By Owen Charters

At BGC Canada, our broad brand direction is inspired by the idea of “no more barriers.” In communities across the country, our Clubs are critical in helping kids and teens overcome any number of barriers that are often found in their way.

Many of these barriers come from pervasive systemic racism. Clubs witness the detrimental effects of systemic racism every day. They see youth that cannot access the opportunities that others have. They see the messages and behaviours that continually diminish the expectations and possibilities for young people. They witness the effect of inequity, especially in racialized communities. We see it most starkly right now, as reports of COVID-19 cases are rising most quickly in racialized neighbourhoods. Early on, this was evident in Toronto, and now data from Alberta is showing the same thing. Why is this? Because these communities often have multi-tenant dwellings with poorer ventilation and less access to outdoor space. Because workers in these communities are often frontline workers who have increased exposure due to working conditions. And these are just a few examples of the systemic challenges these communities face.

This is why we have launched our Systemic Opportunity campaign. Our Clubs play an essential role in combatting inequity, in navigating paths to opportunities that aren’t otherwise available for so many young people and families.

As spokesperson for our the Systemic Opportunity campaign, Canadian icon Jully Black penned an op-ed that was recently published by the Toronto Star online and in print (we also posted it on our website if you can’t access the Star). Through the lens of growing up in the Jane & Finch neighbourhood in north Toronto and attending BGC when she was young, Jully has written about the importance of opportunity, now more than ever, and the need to invest in young people if we are going to make changes to a system that disproportionately underserves BIPOC communities. This is not the first time Jully has championed our Clubs—she was a powerful presence for our Unplug to Connect events in 2018 and 2019 and she has a strong connection with our St. Alban’s Club in Toronto. Jully is living proof of how access to opportunity and removing barriers can change everything for a young person. This is the crux of our Systemic Opportunity campaign: in the face of ongoing systemic issues exacerbated by the pandemic—racism, poverty, discrimination, inequity—our Clubs offer systemic, long-term, life-changing solutions. To quote Jully, “if we create opportunities, especially for young people, we change lives, we change communities, we change our country.”

I can’t say it better than that.  No. More. Barriers.

By Jully Black (published in The Toronto Star on November 30, 2020)
 
Opportunity changes everything.

If this sentence doesn’t resonate with you, then maybe opportunity wasn’t something you had to think about. Or maybe you had to create your own opportunities — but doors were still open to you and so “changes everything” doesn’t hit the same.

When I first heard this, I liked it. It rang true because it moves from the usual debates about policing and gun control and other short-term solutions and looks to the long game: if we create opportunities, especially for young people, we change lives, we change communities, we change our country.

For me, opportunity is when those who are invisible or excluded are given a chance to show their abilities to others who have the resources to take them to the next level. I often say give me the interview and I will get the job. I’m not looking for you to give me the job — I’m looking for a safe and brave space to present the greatness that I have manifested.

Playing organized basketball at the Boys and Girls Club was my opportunity. It kept me focused and off the streets. I always did well academically and clearly music was a given, but it was when I got deep into organized sports that I realized sport imitates society. If you can contribute to a team and you know that the success of that team is dependent on your commitment and focus, it will transfer into other areas of your life. I fundamentally believe that I’ve had success in the music business because I know how to play on a team.

I know people will read this and say I am an exception — but I shouldn’t be. For too many Canadians, opportunity is not available. How do you realize your potential when you can’t even find the doors in the first place, let alone open them?

We are lucky in Canada to have organizations out there doing what they can to level the playing field, like Boys & Girls Clubs. Across the country, they remove barriers and create opportunities for thousands and thousands of kids and teens. Most importantly, they help kids develop the talents and skills they need so that when a door opens, a young person can take advantage of that moment.

That’s why I’m happy to champion their new Systemic Opportunity campaign, which reinforces the role Boys & Girls Clubs play in building social safety nets for so many young Canadians.

The COVID-19 pandemic has widened the gap across Canada, especially for BIPOC communities. Over the summer, Black people and other people of colour made up 83 per cent of COVID cases in Toronto. StatsCan data shows that workers of colour are hit harder by job loss, Indigenous communities are experiencing worsening mental health, and newcomers are struggling with increased anxiety.

In general, racial inequities are on the rise. And research shows that children who face racism are more likely to be victims of poverty and abuse, have more interactions with child welfare and the justice system, and experience challenges at school.

The new Boys & Girls Clubs campaign contrasts these systemic issues with the systemic solutions that Clubs offer — equity, acceptance, support, opportunity. And these are not just words. This way of thinking structures all their programs and services, with one goal: provide young people with what they need to be their best selves.

I have seen this firsthand. I have witnessed how club staff and participants have formed unique connections that are tied to their humanity, not what could be happening outside the club’s door. I have spoken to club members and heard the excitement about their future, despite their current circumstances. It’s clear they are supported and encouraged.

But Boys & Girls Clubs and other charitable organizations shouldn’t be doing this work alone. If opportunity is giving those who are invisible and excluded a chance to showcase their abilities, then it’s clear we need to create favourable conditions — and that means investing in young people and the communities where they live.

Many of us are born with what people call “raw talent.” And when I hear the word raw, I think of what is needed to shape that talent. It’s not just money. Youth need to know that they are being heard and respected and taken seriously enough to be invested in. It’s a beautiful thing to receive a financial boost, but it’s even more important to see the proud and present heart behind the donation. That’s what will propel Black youth and others who need opportunity to truly soar into their purpose.

Opportunity changes everything.

Dubbed Canada’s Queen of R&B, Jully Black is a platinum-selling, award-winning recording artist, actress in film, theatre, and television, and a major presence in the Canadian media and entertainment industry.