About

Mission

Supporting marginalized Black youth, families, and community groups through wholistic social support, advocacy and community development in collaboration with government, private sector and community partners.

Vision

Black communities in Toronto and surrounding areas void of gun violence and poverty.

History

Black Youth Jobs was the title of our youth focused employment coaching service in 2009.

After quickly receiving support requests from parents, service providers, neighbourhood groups and more, the need to expand our mandate from youth and employment became clear.

BYJ Community Services was incorporated to strengthen accountability and sustainability, enabling us to build on our expanded services in areas of community development, workshop facilitation, frontline worker training, life skills coaching, and system navigation in education, housing and homelessness, employment and business, health and accessibility among other support areas.

Values

• Trust
• Community Development
• Empowerment

Founder/Executive Director

Gerard has more than 20+ years of community services experience. Through various roles supporting diverse individuals in neighbourhoods around Toronto, Gerard gained in-depth system navigation, training, counselling, and advocacy experiences which helped shape BYJ Community Services’ unique mobile, wraparound, city-wide approach. Building community through public education, skills development, partnership, and cultural support is at the root of his work.

“The excellence, growth, and connection from our communities keep me motivated. Playing my part in putting some puzzle pieces together is an honor.”

Gerard Meade, Founder

REXDALE

REXDALE

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JANE & FINCH

JANE & FINCH

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YORK UNIVERSITY RESEARCH & EVALUATION EXCHANGE

YORK UNIVERSITY RESEARCH & EVALUATION EXCHANGE

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ANTI-VIOLENCE MASKS DONATION

ANTI-VIOLENCE MASKS DONATION

JANE & FALSTAFF

JANE & FALSTAFF

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SCARBOROUGH

SCARBOROUGH

UWGT CITY LEADERS @ MARS DISCOVERY DISTRICT

UWGT CITY LEADERS @ MARS DISCOVERY DISTRICT

RITES OF PASSAGE

RITES OF PASSAGE

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LIFE SKILLS COACHING

LIFE SKILLS COACHING

CITY HALL

CITY HALL

Collaborators

Partnering with various stakeholders is integral to our service model.

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  • "For over a decade, I have known Gerard to provide excellently curated resources to communities in areas of civic engagement, student jobs, violence prevention, and advocacy. "

    Youth Minister

  • "BYJ knowledge of African Canadian community issues and supports and advocacy for addressing aspects of Anti-Black Racism through service and public education makes them the go-to service."

    Partner

  • "We regularly refer individuals to BYJ for support with housing, employment, training, education, business start-up, culturally competent counselling, and gender-based mentoring."

    One Mic Educators