Financial Literacy & Entrepreneurial Society Hub
History:
On June 10, 2019 two Black George Brown College business students gathered together a small group of black and racialized entrepreneurs and business owners in the city of Toronto to discuss the underrepresentation of programs and services including the lack of financial inclusion for Black businesses and community organizations and formed an alliance under the name the Black Awareness Movement Group. As a small grassroots community group connecting on WhatsApp and zoom to compile information, data and share the results to raise awareness and advocate for meaningful change and Black led initiatives that centered on empowering the economic development and advancement of Black Canadians and the African Diaspora across Canada, with an emphasis on the Afro-Indigenous populations displaced by the forced-destruction of Africville Nova Scotia.
As the pandemic worsened and the shut down further disproportionately impacted Black Canadians, Black Businesses and Black community organizations that provide critical support for Black low-income individuals and families in high priority neighborhoods; many were unable to access the services they’ve become depended on. It was at this time, the decision to mobilize and advocate in support of funding, tools and resources and collaborative efforts to increase the resources available for distribution for Black, BIPOC, 2SLGBTQIA+, people with disabilities and hard to employ communities.
After 4 years of providing support at a community level, we registered our NGO as The Financial Literacy and Entrepreneurial Society Hub on July 27, 2023 to create a national network of mentors, business professionals, community leaders and financial institutions to inform, educate, mentor and train individuals and businesses on financial literacy attainment, development and access to credit and capital to improve the accessibility of support for the equity deserving groups.
This led to a community consultation with over 75 community members in attendance lending their voice and experiences in hopes of a more inclusive society where the intersectionality of Indigenous and Afro-Indigenous peoples could collectively heal from the traumas and atrocities of racism, discrimination and oppression of the two communities, while paying tribute to Africville Nova Scotia which is the largest Indigenous-black community in Canada; with a vast number of families relocating during the racialized-forced-destruction of the village during the 1960’s.
Recognizing that the largest population of Afro-Indigenous settlers outside of Nova Scotia is located in the city of Toronto, we must respectfully and collectively contribute to the rebuilding of the land and reintegrate the inter-connected history of Indigenous and Black communities. This is a necessary step towards building resilient and thriving communities where racialized individuals have the reference to tools and space to prosper. This legacy building initiative is led by our 2Spirit, Metis director with the traditional knowledge and practices to implement our desired goals efficiently and effectively for the betterment of our community and Society. Working in coalition with our BIPOC national network to connect community members across Canada to ensure that all citizens have accessibility to economic freedom and justice to transform their lives, families, and communities. By providing essential support, mentorship and access to resources required to pursue education, training to advance in their career and or start, grow, and scale business operations to support communities in establishing employment opportunity and mobility to its own members.
By Combating these major issues that marginalized Canadians face we are removing systemic barriers to improve equitable access. Through partnerships, sponsorships, grants, and donations to support program costs and participant outcomes and reimagine an economic landscape where Black, Indigenous and racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ people with disabilities and hard to employ individuals have equal opportunities for development and advancement of social and economic opportunities.
Our ambitious goals are in alignment with Canada’s Anti-Racism strategy (2019-2020) of building a foundation for change by providing funding support for local, regional and national initiatives and outcome-based activities in employment, social participation and justice.
