BBC By the Numbers:

Students have attended our programs and have been supported by BBC to pursue STEM education

Participants have successfully graduated as Junior Web Developers from the ReSkilling Bootcamp program

Have participated in the After-School Program across two school semesters

Boys successfully completed the inaugural summer Technology camp

As of March 31, 2022, 3091 boys have participated in Black Boys Code programming

Boys have participated in our Exposure Workshops in 2021

After-school Instructors in 8 cities

exposure workshops

Laptops from Arcteryx distributed throughout Pandemic via Black Boys Code Cares

Of participants remain in the program and complete coding assignments

Laptops from PointClickCare and Fasken

CEO Message
If there is one phrase I would use to describe the past year it would be โphenomenal growthโ. 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 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, weโd 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!
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.
โTo see miles Morales, a young Black person who is also a superhero, something I didnโt 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 Milesโ to lifeโ – Bryan Johnson, CEO, Black Boys Code.
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 couldnโt 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.
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.
โ I wasnโt sure what to do but I knew we needed to pivot fast. Iโve 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 afterโ McClean explained.
But it wasnโt just about getting the proper software. McCleanโs 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.
โAs 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 boysโ 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.
โ I strongly encourage parents to keep bringing their boys to our programs because thereโs a huge gap in STEM fields. It’s important to invest the time because thereโs a very strong possibility for them to become Web Designers, Developers, or Programers for example, and earn 55k-200k salaries but if you donโt invest time now, sooner or later youโll be left behind. You donโt 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 futureโ 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.
โIโve 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.โ
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
โThereโs nothing like watching the spark in a childโs eyes when they realize they can
apply something they thought was not possible for them.โ
Recently Claudius receive the Champion Chapter Leader award and we canโt wait to
see what else the future holds for him.


Black Boys Code: A future of Growth
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:
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 tomorrowโs 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 Bankโs Ready Commitment Network
Summer Technology Camp
- Funded by TD Bankโs Ready Commitment Network
- Kids learn the โLearning Math Through Codeโ 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 Bankโs 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 Canadaโs 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 Ontarioโs 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 โ 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
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
Googleโs 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