Nick Lachance
Thousands of Torontonians took part in the #JusticeForRegis protest on May 30.
As the U.S. erupts in anti-police-brutality protests, Torontonians march in the streets to protest anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism, and calls mount to defund the police, many have been left wondering how to help.
Though #BlackoutTuesday has swept social media feeds, a more concrete way to spur change is by donating – if you're able – to anti-racist causes, or to groups geared towards helping Black people in Toronto and around the GTA by offering services, advocacy, education, resources and more.
There are many worthy causes to highlight across Canada and the U.S., but we've rounded up some groups doing support and advocacy work for the Black community in and around Toronto.
Across Boundaries
Across Boundaries offers mental health and addiction support and services through an anti-Black racism and anti-oppression lens.
Afri-Can Foodbasket
This food access organization recently launched Black Food Toronto, a new initiative delivering fresh fruit and vegetables at no cost to Black Torontonians impacted by COVID-19.
Black CAP TO
Canada’s largest Black-specific AIDS service organization works to reduce the spread of HIV infection within Toronto’s Black communities and help those living with HIV/AIDS.
Black Legal Action Centre
BLAC is a recently launched non-profit clinic that provides free legal services for low- or no-income Black Torontonians and Ontarians.
Black Toronto Community Support
The community-oriented Facebook group has launched a GoFundMe to boost the efforts of Black Creek Community Farm and Building Roots in feeding low-income Torontonians during the pandemic.
Black Lives Matter-Toronto
Canada's largest chapter of the global Black Lives Matter movement is a coalition of Black community members, students, artists, activists and organizers working for the elimination of anti-Black racism, state-sanctioned and institutional violence.
Blackstone Foundation Library
This nonprofit is "dedicated to promoting knowledge of self through a culture of learning and reading", providing youth with access to books, mentors, safe spaces and opportunities for engagement and support.
BLM-TO COVID-19 Support Fund
Organized by Black Lives Matter-Toronto, this emergency fund was launched at the start of COVID to help Black community members dealing with the financial effects of the pandemic.
Black Business and Professional Association
This Toronto-based group supporting Black businesses also offers scholarships, financial literacy classes and business courses, including entrepreneurship camps aimed at Black youth.
Black Women in Motion
This Toronto-based, youth-led organization "empowers and supports the advancement of black womxn and survivors of sexual violence" through training and advocacy work.
Caribbean African Canadian Social Services
This non-profit aimed at strengthening the service framework for African Canadians offers a number of programs, including employment search help, family services, services for youth previously involved in the justice system, and children's services.
CEE Centre For Young Black Professionals
This Toronto-based charity is dedicated to addressing the economic and social barriers that affect Black youth ages 14 and over through youth workforce development, education and advocacy.
Eritrean-Ethiopian Solidarity Fund
This fund is raising donations for Eritrean and Ethiopian community members to cover rent, groceries, and medication during COVID-19.
Healing Collective Toronto
The east Toronto-based collective of psychotherapists and wellness professionals has launched a GoFundMe to support the work of Black therapists and hold low/no cost mental health workshops.
Nia Centre for the Arts
This York-based non-profit showcases and promotes art from members of the African diaspora and offers programs in music, photography, literature, visual arts, theatre and interdisciplinary arts.
#NotAnotherBlackLife + FoodShare
The organizers of the #JusticeForRegis protest have teamed up with the food access organization to offer free food boxes to Black families self-isolating after attending the march. Sign up here, and donate to FoodShare here.
Obsidian Theatre
Canada's leading culturally-specific theatre company is dedicated to bringing Black stories to Canadian stages and promoting the work and development of Black theatre artists.
Ocama Collective
This collective of doulas and birth workers is fundraising to pay Black doulas to offer cost-covered birth care to people of colour in Toronto and the GTA.
Taibu Community Health Centre
This Malvern-based health centre provides health care and related services for Black communities across the GTA.
Tropicana
This multi-service group provides people of Black and Caribbean heritage, youth, newcomers and others in need with services like counselling, child care, educational and employment services and youth development.
Walnut Foundation
This nonprofit promotes health information and knowledge among Black men, working with the community to identify Black men's health needs and providing a safe, comfortable forum for discussion.
Women's Health in Women's Hands
This community health centre provides care for women in African and Caribbean (as well as Latin American and South Asian) communities.
Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments below.
This list was updated on June 4.
READ MORE
Black-owned businesses in Toronto you can support right now
Death of Regis Korchinski-Paquet exposes the decades-long failure of policing reform