Working with their school’s BIPOC committee and the Lead UP group at their Club, which provides youth with opportunities to engage in service initiatives that address community needs, BGC Winnipeg young leaders Busayo and Faith led a schoolwide initiative to raise awareness about Black History Month, important Black leaders, and Black culture in Canada and the U.S. 

With support from Heather, a staff member at BGC Winnipeg, they applied for BGC Canada’s Anti-Racism Initiative Microgrant to help support the initiative.

BGC Canada’s Anti-Racism Initiative Microgrants, sponsored by Hyundai Canada and Best Buy Canada, were created to support youth-led initiatives from Club members across Canada.

The microgrants aim to elevate youth voices around anti-racism, especially in BIPOC communities. BGC Canada is committed to removing barriers for youth and instilling the confidence they need to achieve their best selves. Stories like this one are what we mean when we say: No. More. Barriers. 

Everyone involved spent the fall of 2021 and winter of 2022 preparing for the event. The group organized online activities (like Kahoot!) to be delivered in classrooms at Dakota Collegiate and created posters for the entire school, incorporating an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens in the messaging. Busayo also led a video production, where people of all ages were interviewed and spoke about their experiences with racism and what they were hopeful for in the future. 

You can view the video here: https://vimeo.com/513578469 

Busayo says it was her “favourite project so far,” one that she will remember for a long time.  

“I never thought I could lead such a big project.”

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

National initiative will provide a platform to amplify youth leadership and advocacy

Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada, in partnership with Hyundai Canada, is thrilled to announce a national Youth of the Year initiative that celebrates youth leadership and achievement at Boys and Girls Clubs across the country.

“Young people are actively building our collective future. Across the world, we have seen young community leaders raise their voices about issues that impact all of us,” says Owen Charters, President & CEO, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada. “We are grateful to Hyundai Canada for helping us create a platform that gives young leaders at Boys and Girls Clubs an opportunity to represent young Canadians, to advocate for issues that matter to kids and teens, and to give back to their communities.”

Beginning in September, Club youth ages 15 – 18 can apply for Youth of the Year by submitting a written essay and video that showcases their achievements, service, and leadership to their Club, their school, and their community. Applications will close in November and six Regional Youth of the Year will be selected in February by a judging panel. After participating in leadership training sessions, including public speaking, media training, and networking, the six Regional Youth of the Year will then be asked to complete a second submission. The second round of judging will determine one final winner, who will serve as Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada’s National Youth of the Year.

In addition to leadership training, the six Regional Youth of the Year will each be awarded a personal laptop and a $2,000 scholarship to apply to their post-secondary education, while the National Youth of the Year winner will be awarded an additional $8,000 scholarship. The Boys and Girls Club of each winner will also receive funding towards youth leadership programming.

“The future of our communities relies on the strength, creativity and dedication of the next generation’s leaders. It’s important for us to empower and support them in achieving their goals,” says Don Romano, President & CEO, Hyundai Canada. “We’re proud to partner with Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada on this incredible program and help young people recognize and achieve their leadership potential.”

Both Regional Youth of the Year and the National Youth of the Year will make a two-year commitment to serve as ambassadors for Boys and Girls Clubs on a local and national level, which will include both digital and in-person participation in speaking engagements, media interviews, and networking opportunities.

About Hyundai Canada
Hyundai Auto Canada, established in 1983 and headquartered in Markham, Ontario, is a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Company of Korea. Hyundai vehicles are distributed throughout Canada by Hyundai Auto Canada and are sold and serviced through more than 220 dealerships nationwide. Hyundai is also the first to offer a second-generation zero-emissions Fuel Cell Electric Vehicle to Canadian customers, called the NEXO. More information about Hyundai and its vehicles can be found at www.HyundaiCanada.com.

Media contacts:

Jared Morrow
Media Relations Manager, Boys and Girls Clubs of Canada
jmorrow@bgccan.com

Bianca Pettinaro
Corporate Communications Specialist, Hyundai Canada
bpettinaro@hyundaicanada.com