Human Resources at George Brown College. Lavanya has experience writing for multiple publications and has her own food blog on social media. Lavanya’s main goal as a writer for the Black Voice publication is to showcase Black excellence within the community, and in the city of Toronto.