ADaPT for Black Youth

The goal of ADaPT for Black Youth is to bridge the gap between Black youth seeking job opportunities and employers looking to grow their team with job-ready hires. We aim to equip each participant with in-demand skills by providing a range of sector-based training, work placement, employment support and career advancement opportunities. 

The training is focused on foundational, digital and professional skills. The topics covered in this program include the following:

• Personal branding
• Career development strategies
• Project and time management
• Business financials and tools
• Microsoft Excel skills
• Social media marketing
• Search engine optimization and Google Analytics
• Cybersecurity
• Artificial intelligence
• Interview skills
• Resume skills

To be eligible for this program you must be aged 15 to 29 years old, identify as Black and live in Ontario.

The program is free to eligible participants.

A dedicated career coach will be assigned to support you during the program. They will help you with resume and cover letter writing, confidence building for interviews and overall assistance for your job search. At the start of the program you will be invited to book time with your assigned career coach. You can book multiple sessions depending on your needs and interests.

If you are eligible, then you can apply for the program by registering using the following link (external link) .

Summer cohort (July 10 – August 27, 2024) 

• Orientation July 10
• Program wrap-up and networking August 27 

Autumn cohort (October 1 – November 19, 2024) 

• Orientation October 1
• Program wrap-up and networking November 19

Winter cohort (January 8 –February 25, 2025) 

• Orientation January 8
• Program wrap-up and networking February 25

The key dates and deadlines for the program will be shared with you in your welcome email. You will also receive Zoom meeting links for all your program sessions so you can add them to your calendar.

Each week the expected time commitment may range from two to six hours, which  includes attending live virtual sessions, working on the homework training modules and meeting with your career coach. You will receive a schedule if you are part of a synchronous cohort so refer to it to assist with planning your week. If you are part of an asynchronous cohort you have the flexibility to spend as much or as little time as needed over the eight weeks of the program.  

If participating in a synchronous cohort, your progress will be evaluated by your attendance and participation in the live sessions and the completion of optional homework modules available on our virtual learning centre.

If you are participating in an asynchronous cohort, then your progress is evaluated by your successful completion of the assigned modules via our virtual learning centre.

Upon completion of training, you will receive a micro-certificate that you can add to your resume and display on professional social media platforms like Linkedin. 

Yes, you can still reach out to your career coach after the eight-week period. Career coaches are here to support you in every step of your job search. The program will continue to operate and support you until March 31, 2025.

Each session is a minimum of 1.5 hours, with the longest being approximately two hours. Sessions will usually be held on Tuesdays and/or Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. There may be two sessions held per week, schedule depending.

Live sessions are held virtually each week on the Zoom video conferencing platform. Expect to meet with an industry leader who will facilitate the session. During the session, it is recommended that you keep your camera on and raise your hand when you want to participate. You are also encouraged to use the chat function to share during each session. Participation is key to all of the sessions, so prepare to be fully engaged during each session.

Your attendance is determined by your presence for the entire session. If you are in the session for less than one hour or join using an AI note-taking software, then you will be marked as absent.

If you miss a session, then we will send the recording to the email you used when you registered for the program. You will be required to listen to the recording and share your feedback on what you learned. If you know you are unavailable prior to the session, please send us an email so we know you will not be in attendance. If you miss more than three training sessions, you may be offered asynchronous or self-paced learning to accommodate your needs.

All you need is a computer with the Zoom application and an Internet connection.

Industry leaders and employers across different sectors.

Yes, there may be collaborative activities during each session.

Placement is not guaranteed. However, your career coach will work with you to support your job search. We will keep you informed when new roles become available so you can make the most out of the placement process.

You may be offered a job or placement opportunity at any point during your training. Each week jobs are sent to the work placement team to match with participants. If you are eligible for one of the jobs available, then your career coach will encourage you to apply. Once you have applied, we will also highlight your application with the employer. During the interview period, your coach is available to support you with interview practice and resume review support as needed. Once you have acquired the job placement, then you can gain hands-on experience in the workforce for a minimum of 160 hours or about four weeks.

Your career coach helps with resume review, interview skills and job search support. You will be assigned a career coach once you are a part of the program, and they will reach out to you to schedule a time to meet. Throughout the program, you can contact them for any program information or questions you may have about placement.

