BLACK BOYS CODE

Annual Reports

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CEO Message

Greetings our dear Black Boys Code supporters. I hope this message finds you well and that, despite what has been a challenging year for most of us, you continue to navigate these times with optimism and resilience

If there is one phrase I would use to describe the past year it would be “phenomenal growth”. As you read through this report, growth and expansion are key themes that will emerge at the core of all our activities and we are excited to share our progress with you.

In addition to operating our 11 Canadian chapters, we have also launched several exciting initiatives that continue to empower and equip Black Youth with the tools and opportunities necessary to break through socio-economic barriers and break into the world of technology ultimately helping to shape it as the innovative leaders of tomorrow.

Some of these initiatives include expanding into the United States, our brand new Reskilling Program, and Black Kids code (Girls), the first ever coding program focused on Black girls.
In April 2021 Black Boys Code launched the Reskilling Program; A 12-week pilot coding Bootcamp with the goal of providing an industry-recognized diploma to Black youth between the ages of 18-29. This program was made possible thanks to a grant from the Government of Ontario and offered in partnership with Lighthouse Labs, a Canadian tech education company and Riipen, a leadingedge experiential learning platform. Our Goal was 85 graduates and we are proud to say we had 83 successful grads at the end of the Bootcamp! We also continue to assist our graduates in finding career placements by working with our corporate partners.

In November 2021 Black Kids Code (Girls) was launched. Black Kids Code (Girls) is a new initiative focused on equipping Black girls age 13-17 with the skills and mindset to be leaders in technology. This program is a first of its kind in Canada and is dedicated specifically to the needs of Black girls. It is also mentored and instructed by Black women in technology fields who provide a glimpse into what the future can hold for our young female students who wish to pursue careers in tech.

Black Boys Code has also successfully expanded into the U.S. laying the groundwork to begin hosting our first camp this summer in Chicago and to launch a brand new chapter of the program in Atlanta.

The more we do, the more it feels like there is to do. We know how important the programs we provide are to nurturing young minds and we are incredibly grateful for the generosity of our partners who allow us to continue making an impact in the lives of our young learners. Notably, we’d like to thank The Government of Canada and the Ontario Government for their ongoing support and contributions that help us shatter ceilings and stereotypes through the implementation of our programs.

I would like to express a sincere thank you to all of our partners who have joined us in our mission to make the world of technology a more inclusive place. Together, we can continue to equip our students with the competence and courage to shape a better future for everyone.

SPOTLIGHT STORIES

Partnerships

As with most non-profit organizations, Black Boys Code relies on financial contributions to maintain operations. However, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to establishing mutually beneficial partnerships. We want our partners and sponsors to know just how much they mean to us!

