is a student-run non-profit organization that aims to help Black youth and first-generation students realize their academic potential through creating engaging, restorative and Afrocentric educational programming and providing annual scholarships. Join us in our efforts to help shape community leaders and success stories of tomorrow as we push forward the movement for Black educational empowerment in Toronto!
In 2022 we were delighted to deliver in-person programming once again after two years of operating only virtually! Two inspiring young community leaders who are the first in their family to pursue post-secondary education were awarded the Find Your Path annual scholarship. We concluded our first school-year edition of our free tutoring and mentorship programs for Black and low-income students in the Greater Toronto Area and began our second! In August we were thrilled to offer our fifth annual Afrocentric Summer Mentorship & Enrichment Program in Trinity College at the University of Toronto. Youth explored post-secondary educational paths with the support of a dedicated team of mentors and celebrated the contributions of Black scholars, professionals, and visionaries to fields as diverse as deejaying and medicine. We embarked on fun adventures like a Black history tour of the city where we learned of the many ways Black folks contributed to shaping modern Toronto. We got a behind-the-scenes view of the toy design and manufacturing process learning from Black engineers on a trip to SpinMaster Ltd. The program culminated with an interactive speech and Q+A with our keynote speaker, Distinguished Judge and former President of the International Criminal Court, Chile Eboe Esoji. Thank you for all your support in making this year’s programs possible and we look forward to partnering with you to empower Toronto’s Black and first-generation youth in the year ahead!
This year, we awarded three scholarships to graduating first-generation students and launched our first tutoring program. We also delivered and expanded our fourth annual Afrocentric Summer Mentorship & Enrichment Program. Our new tutoring program provided one-on-one support to students from grades six to ten in the areas of math, science, and English every week. Building on our track record of positive student impact through mentorship, in the fall we introduced our first School-Year Afrocentric Mentorship & Enrichment Program. During the summer months, we gathered weekly to learn from mentors, guest speakers and one another in live virtual sessions. Once the school year started, we transitioned to gathering on a monthly basis. We hosted sessions on a wide range of academic subjects from neuroscience to civics to music and each unique workshop allowed us to better appreciate how Afrocentric principles, such as Nia and Ujima, could be applied to our lives. We’re proud to be able to now provide year-round culturally-affirming academic support to Toronto’s Black Youth!
We awarded two scholarships in addition to delivering our third annual free Afrocentric Summer Mentorship & Enrichment Program and a job shadowing initiative in partnership with Expedia Canada virtually due to the restrictions put in place because of the global COVID-19 pandemic. ASMEP’s focus this year was resilience, a principle and lifestyle that became increasingly relevant and necessary as each month of such an unpredictable and challenging year went by. Each week catered to a different Sisters of Nia African Principle and our discussion of each principle was grounded with in a unique academic discipline or life-skill. Our fantastic team of 29 mentors led 50 participants through fascinating discussions and activities through weekly live community sessions and midweek mentoring sessions. The generous and experienced staff at Expedia Toronto showcased their exciting career paths, highlighted the importance of education in helping them achieve their goals, and provided students with guidance and advice on their academic and professional journeys.
We administered two scholarships and ran our second annual free Afrocentric Summer Mentorship & Enrichment Program at the Rexdale Hub. We worked to increase the participants’ self-confidence and academic engagement so that they are more likely to act in accordance with high academic and professional goals. For each theme, a successful black professional/expert who was well-versed on the often-neglected African contributions in their discipline, spoke to the youth about their journey. Students were paired with mentors of colour who were current university (undergraduate and PhD), college, medical and law school students. Mentors walked students through fun, thought-provoking Afrocentric academic activities in each of the disciplines in addition to leading discussions on growth mindsets, goal-setting and overcoming barriers.
We administered one scholarship and ran our first annual free Afrocentric Summer Enrichment Program. For six Saturdays, students engaged in experiential learning modules that drew on African-centered sources of knowledge and perspectives to create a diverse educational experience on a wide range of disciplines. Our team of engaging and impactful speakers included an Olympic Gold Medallist, the award-winning director of a local recording studio, a neonatologist & assistant professor, a chemical engineer, a criminal lawyer, and an accountant. Our team of eight mentors led youth through hands-on activities in the afternoons, which allowed students to practice skills and complete challenges related to academic disciplines.
We administered one scholarship, began our first mentorship program in July called Reaching New Heights and partnered with For Youth Initiative (http://www.foryouth.ca/) to hold an educational community barbecue in August. Through our program launch in July, youth aged ten to fifteen learned how to maximize their educational opportunities and engage in their communities through fun activities and words from our keynote speaker TDSB Trustee Tiffany Ford. They were then paired with members of our mentor team- comprised of high school seniors and university students with a track record of academic excellence- by whom the were mentored for the rest of the summer online. The barbecue included networking sessions featuring leaders in entrepreneurship, community advocacy and the sports industry and increased our visibility in the community.
We administered two scholarships and held a conference through the Toronto District School Board that inspired 150 students from across the city by showing them their potential and giving them resources to help make their academic and professionals goals a reality. It included workshops, panel discussions and insightful speeches by motivational speakers and distinguished guests such as International Supermodel, Stacey McKenzie and TDSB Trustee, Chris Tonks. MP Ahmed Hussen awarded Find Your Path with a certificate of commendation for its work in empowering youth.
