Public Service Announcement
In Canada, diversity is our strength. The Government of Canada is investing in initiatives that celebrate the stories and contributions of Black Canadians while acknowledging the unique challenges they face.
Under the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI), the Government of Canada is supporting Black-led and Black serving community-based organizations across the country by bringing decision-making closer to Black communities to meet their needs and priorities better.
Karina Gould, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, announced $31.4 million in funding for the Black-led national funders network, which includes Tropicana Community Services, Africa Centre, Black Business Initiative and Groupe 3737. Together, the SBCCI national funders network will allocate the funds to over 500 capacity-building projects aimed at empowering Black-led community-based organizations across Canada. With this additional funding, the national funders will have collectively awarded up to $50 million in grants to 939 projects. A full list of projects will be available on the national funders’ websites in spring 2023.
By working in collaboration with the national funders network, the Government of Canada is ensuring that its investments respond to the needs of Black communities in Canada.
In January 2018, the Prime Minister announced Canada’s official recognition of the United Nations International Decade for People of African Descent. To celebrate this recognition, the Government of Canada created the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative (SBCCI) to strengthen the capacity and effectiveness of Black-led and Black-serving organizations.
Since 2019, the Government has made $175 million available through SBCCI to support organizations that promote inclusion and celebrate the contributions of Black and Afro-descendant communities in Canada.
On November 15, 2022, the new members of the SBCCI External Reference Group were announced. The first cohort consists of seven members of African descent from the not-for-profit, education, public and private sectors. The ERG members will work in allyship to support the Minister in ensuring the meaningful implementation of the SBCCI to help build capacity within communities by providing strategic advice, expertise and insight into the emerging priorities of Black Canadians.
As part of the SBCCI, the Government of Canada is also supporting the establishment of a national institute to advance initiatives that address issues affecting Black communities in Canada from a Black-led perspective.