Our goal is always to curate a custom partnership strategy using a holistic approach that goes beyond just the dollar amount. We take corporate responsibility seriously and take this into consideration when designing strategic partnership packages that make organizations who work with us look good, while doing good. We accomplish this by taking the time to understand the needs of our corporate sponsors. We all know the importance of giving back either financially or on a social level, to the community and the wonderful impact it has on the recipient organization, however, because giving back is often a personal choice, we also offer alternative opportunities for our partners to get involved in Black Boys Code. Employees can donate their time by volunteering during workshops and mentorship placements
In May 2021 we partnered with the brilliant creators at Sony Pictures Imageworks to present Compute, Code, Create! The 3 Cs of Digital Movie Making. This unique and exciting workshop gave our young students a look behind the scenes at how their Academy Award-winning Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse was created. Our students go the opportunity to virtually meet Head of Systems Engineering and Software Development Mike Ford, Systems Engineer Julius Kuyoro, Academy Award-winning Software Architect Cottalango Leon, and Animation Supervisor Sacha Kapijimpanga. This team is behind some of the biggest blockbusters of our time including Angry Birds, over the moon, Vivo, Falcon and the Winter Soldier, Hotel Transylvania, and countless more!
The Boys had the opportunity to interact with engineers and artists from Sony Pictures Imageworks to learn: The surprising challenges of building computers used for animation How engineers write codes to make animation software How a crew of passionate artists use computers and codes to create movies that people all over the world get to enjoy.
“To see miles Morales, a young Black person who is also a superhero, something I didn’t have when I was growing up. . Today not only do we have appositive Black role models on the screen, we also have Black industry leaders in science, technology, computing and engineering who bring stories like Miles’ to life” – Bryan Johnson, CEO, Black Boys Code.
We all know the importance of giving back to the community to create positive social change and the wonderful impact it has on the recipient organization and because giving back is often a personal choice, we also offer opportunities for staff to get involved in our various programs. n 2021, we worked with one of our dear partners to create an employee outreach program. Staff was offered the opportunity to spend a few hours each month participating in one of our signature Exposure Workshops. Employees signed up through an internal board and were eager to see first-hand the opportunities provided to Black boys as they were introduced to the vast world of coding.
Our Reskilling in Tech initiative also allowed us to offer unique opportunities for our partners. The Reskilling in Tech initiative, a first of its kind in Canada, saw 85 young Black men and women enrolled in a Web Development Bootcamp to become Junior Web Developers! Since graduation earlier this year, the 12-week Bootcamp has seen 16 students find placements within the tech industry at various partner organizations and we couldn’t be more thrilled!
Support comes in various means, and we are grateful for all of it. From every dollar to every hour, we know Black Boys Code would not be able to pursue our mission without our generous sponsors and we hope to be able to continue working alongside them to ensure the future in tech is bright for generations to come!
If you or your organization are interested in becoming a partner, contact our Donor Relations Manager Corrie Lynn White at [email protected]

Ontario Black Youth
Reskilling Program

At Black Boys Code we get to see firsthand how a young life can be changed once they are exposed to the world of STEM and discover a love for coding! One of our proudest moments came this year when we were able to cheer on 85 newly minted Web Developers through our Reskilling Program. This program was launched in April 2021 and encompassed a 12-week pilot coding Bootcamp with the goal of providing an industry-recognized diploma to Black youth between the ages of 18-29. This program was made possible thanks to a grant from the Government of Ontario and offered in partnership with Lighthouse Labs, a Canadian tech education company, and Riipen, a leadingedge experiential learning platform.

We awarded $13,000 in scholarships for these student to pursue their Junior Web Developer Diploma. Through Riipen’s Level Up work-integrated learning program, students were paid $1,400 for an 80-hour portfolio project where this fresh crop of Junior Web developers put their newly acquired skills to work building portfolios they will be able to use while applying for jobs upon graduation.
Through courses like our Reskilling Program, we hope to be able to uplift and encourage the Black youth in our communities to explore and pursue careers in tech, and ultimately close the representation gap in these spaces. We hope by demonstrating the success of this Bootcamp and our graduates, we can secure additional funding to continue operating this program.

Pivoting through a Pandemic

2020 was a year of challenges for everyone. Seemingly overnight, the entire world was brought to a standstill. Like many organizations, Black Boys Code had to adjust to these unprecedented times. When the pandemic began, Program Manager Collin McClean was in the midst of launching several chapters of Black Boys Code and recalls having to change course quickly.

