Rising LeadersBuild Forward
Building confidence, leadership skills, and belonging, one young leader at a time. A summer experience designed to inspire, connect, and elevate.
Why This Program Exists
Rising Leaders Build Forward was created because representation matters, and so does understanding. The program provides Black and Biracial youth a space to celebrate their culture, build real skills, and find community. And when their friends from other backgrounds join them, something powerful happens: empathy grows, stereotypes shrink, and a new generation of advocates and allies are born. When young people learn to recognize inequality, they learn to speak up against it: in their classrooms, their friend groups, and eventually their workplaces and communities. This is how we break the cycle, one friendship at a time.
Program Pillars
Leadership
Learning to lead with confidence, empathy, and purpose
Heritage & Identity
Black history, culture, and the stories that shaped us
Creativity
Art, expression, and hands-on learning with real professionals
Community
Teamwork, belonging, and friendships that last
A Typical Day
Sessions run Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only. Lunch is provided on all days. On designated cooking days, participants prepare a dish together.
Program Schedule
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM each session | Two weeks in July, two weeks in August
Good to Know
Who Can Join
- Black and Biracial youth ages 7 to 15
- Each participant may bring one friend of any background
- All friends are welcome and learn alongside participants
- Space is limited; register early
Program Details
- Monday, Wednesday, and Friday only
- 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM each session
- Two weeks in July, two weeks in August
- Lunch provided on all days
- Certificates of participation awarded
Location
- 1140 Nicholson Road, Newmarket, Ontario
- Rose of Sharon Community Hub
- In partnership with Aurora Black Community Inc.
- Safe, supervised, inclusive environment
Spots Are Limited — Be Part of Something New
This is ABC’s inaugural summer program. We are building something special and want your child to be part of it from the very beginning.