S4 Ep. 04: Empowering Futures: Supporting Black Talent in the Canadian Labour Market

The Black population in Canada is expected to exceed 3 million by 2041. Despite growing awareness of the root causes of inequities faced by Black communities, we don’t yet have interventions at scale in the skills ecosystem. In this episode, our guests describe the importance of culturally relevant, targeted programing for supporting Black communities in Canada to thrive in education and employment.

Our guests envision a future where gaps in educational attainment and wages between black and non-black individuals are closed, and where anti-Black racism in our classrooms and workplaces is eradicated. They share successful components of workforce development programs, including social capital development, mentorship, socioemotional development, and community involvement.

Speakers:

• Kofi Hope, CEO and Co-Founder, Monumental
• André McDonald, Professor, Mechanical Engineering, Associate Vice-President, Strategic Research Initiatives and Performance, University of Alberta
• Mohamed Elmi, Executive Director, Diversity Institute
• Heather McIntosh, Director, Education and Skills, The Conference Board of Canada (host)