Placements range across organizations and industries. Common areas include marketing, finance, computer science, graphic design and health care.

If you encounter any issues during your placement, then please contact your career coach as soon as possible so they can help you.

Tasks and projects will depend on the position, but you can expect your employer to delegate tasks and projects consistently.

Yes, you will receive feedback and a performance evaluation halfway through your placement and again at the end of your placement.

Yes, there is. However, this is up to the employer and their organization’s needs.

First, you will have a Meet and Greet with your career coach so they can get to know you better and understand your career goals. You will then meet with your career coach at least twice more for a resume/LinkedIn review and interview practice session. You can meet with your career coach as often as you would like following these initial meetings by reaching out to them through email or booking a time with the Calendly link they provided.

Yes. Participants in the synchronous cohorts will get access to networking opportunities as part of our drop-in employer briefs, closing/graduation ceremony and during live sessions with instructors. Optional external in-person or virtual networking opportunities, including job and career fairs, may also be shared from time to time. 

Resources will be provided through your career coach, who will also be helping you one-on-one with resume building and interview preparation.

In addition, as part of the program, you would have access to a range of career development resources that are housed in the resources library in the online learning centre that can help you in your upskilling. These resources includes:

• How to do a cover letter
• Interview prep template and workbook
• Networking exercise and workbook
• Resume customization worksheet
• Accomplishment statement examples, exercise and worksheet 

Reach out to your career coach using their contact information, and they can help guide you to additional resources or accommodations you may need.

• Skills development: Equip Black youth with in-demand digital, professional and foundational skills.
• Employment readiness: Prepare participants for successful careers through training and hands-on experience.
• Employer engagement: Connect employers with a pool of talented and job-ready candidates.

• Access to talent: Connect with a diverse pool of skilled candidates.
• Enhanced diversity: Improve workplace diversity and inclusion.
• Community impact: Contribute to the economic empowerment of Black youth.
• Access to wage subsidies: Eligible small and medium sized businesses will receive access to wage subsidies to offset the costs of hiring eligible program participants.

• Job placements: Employers offer internships, co-op placements, and full-time, part-time, contract or permanent employment opportunities to participants.
• Mentorship: Provide mentorship and guidance to participants.
• Workshops and seminars: Participate in workshops and seminars to share industry insights and knowledge.

1. Register as an employer: Sign up on our website to express your interest in hiring program participants.
2. Post job opportunities: Share job postings that will be circulated among the robust talent pool of program participants.
3. Participate in career fairs: Attend career fairs and networking events organized by the Diversity Institute.
4. Offer mentorship: Volunteer to mentor program participants, providing them with career guidance and support.

• Screened candidates: Receive resumes of pre-screened candidates who match your job requirements.
• Program liaison: Receive an assigned liaison to assist with the hiring process and ensure a smooth experience.
• Follow-up support: Access continuous support and quality assurance feedback to address any challenges faced during job placement.

• Review the TECHNATION Employer Resources and FAQ (external link)  for additional information concerning the subsidy application process. 
• Go to the TECHNATION website (external link) .
• APPLY for the period for which you will be hiring the candidate(s).
• Confirm with us that you applied and share your reference number.
• Decisions are made by TECHNATION, they will inform you of your application status.

• Opportunities for growth: Provide meaningful work experiences that contribute to the participant’s professional development.
• Inclusivity: Foster an inclusive work environment where participants feel valued and supported.
• Feedback: Offer constructive feedback to help participants improve and succeed in their roles.

Participants are Black youth aged 15 to 29 years from across Ontario.

Employers must commit to providing a job placement of at least 160 working hours for any opportunity shared as part of the program.

Participants undergo a rigorous  selection process and receive  thorough training to ensure they are job-ready from their first day. The program includes practical projects and assessments to evaluate participants and ensure they are prepared for your workplace.

The training is focused on foundational, digital and professional skills. The topics covered in this program include the following:

• Personal branding
• Career development strategies
• Project and time management
• Business financials and tools
• Microsoft Excel skills
• Social media marketing
• Search engine optimization and Google Analytics
• Cybersecurity
• Artificial intelligence
• Interview skills
• Resume skills

Employers can provide feedback through regular check-ins with the assigned program liaison, quality assurance surveys and direct communication with the program team. Your valuable insight helps us to improve the program and better support participants and employers.