Today we launch Publicis Groupe Canada’s largest ever pro bono campaign, #BlackYouthCan, in support of the CEE Centre for Young Black Professionals . CEE (“Careers, Education, Empowerment”) is a Toronto non-profit providing critical free career skills training and supports to Black youth. They were selected for a new local DE&I initiative we’ve launched to create a pro bono campaign annually for a deserving organization.
Canada has a hiring bias problem. The unemployment rate among young Black people is almost double the national average for the same age group (Statistics Canada 2021). We were inspired by CEE to bring this issue to the forefront and shine a light on talented Black CEE alumni.
A team of more than 40 across all our Canadian agencies created a brand platform, Black Youth Can, and a campaign, ‘Who I Really Am’. From strategy, creative, accounts, media, production, experience design, communications, social, digital, Diversity & Inclusion, and more, we have harnessed the Power of One for good.
“Who I Really Am” features the success stories of nine real CEE alumni and flips the narrative of what Black youth are presumed to be because of what they look like or wear. From Yonge Dundas Square, to TTC stations, corporate elevators, social and news media, this is a call to action to employers: Black talent is unignorable.
Visit BlackYouthCan.ca to donate, hire a CEE alum, post a job position and more. Because we believe #BlackYouthCan.
