TORONTO, Dec. 10, 2021—Tech Spark Canada and BGC Canada (formerly Boys & Girls Clubs of Canada) are working together to launch a customized version of Tech Spark’s Tech Entrepreneurship program, designed specifically for BIPOC youth and offered in-person and virtually.

The program will allow BGC Clubs to select from key subjects within the overall curriculum, ensuring Club participants can engage with a variety of activities and projects that align with youth leadership programs and outcomes.

Focusing on experience and confidence gaps among youth, the Tech Entrepreneurship program includes lessons and project activities that will help young people showcase their learning, develop and enhance their digital literacy skills, and explore their personal interests as possible entrepreneurial and business opportunities.

“We are ecstatic to partner with BGC Canada to bring our tech entrepreneurship course beyond the school system, into the hands of youth across Canada,” says Tamar Huggins, Founder & CEO, Tech Spark Canada. “Together, we are actively changing the face of technology creation, by providing systemically excluded youth the opportunity to build revenue-generating tech startups that solve real problems.”

“Helping young people prepare for their future is fundamental to the work of our Clubs,” says Owen Charters, President & CEO, BGC Canada. “We are very pleased that Tech Spark has partnered with BGC Clubs to introduce tech entrepreneurship and give Club youth the confidence and skills that will help them succeed.”

Tech Spark will provide one-to-one training and support for each BGC Club that receives a grant to ensure the program runs smoothly and benefits as many young people as possible.

About Tech Spark Canada
Tech Spark is Canada’s first technology and curriculum design company committed to empowering BIPOC students and teachers through culturally relevant and inclusive tech-focused education. We specialize in the creation of inquiry-based, student-centered K-12 curricula through the lens of technology development, culturally responsive pedagogy, and entrepreneurship.

About BGC Canada
For 120+ years, BGC Canada has been creating opportunities for millions of Canadian kids and teens. As Canada’s largest child and youth serving charitable and community services organization, our Clubs open their doors to young people of all ages and their families at 736 locations nationwide. During out-of-school hours in small and large cities, and rural and Indigenous communities, our trained staff and volunteers provide programs and services that help young people realize positive outcomes in self-expression, academics, healthy living, physical activity, job readiness, mental wellness, social development, leadership, and more. Opportunity changes everything. Learn more at bgccan.com and follow us on social media @BGCCAN.

Media contacts:

Ivy Sarpong, Tech Spark Canada
ivy@techspark.ca

Jared Morrow, BGC Canada
jmorrow@bgccan.com

February is Black History Month and BGC Canada’s National Youth Council wants to challenge everyone to take steps towards learning more about what this month means for individuals, communities, and Canada.

Below, we have two different approaches to spark learning for #BlackHistoryMonth.

• A series of terms that you can research online, on your own or as a group activity
• Activities and topics inspired by our Anti-racism Initiative Microgrants (A.I.M.) that Clubs can use to participate in Black History Month

Don’t forget to read our National Youth Council Statement on Anti-Racism and BGC Canada’s Statement on Racism and Discrimination.

SEARCH TERMS

Step 1: Choose a term below

Step 2: Use your favourite search engine to search the term online

Step 3: Write down one thing you learned and share it with someone at your Club, a family member, a friend, or anyone else you think would be interested!

Step 4: If you are Club staff, post on social media using the animated graphic that matches the search term—let us know what your Club youth learned, use the hashtag #BlackHistoryMonth, and tag @BGCCAN!
 

• code-switching
• #BLM
• Viola Desmond
• equity vs equality
• Africville Nova Scotia
• food desert
• adultification bias
• medical racism
• Matt Galloway
• Jully Black
• womanism
• Leonard Braithwaite
• Juanita Westmoreland-Traoré
• Black joy
• Willie O’Ree
• Donovan Bailey

BLACK HISTORY MONTH ACTIVITIES

Our Anti-racism Initiative Microgrants (A.I.M.), generously sponsored by Hyundai Canada and Best Buy Canada, offered up to $2,000 to Club members between the ages of 13 – 24 to run a youth-led event, workshop, or other activity that promotes and educates about anti-racism.

Below are some activity ideas based on our first round of A.I.M. recipients!
 

• Black History Month video project: Interview different generations about their past, present experiences, and hope for for an equitable and inclusive society in the future
• Educational video about anti-racism: Create an educational video about the community and why anti-racism is so important, including education about Newcomers and People of Colour
• How to talk about racism: Research and run a webinar on anti-racism efforts in your community
• I Stand Against … workshop: Host BIPOC speakers in a workshop that aims to combat anti-Indigenous sentiments from the community, as well as provide education around allyship and actionable steps
• No Room for Racism day: Run an anti-racism day at the Club with conversations about anti-racism, food from various cultures, poster contests, and more
• Arts and Activism: Create an art show that raises awareness and encourages dialogue around diversity and expression
• Community project: Connect with local university or college to run a workshop on racism and inclusion
• We are not the Same virtual event: Host a virtual event to appreciate People of Colour and explore/dismiss stereotypes
• Anti-racism group chat: Organize a group to talk about racism against various marginalized groups
• Book club: Choose a book written by a BIPOC author and organize a meeting to discuss