On 18AUG, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) announced it's committing CAD $150,000 to six Black and Indigenous-led groups that are supporting communities around YYZ.
This announcement continues the work the GTAA has been doing to support Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, including a commitment to the BlackNorth Initiative, which the GTAA signed in JUL 2020. The GTAA says providing funding to these community groups is a "measurable step" toward fulfilling its promise to help build better futures for those impacted by systemic racism.
The organizations sharing in the support have previously been recipients of funding through the 2020 Nest Fund. They include:
- The Black Youth School Success Initiative is a prevention and intervention school support program that supports Black children and youth from grade 6 through high school.
- Eshkiniigjik Naandwechigegamig, Aabiish Gaa Binjibaaying (ENAGB) provides mental, emotional, physical and spiritual programming and services to Indigenous youth aged 12–29 years.
- Help a Girl Out works to ensure all women have access to sanitary products regardless of circumstance and initiates year-round anti-stigma campaigns and educational workshops to end menstrual shame among women and girls in Canada.
- Helping Hands Platform is a grassroots organization led by Black youth that matches Black, newcomer and low socioeconomic status youth with volunteer, educational, entrepreneurial and employment opportunities.
- Trust 15 Youth Community Support Organization provides youth in the Rexdale/North Etobicoke area with programs that promote and facilitate positive behaviour, creative expression and cooperative working skills.
- Weston Frontlines Centre is a dynamic youth charity in York-South Weston that provides culturally relevant and inclusive programming—from homework/tutoring programs and camps to pop-up events and employment programs—to children and youth ages 6–29.
"We're very proud to be able to take an active role and continue our support of these organizations, as they each have their own unique area of concentration and activities," says Molara Awosedo, Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion with the GTAA. "We look forward to continuing to work together with these organizations to support the diverse communities around Toronto Pearson."
According to the GTAA, the previous funding provided to these groups benefitted 1,629 Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour community members. The organizations were also able to increase their fundraising capacities, which resulted in more than CAD $2 million being raised separately.
