Raheem Younes is freshly motivated to construct his new contracting enterprise in his hometown of Windsor, realizing now that he’s half of a bigger community of Black entrepreneurs within the area.
The Southwestern Ontario Black Entrepreneurship Community (SWOBEN) was launched in Windsor Tuesday at Artwork Windsor-Essex.
Greater than 100 entrepreneurs and enterprise homeowners, together with college students, neighborhood members and organizations gathered for the launch of this system, which was made attainable by way of a non-repayable $1.9-million funding from FedDev Ontario earlier this yr. It is half of a bigger federal initiative, the Black Entrepreneurship Program, launched to assist founders like Younes.
“I really feel prefer it’s extraordinarily essential,” he stated.
“I haven’t got to really feel like I am the one individual doing this, particularly with my ethnic background, and I really feel like there’s a robust assist system on the market now.”
Younes moved again to Windsor after spending most of his rising up years all through america, notably as a result of it is the place his roots lie.
Afternoon Drive5:56Black Entrepreneurship Community Launches in Windsor
FedDev Ontario introduced funding earlier this yr for the launch of a community for Black entrepreneurs in Southwestern Ontario. Tonight, this system launches in Windsor, and host Allison Devereaux is joined by native founder Raheem Younes to share his story and expectations forward of the occasion.
“I might completely love this to be a household enterprise. There’s lots of building that does go on in Windsor. Since I began this enterprise, I’ve solely had one week off.”
For Younes, that is the primary time he has seen a program like this, and it is one he needs was out there to him when he was youthful.
Members of this system may have entry to mentorship, improvement alternatives and extra alternatives to community and construct neighborhood. This system is being led by Hamilton-based Empowerment Squared, in partnership with the WETech Alliance.
Tech founder Phillip Olla stated that there’s a want for one of these useful resource for Black entrepreneurs in Windsor-Essex.
“I’m very proud to be a part of an initiative that gives companies to Black-led initiatives. Financial empowerment requires that Black communities be economically educated to run profitable entrepreneurial ventures,” stated Olla.
Organizers are encouraging Black enterprise homeowners and budding entrepreneurs from all industries in Windsor-Essex are welcome to affix the community as extra of this system unfolds in months to return, both by way of Empowerment Squared or WETech Alliance.
For extra tales in regards to the experiences of Black Canadians — from anti-Black racism to success tales throughout the Black neighborhood — take a look at Being Black in Canada, a CBC undertaking Black Canadians will be pleased with. You possibly can learn extra tales right here.