Thursday 9th December 2021

Every November, since 2018, the Afro-Caribbean Mentorship Program (ACMP) has hosted its most anticipated event, More Than Networking. Each year, Afro-Caribbean Black (ACB) students, educators, and the broader Ottawa community gather to engage in the best networking practices.

Join us as we continue the tradition this year!

ACB young will have the opportunity to receive keynote addresses from two fantastic guest speakers and access an hour of online networking with ACB / non-ACB professionals. This event purposely increases the ACB youths’ economic and political engagement. Youth participating in this event will learn valuable insight from career-minded people, adding value to the career paths. 

Although this annual event improves the social capital among Afro-Caribbean Black (ACB) people, it is the Black youth who benefit significantly as they access opportunities to connect and learn from racialized and non-racialized professionals. Through these relations, the following positive outcomes manifested:

• ACB young people (high school and post-secondary) gain mentorship from racialized and non-racialized career-focused professional
• ACB young people gain a mentor who sees the need to provide one on one mentorship beyond the event
• Professionals have the opportunity to give back to young ACB people in a way that is non-intrusive to their busy lives.

Why is this event important?

The More Than Networking event will include Afro-Caribbean professionals, and many other community members from different ethnic groups, to participate in teaching ACB young people on the importance of networking. Considering how the world is facing the COVID-19 pandemic, it will not stop the event.

The 4th annual More Than Networking event will include Afro-Caribbean professionals and career-minded people from different ethnic groups. All professionals will participate in teaching ACB young people attending this FREE online event will experience the following learning outcomes:

• ACB young people will meet and greet professionals.
• Professionals will meet enthusiastic young people who will be next to lead our professional sectors.
• Build relationships of solidarity among great people.
• ACB young people (high school and post-secondary) gain mentorship from racialized and non-racialized career-focused professionals.
• ACB young people potentially gain a mentor who sees the need to provide one on one mentorship beyond the event.
• Professionals can give back to young ACB people in a way that is non-intrusive to their busy lives.

As a high school or post-secondary student (undergraduate or graduate), we invite you to dress business casual from the waist up, to meet and greet professionals who have valuable insight to share.

In past events, the ACMP attracted up to 200 students, faculty, and broader community members to encourage ACB young people to recognize the importance of networking. This year’s annual More Than Networking event, like last year, will be online, and we guarantee that the impact will still be positive!

---

Register now for your FREE ticket!

How this year’s event will work

Students coming to the event will engage with professionals (online), ranging from health care, social work, and the financial sector. To do this, we ask students to register and select the career option on the list (see below). 

Students and professionals will gather to receive the keynote addresses during the event. Shortly after, folks will be directed into breakout rooms based on the students’ registered selection for the event.

BREAKOUT ROOMS

This is your chance to get the information you need for your career! Students in the breakout rooms will have the opportunity to ask the professionals questions and seek advice. This event is also an excellent way for young people to connect with professionals who can act as mentors for their future careers. 

Students and professionals will gather to receive the keynote addresses at the beginning of the event. Shortly after, folks will be directed into Zoom technology breakout rooms, based on the preferred categories attendees selected upon registration. Professionals and students attending the event will engage with one another online to discuss the following:

BIG PRIZES & GIVEAWAYS

In the past, the More Than Networking event always came through with delicious complimentary dinners that are finger-licking good! Unfortunately, this year, we cannot open the event to the public and serve amazing food due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. In place of the dinner, the ACMP will be providing the following incentives for the event.

• TBD Incentive for a High school person
• TBD Incentive for Undergrad/Graduate person
• Carleton University swag TBD
• The University of Ottawa swag TBD

ACMP is mobilizing this event to be a learning experience for both students and professionals. Attendees will increase their networks while recognizing the need to support and add value to improve the social capital of ACB youth.

Partners & Participating Schools

• Carleton University
• The University of Ottawa
• The University of Manitoba
• OCSB
• OCDSB

---

Check out last year’s event:

---

Stay in touch

Stay up to date with the ACMP’s initiative:

More to come!