The BlackNorth Initiative, which has a mission to end anti-Black systemic racism throughout all aspects of our lives by utilizing a business-first mindset, hired five Ted Rogers Co-op students to be Project Co-ordinator Interns during the Summer term. The students came from different programs, including Law and Business, Marketing Management, Business Technology Management and Human Resources Management, and two of them continued their placements there in the Fall term.
“The Ted Rogers Co-op students were creative, brought new ideas to the table, took the lead on meetings, asked questions and provided invaluable input,” says Célestin Owona, Director of Finance, Operations & HR at the BlackNorth Initiative. “I was amazed at the diverse backgrounds and experiences of the students, and how they were able to apply their theoretical knowledge empirically autonomously.”
Human Resources Management student Joedel Macabontoc worked at the BlackNorth Initiative during her Summer 2021 co-op term.
Working as an Intern under the HR, Finance, & Operations team, Macabontoc was exposed to different HR activities, such as creating a hiring process, researching, proposing and supporting the priorities of developing the HR department, as well as looking further into different HR software and screening resumes.
“I was really inspired to see the work that the team at BlackNorth Initiative has been doing, and the change they’re creating every single day,” Macabontoc explains. “I got a glimpse of why people love working for non-profits and how different communities are interacting and becoming involved with the organization’s mission to eliminate anti-Black systemic racism everywhere.”
