Collaborations

In collaboration with The BRIDGE, Efosa Obano and the African Impact Initiative have pledged CAD$50,000 to create an accelerator fund, which was matched dollar-for-dollar by the University of Toronto's True Blue Fund, for a total investment of CAD$100,000 to bolster entrepreneurship in several African countries. Over the course of five years, the grant supports the African Impact Challenge, a joint project between African Impact Initiative and The BRIDGE, to partner with local entrepreneurs who are committed to driving social development and long-term economic growth in their home countries - beginning with the Ghana Challenge (2020), then Kenya (2021), then three. other host nations - and to provide selected start-ups with systems infrastructure (e.g. reliable internet connection), operational support, and strategic counsel to help them build and deploy their solutions.

Read the full story here: "We're taking it to the next level": U of T Scarborough alumnus on empowering African youth innovators through impact entrepreneurship

The BRIDGE has partnered with Councillor Jennifer McKelvie's Office and Centennial College to create The Scarborough Restaurant Recovery Project - a multi-media initiative supporting #ToGoToronto to help put east-end businesses on Toronto's culinary map.

The Scarborough Restaurant Recovery Project is a multi-media initiative that will bring community leaders together to share the stories (and the food) of establishments in the east-end. The project will initially support businesses with registering on To Go Toronto, an online delivery resource created by Tourism Toronto.

It will also help restaurants register to Ritual ONE, a commission-free online ordering website, and work to develop websites with ShopHERE, a City initiative assisting independent businesses and artists to open a free online store.

"We were evaluating how COVID-19 has changed things, and how our students can jump in to help local businesses," says Bill McConkey, academic director at The BRIDGE, who along with Dave Fenton will lead the project at U of T Scarborough.

"We're still here, operational and available to explore solutions that we can help develop and meet the needs of the community," says Fenton, entrepreneurship and work-integrated learning program coordinator at The BRIDGE.

Get the FULL story: Community initiative aims to put Scarborough restaurants on Toronto's culinary map