Sankofa Centre

Ottawa-Carleton District School Board / Our Schools  / Sankofa Centre

Advancing the academic success of African, Black and Caribbean students in the OCDSB.  

Research studies have found that outcomes for Black students are significantly lower than that of their peers especially within education and employment. In addition, Black youth are over-represented in the criminal justice system. These outcomes have been attributed to systemic inequities. 

The program at Woodroffe and Ridgemont high schools aims to provide African, Black and Caribbean students with intensive and culturally responsive support to help them with their academic achievements and well-being in a safe and welcoming environment that fosters a sense of belonging. The results will be an increase in confidence, attendance and engagement in their learning environment, and increased graduation rates to support advancement of African, Black and Caribbean students in their lives and chosen career paths.

Program Objectives

The program aims to:

• Identify African, Black and Caribbean learners experiencing barriers to engagement, learning and well-being. 

• Assist individual students and their families to develop and implement academic and well-being goals.

• Identify and facilitate access and connections to academic supports and community resources for African, Black and Caribbean students.

The Role of the Coach

The Graduation Coach is to mentor, advise and advocate for African, Black and Caribbean students and their families. They will help foster trusting relationships between families, students, school staff, administration and the School Board so that students feel supported. They will also work collaboratively with school teams and community partners, and provide assistance with the following opportunities: 

• Transition support from Grade 8 to 9 / secondary to post secondary 

• 40 hours community service

• Credit accumulation 

• Navigating their chosen pathways

• Field trips

• Well-being

• Mentorship

2024-2025 Black Youth Program

This is a Reach Ahead Credit Opportunity for African, Black, and Caribbean Students. 

Registration is now open. Students should be in Grade 11 or 12 but Grade 10 students can apply if they have taken Civics and Careers (GLC2O).

Program duration: Wednesday evenings from November 6, 2024, to May 28, 2025 from 5:30 pm - 9:21 pm at Woodroffe High School. (Additional evenings and some school days may be required as we draw closer to the Forum date.) 

The OCDSB Continuing Education department, in partnership with the Sankofa Centre of Excellence, will be offering a reach ahead credit opportunity for African, Black and Caribbean students. Eligible students will have the opportunity to supplement and enrich their high school education by acquiring one credit while preparing and planning for the seventh Annual Black Youth Forum.  Students will have the opportunity to participate in field trips and hands-on activities while developing or enhancing their research, problem solving or critical analysis skills

*********************

Course Options: (Descriptions of the courses: BYP course codes)

IDC3O (Interdisciplinary Studies, Grade 11, Open)
IDC4O (Interdisciplinary Studies, Grade 12, Open)
IDC4U (Interdisciplinary Studies, Grade 12, University)

Please note that if students have already taken these courses, they can also sign up to receive volunteer hours. 

BIPOC Scholarship Resources

Black Foundation of Community Networks: 

BFCN Scholarship Directory 

Black Canadian Scholarship Fund: http://bcsf.ca/ 

Indspire (Indigenous Scholarships and Bursaries): https://indspire.ca/

Government of Canada - Indigenous Bursaries Search Tool: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1351687337141/1531406419657

Government of Canada - Post-secondary Student Support Program for First Nations students: https://www.sac-isc.gc.ca/eng/1100100033682/1531933580211

ONYX

The Onyx Initiative is a non-profit organization founded in 2020 in the wake of the global social justice movement. Onyx was established on the simple premise that anyone seeking meaningful employment and advancement should have an equal opportunity to do so.

Our purpose at Onyx is to expand the recruitment pipeline by offering comprehensive career development resources and forging mutually beneficial corporate partnerships to close the systemic gap in the hiring, retention and promotion of Black college and university students and recent graduates for roles in corporate Canada.

Since our launch, we have reached many incredible milestones including, but not limited to, the following:

• 1300+ applicants to the program

• 500+ Onyx Scholars across Canada

• 55+ Corporate Partners recruiting Onyx Scholars today, including Bell, TD, Lululemon, Walmart, Amazon, Sobeys, Hyundai, and many more.

• 45 Educational and Community Partners

• Three Black Professionals Career Fairs which featured 900+ attendees

• 90+ events and curated LinkedIn Learning courses to provide Onyx Scholars with personal and professional development

• 800+ postings for internships, co-ops and full-time placements from our corporate partners on our job board daily

The transition from high school to post-secondary education is a critical time for students and, since research has shown that Black students are less likely to have the same type of access to mentors and career networks that their counterparts of other races do, we want to ensure they’re aware of the resources Onyx offers to help propel them forward and set them on a course for future success – both academically and professionally.

In order to apply for the program you must identify as Black and must be either currently enrolled in a Canadian College/University or within 12 months of graduation. 

Black university and college students, and recent graduates can fill out an application for the Onyx Scholars Program on our site. All submissions are reviewed during our selection process and candidates will be notified regarding the next steps once that process is complete.

The Scholars Program is two-fold:

- Comprehensive personal and professional development via a Plum Profile to assess strengths, personalities, problem-solving capabilities, and the types of roles and responsibilities that align with each scholars' particular work style. As well as a curated LinkedIn Learning Path with a variety of crucial online courses including: Interview Preparation, Business Etiquette, Building a Personal Brand, Teamwork and Networking, Project Management, Conflict Resolution, Oral and Written Communication, and much more. Live webinars, a speaker series, opportunities to engage with corporate partners, and direct access to internships and full-time roles are also an integral part of the support provided for career enhancement and employment.

- Mentorship and coaching via one-one-one and group meetings with experienced professionals across diverse sectors who can offer feedback and guidance on setting and achieving goals, navigating workplace environments/situations, staying motivated, identifying and implementing additional learning opportunities, and developing promotion and advancement strategies.