“ There was no way to move forward with our original in-person model where the boys would come in at 9am and we’d wrap up by 3pm. In between we’d go through our curriculum, mentors and instructors were available in classrooms for one-on-one support. If a student had a question all he had to do was raise his hand and someone would go to him to help. They’d get a pizza lunch and we’d really have the opportunity to get to know these kids and create a bond with them. But the pandemic changed all of that” explains McClean.
Compounding this challenge was the fact that the audience Black Boys Code serves, mainly black youth ages 8-17, are already facing socio-economic barriers to education and is disproportionately underrepresented in the STEM fields. Colin, however, whose own son has been a Black Boys Code student for several years, was determined not to let our youth slip even further behind. He began reaching out to see how we could leverage our networks to continue providing programming to the kids.
“ I wasn’t sure what to do but I knew we needed to pivot fast. I’ve always believed in being a continent, not an island so reaching out to our network and investigating different options that could help us continue our programming was key. That’s when a colleague from the school board told us about a platform we could use called Moodle and we began transitioning. We started with a pilot project in Brampton and it was successful. We were able to roll it out to the other chapters soon after” McClean explained.
But it wasn’t just about getting the proper software. McClean’s team also had to overcome the hurdle of keeping kids engaged while still providing the full curriculum and factoring in short attention spans. Ultimately after a few weeks of trial and error, his team came up with bite-sized yet power-packed two-hour sessions with breakout rooms providing more one-on-one attention, which has proved successful.
“As not only a Program Manager but also a father whose son whose first introduction to the world of gaming and graphic arts through taken Black Boys Code and is now enrolled in a high school graphics arts program, I think we did phenomenal in terms of transitioning and being a support system for the boys” McClean recounts.
Now that things are opening up, Colin is looking to slowly migrate back to in-person workshops at university campuses. The University campus is a strategic location to help the boys feel comfortable being in places of higher education and to feel that they belong there from an early age.
“ I strongly encourage parents to keep bringing their boys to our programs because there’s a huge gap in STEM fields. It’s important to invest the time because there’s a very strong possibility for them to become Web Designers, Developers, or Programers for example, and earn 55k-200k salaries but if you don’t invest time now, sooner or later you’ll be left behind. You don’t want your child to be a horse and buggy left behind in today’s age and Black Boys Code is here to give them the tools to break the current narrative for the future” implores McClean.

BBC Alumni spotlight Claudius Thomas

When Claudius Thomas heard about a grassroots organization that introduces young Black boys to technological literacy, something sparked within him. Born in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and raised in London England. the Computer Engineer knows the power of STEM education and the endless opportunities it can hold first hand.
“I’ve always had a passion for developing young black youth through education, culture, and sports so when I heard about Black Boys Code I strongly felt it was something I needed to be a part of.”
Since 2019 Claudius has been the Windsor chapter Leader for the organization, helping to equip young Black you with the same software engineering skills that helped him build a successful business providing information Systems and technology solutions to companies. In a full-circle moment, Claudius was even able to hire graduates of Black boys Code exposure workshops to work with him.
As the founder and CEO of Turaco Web, a digital services company based in Windsor, Ontario Claudius' work has allowed him to pay it forward by mentoring the next generation of tech innovators
“There’s nothing like watching the spark in a child’s eyes when they realize they can apply something they thought was not possible for them.“ Recently Claudius receive the Champion Chapter Leader award and we can’t wait to see what else the future holds for him.

Black Boys Code: A future of Growth

When Bryan Johnson founded Black Boys Code in 2015, he began with a vivid dream: To prepare future generations of the Black community for success, by making the world of technology an approachable, viable and empowering space for young Black boys.
Since then Bryan has worked tirelessly to build Black Boys Code into an accessible program for young Black youth across Canada and the United States, who might never have had the opportunity or support to explore STEM fields and the lucrative careers that come with them. Even during the global pandemic, there was no slowing down for Bryan and Black Boys Code which has grown to include:

Black Kids Code (Girls)

the first program in Canada dedicated specifically to the needs of Black girls in tech at a national level, and is instructed and mentored by female tech professionals.

Black Boys Code Cares

The Black Boys Code Cares initiative is a social responsibility program that was created to help families who had difficulty with access to technology. We work with corporate technology partners to donate laptops to families with schoolaged children.

Our Re-skilling Program

An innovative project providing Black youth between the ages of 18 - 29 in Ontario with the technical training and career support to become professional Junior Web Developers in just 12 weeks.

