educate. elevate. celebrate.
who we are
Neighbourhood Scholar is a Black-led non-profit organization serving East Scarborough and Durham Region. The organization was founded by women who have a passion for learning and recognize the connections between educational attainment and upward socioeconomic mobility. We also recognize that educational institutions in Canada have a history and legacy of colonialism and anti-Black culture and sentiment, and oftentimes are sites of trauma and oppression.
As Black women with extensive experience navigating educational institutions, we believe that one way to challenge sexist and racist oppression in these spaces is to create systems of support to help Black and other racialized people find their way to and through post-secondary learning.
We also believe that opportunities to learn are not exclusive to educational institutions and recognize local community members as invaluable contributors to the transfer of both traditional and non-traditional knowledge.
our focus
Educational attainment
We aim to establish a passion for knowledge and learning within Black and other racialized communities through practices and methodologies informed by diverse histories and cultures.
Community
elevation
We promote education as a way to counteract socio-economic hardships in Black and other racialized communities through specially curated programs and workshops.
celebrate
milestones
We recognize and celebrate the accomplishments of Black and other racialized people and communities, both past and present, as a way to foster a positive self-image.
Our programs
social justice in a social world
A series of workshops were created to help youth develop their social activist skills by offering strategies to:
1) Connect local social problems to larger social issues,
2) Mobilize their voices toward social change
3) Engage with government officials and advocate for policy changes,
4) Gain funding to support their goals and objectives.
youth justice post-secondary tour
Youth are taken on a tour of York Univerity's Keele Campus in Toronto, ON. They also receive high school and university preparation advice from current undergraduate students.
Connect with us
neighbourhoodscholar@gmail.com
@nhscholar