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Membership Benefits

Join DRABPE to access networking, resources, and support for Black-owned businesses in Durham.

Upcoming Events

Discover networking opportunities, workshops, and events in the Durham Region.

Contact Us

Get in touch with DRABPE for inquiries, partnerships, or support.

Business Directory

Explore Black-owned businesses in the Durham Region.

Youth Career Launch Program

Learn about our STEMM-focused program for Black youth.

Mentor Match - First Event Announcement | Career Mentorship Event

Mentor Match

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🎉 FIRST EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT

Find Your Perfect Mentor Match

Ever wished you had someone in your corner to guide your career? Your chance is here!

🎟️ Register Now Learn More

We believe that mentorship should be open to everyone, and now is your chance to find your match! Mentor Match is thrilled to announce our first event!

Our goal is to create awareness of the incredible power of mentorship and its impact on career development. This is your opportunity to connect with established professionals, learn from real-world success stories, and get the tools you need to build a powerful mentorship relationship.

📅 Event Details

🗓️
Date
Saturday, November 8, 2025
⏰
Time
11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
📍
Location
University of Toronto Scarborough Campus

💡 Pro Tip: Download and share this flyer to spread the word about the event!

📥 Download the Official Event Flyer

Get the printable PDF version of our event flyer to share with your network, print, or post on social media!

📄 Download PDF Flyer

File size: ~6.7MB | Format: PDF

What You'll Experience

🤝

Connect with Professionals

Meet established professionals ready to guide your career journey

💡

Real Success Stories

Learn from those who've walked the path before you

🛠️

Practical Tools

Get actionable strategies to build lasting mentorship relationships

🌟

Career Growth

Unlock opportunities for professional development and advancement

🎤 Hosted & Organized By Our Amazing Partners

This event is proudly brought to you by dedicated organizations committed to empowering careers and communities. Special shoutout to our hosts and organizers!

Hosted & Organized By

Future Achievers Logo

Future Achievers

DRABPE Logo

DRABPE

Tickets Are Officially Live! 🎉

Secure your spot at this one-of-a-kind event

Get Your Tickets Now →

Share This Event

#MentorMatch #Mentorship #CareerDevelopment #Networking #ProfessionalGrowth #FutureAchievers #DRABPE #UniversityOfToronto #UofT

Mentor Match

Empowering careers through meaningful mentorship connections

Register Event Details

© 2025 Mentor Match. All rights reserved.

Bridging the Gap: Hop In Technologies’ Impact on Workforce Mobility

On May 26, 2025, Invest Durham Senior Content Writer Abigail Guevara published an in-depth profile of Hop In Technologies. Although the focus is on Hop In, we’re proud to see Boyd Reid, Co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, featured for his work addressing a critical barrier to employment: reliable, affordable transportation.

Born and raised in Jamaica, Boyd understood firsthand how a lack of transport options can keep good workers from good jobs. In 2018, he and co-founder Erich Ko launched Hop In to partner with local bus, taxi and shuttle operators. Their app collects real-time data on employees’ home addresses, shift schedules and available vehicles in order to design efficient pick-up and drop-off routes. This “last-mile” approach ensures that employers in north Durham and other underserved areas can fill late or remote shifts without relying solely on workers who own cars.

Guevara’s article highlights Hop In’s early projects in Durham Region, including coordinating safe rides for Durham Deaf Services during the pandemic, and more recent collaborations with Durham College and the Clarington Board of Trade to study transit gaps. Boyd shares that employees who use the service arrive calm and on time, often using the ride home to rest, while businesses benefit from reduced turnover and lower recruitment costs once transportation is no longer an obstacle.

The profile also covers Hop In’s expansion into the United States, noting their 2024 partnership with Alabama Industrial Development Training and ongoing discussions with Ultimate Kronos Group to integrate commute solutions for clients across North America. Throughout, Hop In’s mission to remove transportation barriers and unlock economic opportunity resonates strongly with DRABPE’s commitment to supporting Black entrepreneurs and professionals in our region.

