Rise in Stem’s Youth Action Committee program. photo by Janelle Gokule.
Bridging the Digital Divide for Toronto Youth
By: Eva Morrison
Since 2020, Canadians have witnessed a massive shift to digital space, with jobs, education, and social lives moving online. But not all Canadians had access to the same technology and connectivity, with some communities being left on the wrong side of the digital divide.
Rise in STEM is a grassroots organization committed to bridging the divide by breaking down barriers to higher education and STEM career pathways. The organization found that the pandemic revealed the gap in digital literacy among Toronto’s Black and underrepresented communities, while opportunities in the technology space continued to rise.
Participants at Rise in STEM’s Next Up Event. Photo by Ebenzer Adusei.
With funding from the Healthy Communities Initiative (HCI), Rise in STEM developed their upcoming Let’s Get Digital program: a technology summer camp, a three-part workshop series, follow-up virtual discussion circles, and networking opportunities for upskilling and career development. The project falls under the HCI Digital Solutions funding stream, put in place to support initiatives that use data and technology in innovative ways to connect communities. Recognizing the need for equitable digital solutions, the HCI prioritized funding for mission-oriented groups with a strong purpose to serve communities that were most impacted by the digital divide during COVID-19.
Irene Duah-Kessie, founder and Executive Director at Rise in STEM, created the organization with a mission to bridge the gaps she experienced navigating the field of science and technology herself.
“When I did my undergraduate degree in Life Science, I felt like something was missing– conversations around equity and inclusion in STEM weren’t happening.” shares Irene. “I wanted to do more to support students like me and share information with young people from my community.”
She started to share her experiences with youth from her high school and community. From there, field trips, conferences, and learning opportunities followed, and in 2019 Rise in STEM was born as a community-oriented space for digital learning. The organization pilots workshop, leadership, and mentorship programs for underserved youth participants across Toronto.
participants connect at The Next Up Event. Photo by Ebenzer Adusei.
Making Space for Digital Literacy
Rise in STEM provides a space where youth can learn and master skills that can help them advance socioeconomically. Programming focuses on building networks, connecting youth with professional mentors, providing access to technology like computer learning opportunities, and advancing digital literacy.
In an increasingly digital world, digital literacy is an essential skill. Being digitally literate means you have the ability to use digital tools to access and process information, like searching the internet to answer a question. Digital literacy is also an understanding of opportunities and challenges in the digital realm, from security to social connectedness. These skills are important to learning, evolving, and adapting within the global digital landscape.
“Digital literacy is not only about how to use a computer, but how to use it for your benefit– how to master skills, think critically, and be competent, safe and effective,” explains Irene. “You can’t just open a book and start in the middle. I think that same concept applies to digital literacy.”
Diving into STEM can be intimidating, and Irene emphasizes that it is important to create a learning space where participants feel supported. She’s focused on building an online platform and community that fosters an ongoing conversation, reconnecting with participants to follow their pathways and see how they are applying skills. Rise in STEM is also developing a resource hub for improved accessibility and connectivity.
“We want to be that bridge for the community to access learning opportunities,” shares Irene.
Irene Duah-Kessie speaks at a launch event for the Let’s Get Digital Program.
Building Connections In-person and Online
On June 8th, 2024, Rise in STEM hosted a launch to introduce the upcoming Let’s Get Digital program to the tech community. The brunch event in Toronto welcomed representatives from various technology, academic and community-focused organizations, such as Say Somaali, York University, SmartCloser AI, Intuit, and A Future for Us. HCI attended and provided funding for this event to continue Canada Placemaking Community’s mission to support the work of local stakeholders to build relationships with the local placemaking ecosystem.
Feyisayo Enuiyin, Program Lead, and Irene Duah-Kessie, Executive Director of Rise in STEM with Teshyla Bailey, Program Lead, Canada’s Placemaking Community.
This event brought together community-led organizations from across the GTA, offering a valuable chance to build face-to-face connections and foster strong relationships for future initiatives. It also served as a learning opportunity, where participants shared their unique community needs. These in-person gatherings enable placemaking practitioners to better understand and address the challenges facing their communities.
Supporting Digital Placemaking
Placemaking is a collaborative effort to improve public spaces to meet community needs and desires. After a lasting shift to virtual space during the pandemic, using data and information technology to address these needs became more valuable than ever. Digital solutions and online placemaking initiatives from community-led organizations like Rise in STEM can connect people, engage citizens, and deliver community services and activities to shape our public realm and build healthier communities.
Join Let’s Get Digital!
Registration is now open for this upcoming workshop series! It will provide attendees with an increased awareness of upskilling programs and courses within technology companies and academia, access to tools to gain insights on basic and deep technical skills in demand, and connections to STEM professionals from prominent companies to build their network and understanding of ways to navigate the job market. Rise in STEM will work with esteemed professionals and organizations to bring these workshops to life:
- September 14: Empower your Journey from Learning to Getting Hired with Canada Learning to Code and IBM
- September 22: Mastering Financial and Digital Literacy for Career Success with SmartCloser AI and Wealthsimple Foundation
- September 29: Business and Cyber security Essentials for Entrepreneurs with Defence Station and Nobellum
Canada’s Placemaking Community builds capacity for national placemakers by sharing impactful stories, convening in-person and virtual events, and commissioning research. By fostering collective action, we aim to drive better public outcomes and create vibrant, equitable public spaces for all. Discover more projects in our community of practice and learn more about the benefits of community-led placemaking in the Power of Placemaking Research Report, developed in partnership with Happy Cities.