By Noor Azrieh
As the year 2021 is coming to an end, many are finding themselves looking for employment. Whether it be new graduates, or those struggling to find opportunities amid the pandemic, there are services across the Greater Toronto Area that help those in need.
Black and Indigenous populations in the GTA have been hit the hardest amid this pandemic, and these programs and services aim to curb the stress and anxiety around finding employment.
Indigenous Employment Services
Indspire is an Indigenous-operated registered charity that invests in the education of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people to educate and connect. Their goal is to help Indigenous people achieve their highest potential.
Their program, Rivers to Success, is an Indigenous student mentorship with three streams with customized cultural resources. It provides a strong support system to ensure the success of Indigenous students as they graduate and go on to seek employment.
One of Indispire’s streams is titled, Career Transition Stream. It’s designed for Indigenous students who are prepared to graduate and are looking to enter the working world, and in supporting Indigenous people looking for employment.
The CT stream provides a multitude of resources. The program aims to connect participants with others in the same stream, garner support from Elders, Knowledge Keepers, and educators, present job-hunting advice, advise on interview tips, form good habits for personal finances, and generate pure guidance with career and life balance.
Participants will be able to engage in one-on-one mentorships with Indigenous leaders who can help them in their journey to employment and their next steps in their personal path to success.
The Native Woman Portal is an Indigenous-operated registered charity in Toronto. The Centre provides a safe and welcoming environment for all Indigenous women and their children in the GTA.
Their programs fall under six broad categories including: housing, families, advocacy, employment, education, and youth, all guided by their Seven Sacred teachings.
Their employment program, Investing in Women’s Future, assists Indigenous women in building their economic independence through direct services such as, education, training, developing goals, small business support, one-on-one support, group workshops, and culturally relevant programming.
Although their programs are reachable either through contacting them online or in-person at 191 Gerard St East.
Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres
The Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centre is a place for community members and Indigenous people living in urban spaces to gather, connect and receive culturally based services.
They support and improve the lives of urban Indigenous people by supporting self-determined activities which encourage equal access and participation in Canadian society.
Apatisiwin is a Swampy Cree word defined as “employment, training, and jobs”. The OFIFC Apatisiwin Program aims to create opportunities for Indigenous people to gain education, experience, and skills to achieve and maintain meaningful employment.
The program offers employment training services and supports through 19 funded and non-funded program interventions. Apatisiwin offers employment-related workshops, presentations, establishes partnerships with local employers, and supports job development and community-based projects.
The program and its services are offered through culturally relevant approaches.
Black Employment Services
Caribbean African Canadian Social Services
Caribbean African Canadian Social Services is a charitable organization whose focus is on building and strengthening the service framework for African Canadian children, youth, and families. Their methods are culturally safe and include group counseling supports, case management services, employment services, youth mentorship, and youth outreach programs.
Their employment services assist clients with their job search by doing an assessment to determine what level of service they should provide. Clients have access to resource and information services that include employment counseling, job placements, and training supports—including certification workshops.
Their free employment service can also pre-screen candidates and resumes, connect clients with the right talent, increase exposure to a number of qualified and skilled people who are ready to work, save clients time from costly ineffective hires, provide access to Canada-Ontario’s Job Grant, and continue to support clients after they're hired.
CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals
The CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals is a Toronto-based charity that dedicates its work to addressing economic and social barriers that affect Black youth ages 14 and over who are not in employment.
The organization offers three areas of work: Career Training, Sector Growth, and Social Enterprise.
Career Training, their employment-focused program, aims to support youth workforce development in Canada and offers career training in five labor markets: Tech, Trades, Film, Social Services, and Hospitality.
The program is aimed at improving careers, education, and empowerment by using approaches that are holistic, person-centered, trauma-informed, and culturally relevant.
NexGen Builders is a Black-led organization with most of their Board and staff representing the cross-section of identities that their programs are intended to benefit: Black, Indigenous, and racialized peoples, including women, youth, and newcomers.
Their Mentoring Program helps those in their search for employment in construction and trades work. It includes development seminars, virtual and in-person meetings, networking opportunities, and coaching.
They also offer a selection of open employment opportunities for construction projects in Toronto.