Five Projects Supporting Black Youth in Victoria Awarded Grant Funding

Recipients of the City of Victoria’s annual International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) Youth Grant program have been selected for 2023. This year, five projects that support and empower Black youth in Victoria have been awarded funding. 

“The return of this grant program is an important step towards making Victoria a more welcoming and safer city for all residents,” said Mayor Marianne Alto. “By creating opportunities for Black youth, this program helps to improve equity and challenge systemic racism.” 

The IDPAD Youth Grant is a community-led grant program, created, supported and overseen by the IDPAD Advisory Committee who selected the following five projects to receive grant funding this year: 

•    A youth-led journalism and storytelling program 
•    A documentary about Black student, teacher and staff experiences in Victoria schools 
•    A community celebration to honour student achievements and milestones 
•    A basketball tournament and off-court activities celebrating Black players and their legacy on the game 
•    A series of arts, culture and career-development workshops 

“This grant creates an opportunity for Black youth to realize the pride of their culture, be inspired by those that have come before them and serve as role models for those that follow them,” said Me-Kon Hayes, Executive Director of the Binkadi Wellness Society and 2023 IDPAD Youth Grant recipient. 

For more information, visit victoria.ca/IDPAD. 
 
Media Contacts: 
Colleen Mycroft 
Manager, Intergovernmental and Media Relations 
250.896.5325 | cmycroft@victoria.ca 
 
Me-Kon Hayes 
Executive Director, Binkadi Wellness Society 
250.418.1414 | me-kon@binkadi.ca