Connecting, Celebrating, and Growing Together
ALA’s Milestones in Entrepreneurship, Education, and Community
November 3, 2023
Greetings, ALA Allies!
We are delighted to bring you the inaugural Afrodescendant Leadership Alliance (ALA) Newsletter. We're thrilled to share a glimpse into our dynamic community. We’ll share the latest updates, stories, and experiences that define our mission.
Get ready to discover what's been happening, connect with fellow change-makers, and explore the incredible opportunities we have in store for you.
– ALA Team
Spotlight 💡
ALA X CDPQ
ALA is delighted to announce CDPQ as a founding partner. In addition to a material financial commitment, CDPQ will offer significant support and resources to the ALA, including its relevant expertise, networks and mentoring. This collaboration is a significant step toward achieving the ALA’s mission of maximizing potential and opportunities to amplify impact and create wealth in the Black community. Read more about it in our press release.
Subcommittee Updates
Entrepreneurship
Collision Conference: To kick off Collision Conference we brought together entrepreneurial ecosystem participants at the Microsoft Canada Toronto headquarters. This event united founders, investors, operators, and experts in a discussion about 'Building Tech-Driven Ventures for a Diverse Future.' Thanks to Microsoft and Black Founders Network for their collaboration. Thanks to Mayor Patrick Brown for recognizing our collaborative efforts!
University Outreach
CDPQ <> ALA: Our University Outreach program, Black Youth Excellence, continues to empower the next generation of leaders in consulting, finance, and technology. Recently, we hosted a successful CDPQ Networking event and information session, connecting our cohort members with valuable opportunities and insights. We're thrilled to see the enthusiasm in our community for firm tours and networking to secure internships.
Events Updates
ALA Gala in Montréal
On October 24th, 2023 over 300 of you joined us for our inaugural ALA Gala around the theme of convergence.
It was a chance for us to pull back the curtain on everything we’ve been up to since inception, share some of what is to come, celebrate all of you that have made this possible, network with peers, our sponsors and partners, and have fun! Lots of fun!
Thanks for making it a wonderful evening.
ALA @ C2 MontrÉal
Earlier this year in May, we were thrilled to collaborate with the C2 conference team to deliver a panel discussion on Building Dreams While Building Communities to a capacity crowd featuring an all-star lineup of entrepreneurs including:
Frank Baylis, Executive Chairman, at Baylis Medical Technologies
Frantz Saintellemy, President, LeddarTech/ Chancelier UdeM
Priya Chopra, Founder, 1Milk2Sugars
Marika Shaw, Arcade Fire, CEO at Plus1
The event was a hit. Catch the highlights in our quick recap video featuring insights from our remarkable panelists.
Black Youth Excellence Applications Open
Do you identify as Black? Are you a first or second year student who aspires to a career in consulting, finance, or technology? Are you looking for mentors to guide you throughout your university degree? If so, the Black Youth Excellence Program is for you!
The objective of the Black Youth Excellence Program is to provide students with the guidance, tools and social capital necessary to maximize their entry into the workforce. The Program, run by the Black Wealth Club, has been designed by industry professionals with experience in the banking, consulting, private equity and technology industries, who have successfully navigated the university recruitment process themselves.
Students selected for the program will receive monthly mentorship sessions and training covering all aspects of the recruitment process.
We’re really looking forward to hearing from and working closely with you all in the Black Youth Excellence Program!
Applications open until November 7, 2023
Community Moments
BWC’s Social Summer: Building Lasting Bonds
Community is our cornerstone. This summer, the Black Wealth Club’s community spirit shone bright with tennis matches, picnic gatherings, and a bustling book club. Our members not only excel professionally but also thrive in building lasting bonds founded on shared values. Take a look at some of the photos below!
ALA Announcements
Elevating Innovation: ALA's Angel Investor Program
We're excited to introduce ALA's Angel Investor Program, a program and community dedicated to developing the skills to support visionary early stage founders through Angel Investing. This initiative represents our commitment to empowering and investing in impactful projects.
Join The Black Wealth Club
Applications to join Cohort 4 (2023-2024) of the Black Wealth Club are now open. The Black Wealth Club is a cohort based program of the Afrodescendant Leadership Alliance (ALA) where emerging black leaders go to learn about creating wealth and reinvesting it in their communities. Applications are open until November 7, 2023.
Inspiring Voices: Speaker Series
Condoleezza Rice once said:
“Staying true to oneself shapes the path to success.”
The Black Wealth Club Speaker Series, has been a source of inspiration, featuring renowned leaders like Frank Baylis, Jendayi Frazer, and Condoleezza Rice. Their wisdom and insights continue to shape our journey towards excellence.
We’re excited for the next round of speakers that all cohort members get access to as part of the Black Wealth Club!
Subscribe
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