Resources for Black Students

York's Career Education & Development offers a range of services and events which are open to all York students and new graduates as well as online resources to assist you with job searching, career exploration, and finding volunteer opportunities.

We recognize diversity as a source of strength and strive to create an environment that values inclusion and embraces the unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences of all individuals. We condemn racism and discrimination in all its forms and reaffirm our deep commitment to diversity, inclusion, and human rights.

Career Education & Development strives to make students and community members feel welcomed, respected, valued, and heard. We work together and aim for meaningful participation of all our community members.

Career Centre Supports

Career Support

Career Counselling
Are you having difficulty deciding on a career path? Are you unsure how your degree may relate to your future career? Do you feel challenged moving forward with your career exploration?
To discuss your career concerns, meet with one of our Career Counsellors.

Your first Career Counselling appointment is a 20-minute session booked online. Additional session(s) can be booked online at Experience York.

Job Search Support

Resumé Support: For increased accessibility, students may request to complete a one-on-one Resumé Feedback Session in person, via telephone, or via email. The Resumé & Cover Letter Writing workshop is a prerequisite for one-on-one resumé support.

Job Search Advising: Students interested in expanding their job search resources, learning effective job search strategies, and networking and interview tips, may book a one-on-one Job Search Advising appointment with a Career Educator. These are 30-minute sessions in which one of your job search questions can be discussed and they can be booked online at Experience York. Students who are unable to attend an in-person appointment can request to complete their session via telephone or via email.

Interview Practice Session: Polish your interview skills and increase your confidence in this 30-minute session of practice and feedback. Come in person and receive a videotaped copy of your session (if requested) or attend via Skype.

Post-Graduate Studies Support

Post-Graduate Studies Support: Students interested in applying to post-graduate studies such as master's and doctoral programs, teachers college, law school and professional studies may book a PhD Career Advising in person, via telephone or email. Book an appointment on Experience York.

Career Resources

Below is a list of professional associations and organizations, credible equity and anti-racism education providers, and related job boards.

Job Boards

BlackJobs.com: This site promotes well-paying job opportunities for job seekers to help reduce the high rate of unemployment in Black communities. Each post on the site includes a brief description of the positions available and a link where applicants can apply. This web site is 100% free to use.

Diversity Job Board: DiversityJobBoard.com is a popular online destination for diverse job candidates. This platform promotes job opportunities and companies that embrace diversity and inclusion.

Business Directory

ByBlacks.com:  ByBlacks.com is an innovative online magazine serving the Black Canadian community funded by the Government of Canada. It contains a list of Black Canadian businesses, events, and other information to support the black community.

Professional Associations and Organizations

Black Business and Professional Association:  The BBPA is a non-profit, charitable organization that addresses equity and opportunity for the Black community in business, employment, education, and economic development, and is serving the Black community’s business, professional and economic development needs.

The Canadian Association of Black Journalists:  The CABJ is dedicated to diversifying the media through developing and mentoring professionals and up-and-coming media and communications students, while also increasing the number of talented individuals in front line decision-making roles and management level positions.

The Black Law Students’ Association (BLSA) at Osgoode Hall Law School: The two main goals of Osgoode Hall Law School Black Law Students’ Association is to promote diversity in the legal profession by increasing access to legal education for persons who identify as African Canadian/Black or have a demonstrated interest in issues that affect the African Canadian/Black community and to facilitate professional advancement of those persons through mentoring and networking opportunities.

Canadian Association of Black Lawyers:  CABL brings together law professionals and other interested members of the community from across Canada to cultivate and maintain The Association of Black professionals in Canada. It offers mentorship program for law students, articling students or junior lawyers where mentors reveal the realities of the job market and the expectations of the profession. It also offers scholarship awarded based on financial needs to visible minority students.

Black Law Students Association of Canada:  In conjunction with the Canadian Association of Black Lawyers (CABL) works to ease the transition from law school to the legal profession

Black Female Lawyers Network (BFLN):  The Black Female Lawyers Network (BFLN) is a registered not-for-profit organization, established in 2006. BFLN provides a forum for students and practitioners in the field to convene, share and learn from one another.

Black Female Accountants Network: The mission of the Black Female Accountants Network is to share knowledge and experiences through a process of engagement and professional reflection. To provide a forum to showcase and celebrate professional accomplishments and to utilize tools and resources for professional advancement.

Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP):  The Canadian Association of Urban Financial Professionals (CAUFP) is a member-based resource organization providing a link between corporations and the Black communities through innovative programs that facilitate economic growth and educational opportunities. The CAUFP’s Vision is a Canadian economy where Black people are active, influential and leaders.

National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE):  NSBE offers its members leadership training, professional development activities, mentoring, career placement services, community service opportunities for students and technical professionals in engineering and technology.

Association of Black Social Workers:  The key mission of the association is to act as support group and professional development resource for African Canadian workers. The ABSW provides a structure and forum through which Black Social Workers and workers in related fields can exchange ideas, offer services, and develop programs in the interest of the Black Community and the community at large.

Black Canadian Studies Association:  BCSA mission is to create and sustain a common forum and space to study, research and exchange ideas that advance the interest, study and understanding of Black Canada and the Diaspora.

Nia Centre for the Arts:  Nia Centre for the Arts is a Toronto-based charitable organization that supports, showcases, and promotes an appreciation of arts from across the Afro-Diaspora. Nia Centre offers a Youth Mentorship & Engagement program which provides youth and emerging artists the opportunity to explore a wide range of creative pathways, expand their artistic abilities and build supportive connections with their peers and career artists.

African Women Acting: AWA looks to create a variety of artistic and educational workshops and Events, which promote inclusiveness, community engagement, and a lasting – positive impact on community members.

Toronto Community Benefits Network. NextGen Builders Mentoring Program:  NextGen Builders Mentoring Program provides support to Black, Indigenous and newcomer communities, with priority for women and youth, who are in the process of preparing for work or who have been recently employed as apprentices or professionals in the construction industry.

Manyatta Toronto:  Manyatta's mission is to create professional networking opportunities for the African Diaspora. Manyatta champions positive change by showcasing social entrepreneurs and organizations which are making a positive impact in our community. Manyatta brings professionals together who are all experienced in their own right in a space.

JCA Annual Scholarship Awards Program:  The purpose of the Program is to recognize excellence and support access to post-secondary education for students of Caribbean and African heritage who are pursuing studies at an Ontario college or university.

Global Employment Training for Youth: Global Employment Training for Youth is a not-for-profit initiative developed by and for  youth. GET Youth seeks to provide the necessary training to prepare today’s youth for an evolving job market and encourage the application of specialized skills to solve the complex social, technological, and environmental issues of our time.

Canadian Centre for Diversity and Inclusion: A forward-looking social organization with research and learning, tracing how people identify alongside demographic trends within the Canadian workplace to move employers from diversity to inclusion.

Black Legal Action Centre: The mission of the Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is to educate, advocate, and litigate to combat individual and systemic anti-Black racism in Ontario. BLAC is a non-profit community legal clinic that provides free legal services for low or, no income Black residents of Ontario. They provide legal advice related to employment, work, education, and human rights in general.

Black Lives Matter Toronto: A platform where black communities across Toronto can actively dismantle all forms of anti-black racism, liberate blackness, support black healing, affirm black existence, and create the freedom to love and self- determine.

 

Please Note: Descriptions of many of these resources are taken from the language used on external websites. Claims and opinions expressed are not necessarily those of Career Education & Development or York University.

 

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