EmpowerED Minds

EmpowerED Minds is a new community-led organization dedicated to breaking down barriers and fostering educational equity for Black students across Canada. Our organization is committed to empowering the next generation by offering no-barrier scholarships, ensuring that financial constraints do not hinder academic success. In addition to our scholarship program, we provide vital support through emergency housing bursaries, recognizing the importance of stable living conditions for students to thrive in their studies. Every individual deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, and we are committed to contributing to a brighter future for Black students.

We believe that rigid scholarship criteria needlessly obstruct the path of some of the most vulnerable students. We understand that not everyone has the time or emotional bandwidth to be leaders and changemakers in their communities. We know that achieving good grades can be extremely difficult when you are not in a good headspace. We also know that the absence of one or both of these things often makes one ineligible for most financial awards. We are committed to dismantling these barriers that persistently cause harm to Black students striving for educational advancement in the face of significant adversity.

This initiative was inspired by the narratives of resilient Black students navigating systemic barriers and racial discrimination in their pursuit of housing and education in Canada. The absence of scholarship opportunities, particularly for students with non-traditional education paths (i.e., part-time learners, distance/online learners, single parents, mature students, etc.), is harmful and only contributes to a person's inability to reach their goals.​

Our organization is dedicated to creating new and unique pathways that support Black students in Canada to access the education they rightfully deserve. By fostering inclusivity, equity, and accessibility, we hope to empower Black students to reach their full potential.