Read the full Invest Durham story here:
Smart Commutes: How Hop In Technologies Is Connecting Workers to Jobs

B-WISE: Empowering Black Wellness Together

Black Wellness Event banner for B-WISE

Join us for B-WISE: Empowering Black Wellness Together, a free, community-centered event dedicated to celebrating and supporting Black wellness through connection, education, and inspiration. This one-day event will bring together individuals, families, professionals, and organizations for an uplifting experience filled with workshops, fitness activities, panel discussions, and community resources — all designed to help you thrive.

Speakers will be announced soon, and more details are coming — but you can register now to save your spot!

Want to stay connected?

Subscribe to our email list for updates on DRABPE events and opportunities. Follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Learn More About DRABPE Visit our homepage or explore our team members and past events to see how we support Black wellness year-round.

What to Expect:

  • Interactive wellness workshops
  • Fitness demonstrations
  • Mental & physical health discussions
  • Vendor marketplace & community resources
  • A day to connect, recharge, and celebrate wellness
  • More information about speakers, sessions, and vendors will be shared soon — stay tuned!

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to attend?

  • This event is free and open to everyone — all are welcome!

Do I need to bring anything?

  • Just bring yourself and an open mind! If you’d like to participate in fitness activities, wear comfortable clothing.

Can I bring my family or friends?

  • Absolutely — the more the merrier! Please have each person register individually so we can plan accordingly.

I’m interested in being a vendor or sponsor. How do I get involved?

  • If you have additional questions, feel free to email us at drapbe@gmail.com with the subject line “B-WISE Vendor/Sponsor”.

Who Should Attend?

  • Everyone is welcome! Whether you’re a community member looking to focus on your personal wellness, a professional working in health or wellness, or simply curious to connect and learn, this event is for you.Come as you are — individuals, families, professionals, and organizations are all invited.

Cybersecurity for Entrepreneurs: Free Webinar for Black-Owned Businesses

DRABPE event on cybersecurity for Black-owned businessesr

📅 Date: Wednesday, August 13, 2025
🕛 Time: 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
📍 Location: Online (link provided upon registration)
📧 Contact: drabpe@gmail.com | https://drabpe.org/

Are you a Black entrepreneur or small business owner in Toronto looking to protect your business from cyber threats? This FREE webinar is designed specifically for YOU.

In today’s digital world, cybersecurity is no longer optional—it’s essential to protecting your brand, your customers, and your future. Whether you run a tech startup, a retail shop, or a creative agency, this session will give you the tools to:

🔐 Identify and prioritize key cyber threats like phishing, ransomware & data breaches
🛠️ Implement cost-effective security practices across your business
🧠 Train yourself and your team to recognize social engineering tactics
📁 Protect sensitive assets like customer data and intellectual property
📋 Build a cyber incident response plan to ensure business continuity
🤝 Foster trust and digital resilience with clients, partners & investors

✅ Full details, registration link, and contact info provided

Let’s build stronger, safer Black-owned businesses together.


Register now at: Eventbrite

Find and communicate with us here:

DRABPE LinkedIn

DRABPE LinkedIn

DRABPE Website

Cybersecurity webinar for Black entrepreneurs

Celebrating Black Youth Excellence – Regional Councilor Marilyn Crawford

We’re honoured to be recognized by Regional Councillor Marilyn Crawford for our Future Founders graduation. As one of DRABPE’s flagship programs, Future Founders empowers Black youth with the skills, mentorship, and confidence to pursue entrepreneurship. Over the past several weeks, this cohort has developed ideas, built business plans, and grown as future leaders.

Thank you, Councillor Crawford, for celebrating this milestone with us and for your continued support of Black excellence in Ajax.

> “DRABPE introduces Black Youth Program Graduation… created to empower Black youth with the skills, mentorship, and confidence to pursue entrepreneurship.” — Regional Councillor Marilyn Crawford

And the journey doesn’t stop here…

🚀 Future Founders Cohort 7 is now officially open! If you’re a Black youth ready to explore entrepreneurship, gain hands-on experience, and build your dream with a powerful support network behind you—this is your moment.

Apply today and be part of a movement that’s shaping the next generation of Black-owned enterprises.