Black Youth For Social Innovation

At Black Youth for Social Innovation (BYSI), our mission is to empower Black youth to lead a pluralistic society. Are you ready to get involved? We’re recruiting students, faculty members,and external organizations to partner with us in driving social innovation. For Students: Are you passionate about making a difference and creating lasting change? Join us to be part of impactful projects! Click here to read more (https://lnkd.in/gHfzC_8v) For Faculty Members at the University of Alberta: Would you like to mentor and guide the next generation of leaders in your projects? Partner with us. Click here to read more (https://lnkd.in/ggr--usE) For External Organizations:Are you interested in offering diverse internship experiences and are committed to supporting student growth and development? Let’s work together to build strong, lasting partnerships. Click here to read more (https://lnkd.in/gEB_57Qg) How to Apply: To participate, simply submit your details through our recruitment form. We’re collecting names and contact information for those interested in summer 2025. Link to Apply: https://lnkd.in/gyg-aRpx

It is shocking how many students are not aware volunteer experience is just as important as work experience on a resume! University of Alberta Black Students' Association (UABSA) invited high school Black Students Associations (Ainlay, Shep, Lazerte, JP) and their teachers to have an open dialogue about current barriers and how to deal with them. UABSA shared how to efficiently structure and run a BSA. The biggest lessons were "THERE IS NO TIME TO FINGER POINT. LEARN FROM IT, GET OVER IT AND MOVE ON. ALWAYS FOCUS ON SOLUTIONS! REMEMBER TO HAVE FUN." Ubuntu had the opportunity to educate students about our duty to give back like the UABSA (the more you give, the more you get back) and collaborate to make life easier. Speaking from an employer lens, Ubuntu discussed the transferable skills gained from volunteering that can be used to get a job (leadership, finance, external relations, event planning, running a start-up group, etc.). Doing good will differentiate you and help your career! It was amazing to be in a room filled with so much passion, purpose and eagerness to learn. All of these students have accomplished so much already with more to come! University of Alberta Black Youth For Social Innovation ELITE Program for Black Youth M. E. LaZerte High School Sarah Daniel Neriah Inyang-Otu Yar Mayen Naomi Virgo Toluwa Olugbade Yosan Worede Samira Schultz Anjolaoluwa Babalola Faizal Jiwani Dylan Nakata YACO Edmonton Public Schools Black Students’ Alliance of MacEwan University Black Student Union Concordia Black Future Lawyers University of Alberta Student Chapter BSAAN - Black Students’ Association Alumni Network #ubuntu #ubuntuisr #futureleaders #highschool #students #givingback

An amazing turnout of youth for the Fireside Chat with Hon Greg Fergus!!! It was a pleasure hosting communities such as Black in Saskatchewan, RAJO Youth Edmonton, Africa Centre, Sisters Dialogue, University of Alberta, NorQuest College, The King's University , Queen Elizabeth's High School , Jasper Place High School, Ross Shepherd High School, Harry Ainlay High School, Lillian Osborne High School, ELITE program, Black Youth For Social Innovation Program, 5 Artist 1 Love and many more! Black Opportunity Fund | University of Alberta Pictures by Martin Kwame and Tinu Olabimtan #ACCEC #BlackOpportunityFund #GregFergus #civicengagement #Blackyouth #FiresideChat #youthengagement #blackcommunity #racializedcommunities #FiresideChatGregFergus #AfricanDescent #YoungLeaders #YoungBlackLeaders #yeg #yyc #Alberta

Are you looking to boost your team's capacity for social innovation? Our BYSI Internship program connects businesses and organizations with today's top talent. Expressions of interest are due January 15. Learn more at http://uab.ca/bysi.

