STEM Training Opportunity
Black Youth Science Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM), and Entrepreneurship Program
In early 2023, DRABPE will be staging a 4-month Black Youth STEM and entrepreneurship training program which will include an introduction to the technology field in such areas as:
- Business Analytics
- Intro to Data Science
- Project Management
- Digital Marketing
- Preparing for the Corporate world and Customer Service
The following support will be provided during the program:
- A loaned computer to participants for their use during the program
- Support such as;
- transportation (e.g., transit pass, milage),
- meal allowance, on-site food, and dependent
- Stipends of up to $400 / month may be provided to participants
Also, mentors will work with participant cohorts for four (4) months and will support participants in achieving their goals by:
- expanding their network through developing contacts;
- identifying obstacles in their career path.
If you are between the age of 17 and 24 and interested in being part of this program or know of Black Youth in Durham or Scarborough who would benefit from this program then please contact us at drabpe@gmail.com ASAP.
As 2022 Draws to an End
President’s Message
2022 emerged with a ray of hope that the effects of the pandemic would soon be over. And while that was not fully realised due to ongoing challenges (including our inability to meet with you in person), the DRABPE team stayed committed , remaining involved in a number of projects with the Government of Canada, Alterna Credit Union, Ontario Tech/Brilliant Catalyst, Nobelium, and Geekspeakcommerce and have been excited to work with these partners and thank them for their support.
Among our proudest achievements is the building and launching of our business directory and we invite you to be a part by signing up below. So as we approach 2023, we look forward to growing the Directory’s registrations, attracting partnerships, and adding Directors https://drabpe.org/news/were-hiring-board-of-directors/.
There have been some changes in our leadership where our team has grown with the addition of four new directors, namely, Trevin Noble, Keeshon Bonterre, Carlene Honigan, and Susan Blake. However, Frederica Black (co-founder of DRABPE), due to the demands of her growing career and expanding business interests, has stepped away from her role as Vice President. We are eternally grateful to Frederica for her tireless work over the past five years and are proud of her contributions and achievements.
We recommit to our objective of helping to ensure an increase in the community’s “share of the wallet,” and have outlined a list of goals that will work as guiding principles on our journey to transform the Black business community in Durham. These goals include:
- Creating opportunities for Black professionals to gain mutual support and encouragement.
- Offering resources that will include insight into basic finance, accounting, marketing, and customer service skills for new entrepreneurs.
- Assisting professionals and businesses with raising their profiles through inclusion in trade fairs and symposiums.
- Mentorship programs with young professionals.
We are still here to assist Black businesses to make inroads into the community and navigate the barriers that are preventing individuals from starting and growing their businesses. This is at the heart of DRABPE’s vision and we hold fast to this.
Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and to successful 2023
Regards,
Dane Lawrence, CSP
We’re Hiring – Board of Directors
Durham Region has one of the Largest and fastest growing Black communities in Canada, as a result, businesses have sprung up to meet the specific needs of the community.
Durham Region Association of Black Professionals and Entrepreneurs (DRABPE) seeks to provide connections and support to such businesses by providing access to resources through our growing network of partners, businesses and professionals. As a result, we seek volunteers to serve as Directors.
The Board of Directors is responsible to steer the organization with sound and ethical governance, along with providing business, management policies and skills. Directors will also carry out various Board responsibilities. Applicants should have some familiarity with governance and be able to attend occasional evening meetings and events held in the Durham Region.
Please see about us for more information about this organization and submit a resume to drabpe@gmail.com prior to the deadline of December 31, 2022. Only applicants selected for the only interview will be contacted.
2021 Lookback
Hi DRAPBE family, I do hope that 2022 has been good for you so far and that it will be a prosperous and exciting year. As we look back to our efforts in 2021, we recognize the challenges of not being able to meet personally.
We persevered and many of our programs, like the Financial literacy webinars and networking events, were all virtual.
The pandemic has accelerated change at a dizzying pace where we’ve seen stocks, real estate, inflation, and wealth discrepancies rise to historical highs. How are these changes impacting Black entrepreneurs and professionals within Canada and more specifically in the Durham Region?
While no solid data seems to be available and most of the stories are anecdotal, it does seem clear that the Black community has been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 downturns. Estimates have the closure of Black businesses at about 40%. Historically Black professionals’ salaries have always lagged behind their non-Black counterparts and indications are, that while salaries for professionals in general have risen, as is typical, Black professional salaries rise at a slower rate than that of other ethnicities.
So far, there have definitely been some positives though. The government and financial institutions are taking steps to make funding available to Black businesses to weather the storm and to grow their ventures. While there have been some hiccups in the process of getting funding to some of these businesses, there seems to be a clear path set out for economic improvement for the Black community if promises made are kept.
We at DRABPE are committed to being part of any upward trajectory that results from these efforts and we’re trying to provide pathways for our community to be buoyed by the upward tide. These are pivotal times and if we miss this rising wave we may be swamped by the next one.
What then are we doing to ensure the community’s survival and prospering? Briefly outlined below are some of our key initiatives. We are:
Forging relationships with financial institutions to ensure that they are aware of the potential benefits of tapping into the Black community rather than passing us by;
Engaging Equity partners like FACE and BAIDS to build support for local access to financial and training resources;
Communicating with Municipalities and with Durham Region Economic Development to review and capture relevant data for and about Black Businesses to identify opportunities and support;
Launching our Black Business directory to give more visibility to Black businesses within Durham;
Continuing to build and maintain relationships with community partners such as the key employers, community partners, municipalities, and the Region;
Obtaining funding to support an Executive Director role within DRABPE to propel the organization into the future and to fulfil our mandate to provide the services that the community so much needs.
We aren’t able to achieve this by ourselves and thus are constantly on the lookout for passionate and visionary people to come alongside us in our effort to create positive change. If interested in being part of this journey then please give us a call.