Black Boys Code USA

And now we are thrilled to celebrate the growth of additional branches of the Black Boys Code family Tree; The launch of our Atlanta chapter and a summer camp in Chicago. The Atlanta Chapter will be headed by the brilliant engineer Oluwatosin Ajibola. Oluwatosin shared a bit about why he decided to take on the role of Chapter Leader:

I accepted to lead the BlackBoysCode Atlantic Canada Chapter solely because I understand the need to expose kids to STEM early. Our society has been stereotyped for having kids on the road, and joining gangs at very young ages. However, the opportunities organizations like Black Boys Code create by facilitating workshops that introduce kids to STEM as early as 8 years old stands out for me.
As a young black man, myself, I understand the impact such workshops would have had on my life if I got introduced to STEM as early as 8, hence my enthusiasm and commitment to ensuring we change the narrative and have our young boys contribute positively to the society as they grow up. — Oluwatosin Ajibola, Chapter Leader, Atlantic Chapter Our Vision is for Black youth to identify the skills and talents they possess so they can realize their full potential and be prepared for success as tomorrow’s technology leaders and innovators. By continuing to expand our programs across Canada and into the U.S, we hope to keep breaking down barriers hindering Black youth from pursuing careers in STEM and ensure their future is bright.

Partner Spotlight

TD Bank’s Ready Commitment Network

Summer Technology Camp

  • Funded by TD Bank’s Ready Commitment Network
  • Kids learn the ‘Learning Math Through Code’ curriculum to teach math concepts through a block-based coding program
  • 212 boys successfully completed the inaugural camp
  • Two-week course hosted in August 2021 that is designed to help develop confidence and problem-solving skills

After-School Program

  • Funded by TD Bank’s Ready Commitment Network
  • 616 boys have participated in the After-School Program across two school semesters
  • Some boys are returning learners from the Learning Math Through Code Summer Technology Camp
  • Learners are enrolled in a 9-week course that builds off the Summer Technology Camp curriculum

Government of Canada

  • Government of Canada’s Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Sector awarded Black Boys Code $1,000,000 over two years to support our Exposure Workshops for Black boys in 11 Canadian chapters in January 2022

Government of Ontario

  • Government of Ontario awarded Black Boys Code $1.384 million for the Black Youth Reskilling Pilot Program in April 2021

Black Youth Reskilling Program

  • New initiative unlike anything Black Boys Code has done before
  • Funded by Ontario’s Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development Department
  • Pilot project, in partnership with Lighthouse Labs and Riipen, to equip 100 unemployed and underemployed Black youth aged 18 – 29 in Ontario with the skills needed to become professional web developers
  • Participants enrolled in a 3-month, full-time web development bootcamp
  • Our Target was 85 and we had 83 participants successfully graduated as Junior Web Developers

Exposure Workshop Program

  • Continued to provide workshops virtually due to COVID-19
  • New curricula focusing on Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, and Drones developed to keep our program offerings relevant and engaging
  • 1323 boys have participated in our Exposure Workshops in 2021

Donor Initiatives

  • Fostered deep connections with TD, BMO, Rakuten, and Google
  • Increased engagement rate to 50% for donor communication (compared to 27% benchmark) among previous donors
  • Raised $10,000 on #GivingTuesday
  • Corporate sponsorship package finalized for 2022

BBC Partner Spotlight

Participants in Workshops & Programs
Summer Technology Camp
Awards

Donor Initiatives

Engagement rate

Donor Initiatives

Raised on #GivingTuesday

$ 0

Thank you

to our wonderful partners! Because of you, we are able to help build successful futures for our youth and give back to our communities in a meaningful way!

Awarded Grants

TD Ready Commitment Network awarded Black Boys Code $300,000 over two years for a Summer Technology Camp and After-School Program in 8 Canadian Chapters in May 2021

Google’s Community Grant awarded Black Boys Code $10,000 to support new curriculum development in October 2021

Department of Canadian Heritage awarded Black Boys Code $165,308 to launch three Black Kids Code (Girls) chapters in Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary in July 2021

About us

Black Boys Code is committed to developing a generation of young men who see success in technology careers as an option not an impossibility.

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