We are excited to announce that the University of Alberta’s Black Youth For Social Innovation (BYSI) Program is now recruiting faculty supervisors and students for Summer 2025. Visit our page for more information: http://uab.ca/bysi Black Youth For Social InnovationJared Wesley Seon Yuzyk, PhD (ABD) Faizal Jiwani Andy Knight University of Alberta Faculty of Arts Oliver Rossier

Winter has arrived. But if you're like us, you can't wait for summer! Improve your team by joining the 2025 BYSI Program. We are recruiting employers, supervisors, and students dedicated to empowering Black youth to lead a pluralistic society. Visit http://uab.ca/bysi today to register.

This past Saturday, the Black Youth For Social Innovation (BYSI) team, in collaboration with the ELITE Program for Black Youth, had an amazing experience at the University of Alberta’s Open House! We had the privilege of engaging with high school students, incoming university students, and their parents, sharing our mission of empowering Black youth to lead a pluralistic society. We highlighted the value of getting involved with BYSI, showcasing how our programs equip participants with essential skills, nurture leadership potential and contribute to building a pluralistic future. A big thank you to everyone who stopped by to chat with us! Sewordor Toklo, Jared Wesley , Seon Yuzyk, PhD (ABD), Andre McDonald, Tim Ira & Idara Effiom

Research Participants Needed!!! ⬇️⬇️⬇️⬇️ Are you a Black mother/birthing person? You have an infant 0 - 1 years of age, and reside in the Greater Toronto Area? We are inviting you to participate in a research survey focused on examining the MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS of Black mothers/birthing persons. If interested, please email us at blackwomenthrive@torontomu.ca. You will receive an e-gift card as a token for your participation and time. See flyer below for more details. Please circulate widely with your contacts🙏🏾 Priscilla N. Boakye

Wow September flew by! I got the opportunity to participate in so many different projects/opportunities this month and I'm so gratefully for each and every single one. This month, I had the opportunity to speak at the University of Alberta's Board of Governors retreat on behalf of Black Youth For Social Innovation. I highlighted the importance of creating spaces for Black youth to thrive and break through systemic barriers, sharing how the program and my work with the Black Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub have impacted my life and Black entrepreneurs across Canada. This project is especially meaningful to me, as my first role model in entrepreneurship was my mother, whose struggles 10 years ago still persist today. I'm grateful to now be part of the change. Big thank you to Jared Wesley, Faizal Jiwani , Sewordor Toklo ,Seon Yuzyk, PhD (ABD) and Verna Yiu for allowing me in spaces to speak on the changes we are trying to achieve as black youth, and believing in me. Thank you all. This has been a life changing experience and we are not done yet! <3 https://lnkd.in/gBqkNshE

A very proud parent moment (or should we say mentor moment)... Yesterday the University of Alberta (UofA) Board of Governors hosted a reception for the Black Youth For Social Innovation (BYSI), 3MT Winner Alexandra Gagnon and an AI Innovation showcase. Habeebah Adeladan, BA and Iveren Abeghe delivered a passionate and purposeful BYSI speech, gaining the respect of the room. Seeing the BYSI students grow so much confidence in just 4 months to speak and network comfortably with President Bill Flanagan, UofA Board of Governors, Senate, Business Leaders and Partners was the proud parent/mentor moment. The students appreciated Chancellor Nizar Jaffer Somji M. Eng., P. Eng., ICD.D taking the time to share his journey moving from Tanzania. If we take the time to understand the specific barriers of black students and other BIPOC students and help to remove them, these students will be thriving leaders like BYSI versus potentially just surviving in the work force...employers love this! Thank you Jared Wesley for being instrumental in the BYSI journey and the shoutout to Ubuntu, Andy Knight for the introduction and Verna Yiu and UofA for finding the resource support to make this initiative happen. Can't wait to see the next phase... Carrie Smith Seon Yuzyk, PhD (ABD)Sewordor Toklo Oliver Rossier Maobi Obikwelu Leul Croda Lilian Celestine Faith Ndansi Iiesha Moume Bashir A. Bello Habeebah Adeladan, BA Iveren Abeghe Harrisen Distant University of Alberta Black Students' Association BSAAN - Black Students’ Association Alumni Network #ubuntu #ubuntuisr #purpose #personaldevelopment #futureleaders