Innovation Infrastructure Forum
Innovation Infrastructure Forum – Knowledge Mobilization
Join us on Thursday, May 23rd for a gathering of founders, community members, innovators, urbanists, and industry leaders. This event is a unique opportunity to dive into the findings of our groundbreaking feasibility study – The Element Centre: Leveraging Innovation Infrastructure for Community Resilience. Our report unveils the critical need for more evenly distributed innovation infrastructure across Toronto, highlighting the scarcity of business incubators, accelerators, and co-working spaces in the outskirts of the city. This insight is crucial for understanding the business growth and networking challenges faced by diverse entrepreneurs and professionals residing outside the downtown core.
The purpose of this event goes beyond sharing our feasibility and pre-design studies; it's a collaborative effort to gather invaluable community feedback that will shape the future of this project. By attending, you'll not only gain awareness of the BEA’s mandate, programs, and direction but also contribute to the establishment of a state-of-the-art facility aimed at supporting inclusive entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for Northwest Toronto communities. This is an exceptional chance for networking, knowledge sharing, and playing a pivotal role in promoting place-based economic development tools designed to foster business and career growth for local and diverse enterprises. Don't miss out on being part of this transformative initiative.
Background
In 2023, the Black Entrepreneurship Alliance, with the support of key partners – Black Creek Community Health Centre, York University’s Yspace, TD Community Engagement Centre, North York Community House and Black North Initiative conducted a feasibility study looking at the gaps of innovation infrastructure in Jane-Finch/Northwest Toronto and the feasibility of building a state-of-the-art facility to support the development of underrepresented founders and professionals.
Event Logistics
Date: Thursday, May 23
Time: 6 PM - 9 PM
Location: York Woods Library Theatre – 1785 Finch Ave W, North York, ON M3N 1M6, Canada
Event Type: Announcement, Knowledge sharing, Knowledge Mobilization, Networking
About BEA:
Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) is a Black-led initiative to amplify and advance the next generation of Black entrepreneurs. The BEA gives Black entrepreneurs and professionals access to fully funded programs and partnerships to launch successful ventures.
About Black Creek Community Health Centre:
Black Creek Community Health Centre (BCCHC) is a non-profit organization that has a history of working collaboratively with institutions and local service providers to build community capacity in Northwest Toronto for over 30 years. We enhance the health and well-being of our community through the delivery of comprehensive and integrated " programs and services. BCCHC envisions a healthy, resilient, and empowered community where people are connected and support each other. To achieve this vision, staff engage with individuals, families, and groups to develop and deliver services that enhance community health and well-being.
About Yspace:
YSpace is York University’s pan-university entrepreneurship and innovation hub supporting startups and entrepreneurs from a variety of sectors and communities. Our programming spans across scaling innovative technologies through customer and investor capital to scaling agri-food businesses into mass retail to diversity-focused initiatives like ELLA for women-led businesses and in partnership with Black Entrepreneurship Alliance (BEA) for Black-led businesses. We are also home to two physical hubs in the City of Markham and the Town of Georgina.
About TD CEC:
The York University-TD Community Engagement Centre (CEC), located in the York Gate Mall, is a satellite office of York University. The CEC strives for academic innovation through community building and experiential learning, post-secondary attainment for Black Creek Community, and fosters collaborative research and partnerships. Our local approach informs our thinking more broadly about community engagement and the role of the university in strengthening communities and addressing societal issues.
About North York Community House
North York Community House (NYCH) is a charitable neighbourhood centre, serving new immigrants and residents in northwest Toronto. For over 27 years, NYCH has been dedicated to supporting newcomers in settling and integrating into the community; offering programs that build skills and connections; strengthening neighbourhoods by working with residents; and supporting the positive development of children, youth and families. We provide services in over 80 locations (including schools and community centres) in more than 30 languages. In 2017, NYCH provided services to over 20,000 people.
BlackNorth Initiative
BlackNorth Initiative is a charity with a mission to end anti-Black systemic racism throughout all aspects of our lives through a business-first mindset
AKA/FLDWRK
AKA/FLDWRK is a transdisciplinary design research practice with partners and collaborators across Canada and abroad, as well as academic and institutional partnerships in design, architecture, business and health care.
Untitled Planning
Untitled Planning's mission is to simplify and spark discussions around the world of urban planning and geography, bringing clarity and understanding to this vital field that shapes the cities we live in and empower individuals from all walks of life with knowledge about urban planning. Through strategic consultations and media projects, we bring forth actionable insights and transformative strategies that redefine the landscape of equitable, inclusive, urban development. Together, let's co-create resilient and thriving communities, shaping a brighter tomorrow.
https://untitledplanning.com/
This event is a part of hashtag#TorontoTechFest - a week of events May 21-24th hosted by startups and VCs to bring together the tech ecosystem in Toronto.
https://www.torontotechfest.com/