This Week @ York

York is celebrating Black History Month. February is packed with virtual events to educate the community and celebrate Black culture at York, in Canada and around the world. Here’s a snapshot of what you can find this week:

• The Centre for Human Rights, Equity & Inclusion (CHREI) is holding a weekly Understanding Racism Workshop Series throughout February to provide students, staff and faculty the tools to understand racism and develop strategies to be anti-racist. This week’s workshops:
• You can also attend this month’s Respect, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (REDI) Workshops. These workshops are not only a great way to learn, but they are a professional development opportunity that will help you in your career beyond York. Attend at least three of the REDI workshops (90 minutes each) and complete the REDI Online Tutorial to receive a REDI Certificate of Completion!
• Recognizing Resilience in Communities. Engage in discussions about community resilience in the face of disadvantage and hardship, examining the ways barriers and discrimination shape our perspective of communities under duress. Learn strategies for how to engage and foster inclusivity across multiple groups and spaces. Wednesday, February 24, 1:30 to 3 p.m. Registration required.
• Why Black History (Month) Matters. The Faculty of Graduate Studies invites the York Community to attend an informal dialogue on "Why Black History (Month) Matters." As we honour and celebrate Black History Month, there is importance in continuing the conversation around Black history, cultural and lived experiences. Thursday, February 25, noon to 1:30 p.m. Registration required.
• Insights: A Speakers Series on Equity, Diversion and Inclusion (EDI). Organized by the the President's Advisory Council on EDI, the series is designed to inspire community members to action, to provoke thought and conversation across the York community about issues related to EDI. This session's speaker is Naki Osutei, the Associate Vice President, Social Impact Canada in TD's Global Corporate Citizenship team. Thursday, February 25, noon. Registration required.
• Athletics & Recreation (A&R) is offering a number of opportunities to celebrate Black Excellence with panel discussions, videos, events and profiles of the tremendous Black student-athletes within their own department. Visit the site every Monday for new spotlights and follow @yorkulions throughout the month for more exciting stories, videos and events.

2021 Virtual Black History Month Celebration. Join this virtual celebration recognizing the 25th anniversary of the national declaration of Black History Month in Canada and the United Nations (UN) designating the decade from 2015-2024 as the International Decade for People of African Descent. The event will feature 15+ special guests and presentations ranging from special interviews to musical presentations and more. Sign up today! Friday, February 26, noon to 3 p.m. on YouTube Live @BHMrootedandresilient or follow @yorkulions on Instagram!

Career Centre Webinar: On the Job Success. Attend this session and learn tips on how to create great first impressions and what to expect the first few days on the job. You'll also learn how to increase your chances of workplace success, how to communicate assertively and handle difficult situations effectively. Wednesday, February 17, 10 to 11:30 a.m. Registration required at Experience York.

Mature Student Workshop: Student-Parent’s Get-Together. If you're a student-parent, this session is a safe place to create new connections with other parents who are also students. Wednesday, February 17, 11 a.m. to noon. Registration required. Once registered, you'll receive the Zoom link.

York International (YI) Information Session: Short Term & Summer Programs. If you’re interested in taking summer courses with one of York's 300+ partners, join one of YI’s information sessions to find out more about the benefits of international education, which program is right for you and how to apply. Thursday, February 18, 11 a.m. to noon. Registration required.

YI’s International Student Bursary is now open for applications. This Bursary is available for international students who are experiencing unexpected or emergency financial need due to unforeseen circumstances. It is intended to cover small costs directly related to the student’s academic success. Visit the link for more information, including eligibility requirements. Application Deadline: Sunday, March 14.

YSpace Event: Fireside Chat with Vincenzo Guzzo. Attend this exclusive fireside chat featuring entertainment mogul Vince Guzzo. This virtual evening event will include a look into his life as an entrepreneur and investor, a rapid-fire pitch session featuring six ventures from our Food & Beverage Accelerator program, and audience questions so please come prepared! Monday, February 22, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Registration required.

Entrepreneurial Alumni Speaker Series: Employee to Entrepreneur: How to Earn Your Freedom & Follow Your Passion. In this three-part series, our speakers will dive deep into their experiences as an entrepreneur, exploring their success, failure and lessons. This session features Co-Founder of NUTRABOLICS® & Founder of THE BEAUTY CANDY™ & former York alum Aaron Hefter. Tuesday, February 23, noon to 12:45 p.m. Registration required.

YSpace Technology Accelerator. Apply for this four-month virtual accelerator program designed to support entrepreneurs as they execute their go-to-market strategies and acquire customers for their tech-focused ventures. The program offers bootcamps, workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and over $30K in cash awards plus perks. Application Deadline: Sunday, February 28.