The Black Achievers mentorship program is dedicated to the advancement of Black Youth in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and aims to provide Black youth with the opportunity to develop socially and academically with the support of Black mentors and role models.

Black Achievers mentorship program is a signature program of the YMCA of Greater Toronto championed by our Black Experience Staff Advisory Committee (BESAC) and dedicated to the advancement of Black (including African- and Caribbean-Canadian or other Newcomer) youth.

 To start, the Black Achievers mentorship program will bring together youth ages 14 to 19 who identify as Black, are high school students and live in the Kingston Galloway, Malvern and Dorset Park neighbourhoods in Scarborough.

By introducing the program to select neighbourhoods in Scarborough, the Y will be able to learn first-hand what students need before expanding to other parts of the Greater Toronto Area.

The goal is to expand the program throughout the community to help as many youth as possible, which starts with providing a successful first program to youth in these Scarborough neighbourhoods.

If you are interested in becoming a mentee or a mentor for this program, please email samantha.adebiyi@ymcagta.org.

The program starts in September 2021; participating youth will meet virtually on a weekly basis and be introduced to:

• Black mentors and role models in the community and their experiences at a similar age
• Workplace and post-secondary campus exposure through visits and event participation
• Life and interpersonal skills as they learn about different pathways to available careers and networking
• A welcoming community of support from participating mentors and the YMCA of Greater Toronto

Youth programs at the Y are specifically designed to help youth achieve their goals or get back on track. New friends, new skills, counselling – you can find it all and more at the Y!

The Black Achievers mentorship program will help participating youth connect with Black mentors and role models to facilitate access to resources, connections and education including:

• Mentoring for life skills, study skills, interpersonal skills, and to learn about pathways to various careers
• Workplace visits and post-secondary campus tours
• Career development testing
• Community service and events
• Leveraging partner relationships to potentially build out resources like tutoring and scholarships

 Every year, the charity serves Black youth in the community through leadership development programs and other services, and thanks to the support of our founding launch donors, the Y is able to continue supporting communities through important initiatives such as Black Achievers.

You can donate online to the Black Achievers program today. To share your interest and learn more, please contact Renee Beneteau, CFRE, Senior Director, Philanthropy at 647-981-1309 or renee.beneteau@ymcagta.org.