Recommendations and Activities:
4.3
2024 Update
- A case for support was completed for the Black STEM Scholars program but this program no longer exists.
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2022 Update
- Centering scholarships for Black students in UTM’s Defy Gravity campaign, including by regularly presenting proposals for anti-racist scholarships to prospective donors.
5.2
2024 Update
- Served on UTM’s Black Art Excellence Installation Committee. Continued to meet regularly with UTM’s public art advisor, whose portfolio includes art projects to amplify Black identities and experiences. (Advancement no longer has a staff representative on this committee).
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2022 Update
- Participating actively on UTM’s Black Art Excellence Installation Committee; fundraising to support this and other art projects that celebrate contributions and experiences of Black Canadians.
7.2
2024 Update
- Continued to participate actively in U of T-led EDI forums, developing strategies to engaged Black alumni.
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2022 Update
- Attending EDI forums to learn more about strategies to engage Black communities as staff, donors, and alumni.
A8
2024 Update
- Partnered with Student Affairs, EDIO, UTMSU and Black student groups to launch the Black Career Pathways series which connects Black students with Black alumni. Events have taken place in November 2023 (professional development for international students), and January 2024 (Black Career Pathways in Law). A Black Student and Alumni Connect event will take place on August 30, 2024 during orientation weeks and is aimed at first year Black Students. UTM’s Black Initiatives office and the U of T Black Alumni Association will also participate in this event. A Black Career Pathways in STEM panel discussion and networking event is planned for November 2024.
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2022 Update
- Supporting participation from Black alumni speakers in UTM’s student program for Black Excellence Orientation.
A9
2024 Update
- Launched the Black alumni mentorship program alongside CSE, pairing twelve current Black students with Black alumni mentors. Started discussions to double the number of participants in 2025.
- Initiated plans to incorporate networking events for Black alumni and students into U of T’s alumni reunion.
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2022 Update
- Connecting incoming and current Black students with Black alumni as part of UTM’s mentorship programs.
Other Efforts:
Celebrating Black Alumni
2024 Update
- Continued to support stories celebrating accomplishments of Black alumni, including for Black @ UTM profiles.
- Partnering with the U of T Black Alumni Association to promote Black alumni engagement and connections with students
- Recruiting Black alumni volunteers for various programs to ensure Black students are represented and supported in a broad range of programs
- Collaborating on Black-focused events, including a February 2024 film screening of work by UTM alumna, Mary-Rebekah Reyes, and promoting events and programs offered by UTM’s EDIO and ARCDO
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2022 Update
- Celebrating Black alumni in advancement communications; re-assessing alumni relations plan to ensure events adopt an anti-racist lens and promote Black excellence.
Q&A with Shannae Ingleton Smith (BCom '05)
Shannae Ingleton Smith (BCom ’05) began her journey into influencer marketing right after graduating from the Commerce program at UTM with the creation of her own successful lifestyle blog. She has since launched an influencer talent agency, Kensington Grey, with the passionate mission of bringing inclusion and diversity to the marketing industry in an authentic way. Recently recognized as a Changemaker for her remarkable work by the Globe and Mail, Shannae sat down to chat with us about work ethic, advocacy, and the importance of creating a better world for her daughter.
UTM alum bound for Beijing as Schwarzman Scholar
Habon Ali remembers accompanying her parents to her brother’s medical appointments and witnessing their struggles in the health system: cultural barriers, language barriers, and dismissive medical staff.
She knew she wanted to make it her mission to help achieve health equity for all. Now, the UTM alumnus has been given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to pursue her goal on a global scale.
UTM alumna spearheads U of T experiential learning course to focus on diversity, inclusion, and anti-racism
“I never felt like the smart kid,” Desiree Kaunda-Wint (HBA 2017) describes herself in her UTM days. A sociology graduate who had specialized in Criminology, Law & Society, she currently works as Stakeholder Management Coordinator for the City of Toronto, tasked with developing targeted vaccination strategies for Toronto’s Black community, all while running her own consultancy firm, Kaunda Consulting, through which she supports other organizations such as U of T.