Rize

Rize by the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention, is a platform intended for African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) youth living with and affected by HIV in Toronto. Our goal is to engage with youth from ages 16-29 to help maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle by providing resources, education, and care. We hope to uplift the voices and needs of Black youth in the community by providing a safe pace to meet, learn and collaborate with peers. As a by-product of Black CAP, the motto, “Because All Black People’s Lives Are Important’ is one we strive to follow as the perspective and experience of youth is often left out of discussions, policy making and care. Rize by Black CAP aims to create a culturally relevant approach to accessing the programs and services provided by Black CAP while maintaining focus on the intersecting needs of youth.

Some of our services include counseling, settlement, peer support, employment, and social support. We empower Black youth to achieve their goals and lead healthy, fulfilling lives. Join us in our mission to create a safer, healthier future for Black youth impacted by HIV.

At Black CAP we provide a host of culturally relevant services for ACB Youth in the community:

• HIV Prevention & Support Services
  • ACB people are many times more likely to be living with HIV than white Canadians and more than 2/3^rds of all women living with HIV in Toronto are ACB. The Black CAP Prevention Program aims to build partnerships to create safe spaces for members of the African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) community to participate in culturally sensitive dialogue around their HIV/AIDS, STI risk, sexual health, and healthy relationships. The Program works to reach youth (under 30).
  • The Support program works to increase the capacity of PHAs (Youth living with or affected by HIV) to improve their own health and quality of life. The program also recognizes how challenging disclosure can be and the importance of privacy and confidentiality about one’s HIV status in Toronto’s Black community.
• Mental Health & Counseling
  • Approximately 1 in 5 children and youth in Ontario has a mental health challenge. About 70% of mental health challenges have their onset in childhood or youth. ACB Youth face many intersecting challenges that may affect their mental health. Our mental health team is equipped with youth who have lived experience and knowledge of the issues surrounding mental health and wellness, along with culturally relevant and anti-oppression counseling.
• Harm Reduction Services
  • Youth in our community are engaged in high-risk activities that also place them at risk for HIV and STIs. Many are seeking support and information to reduce their risk behaviors.  In addition, the stigma surrounding substance use in our community creates a barrier to accessing information and services related to safer substance use. 
• GBMSM Outreach
  • The MSM Outreach Program conducts HIV/AIDS and sexual health educational outreach to MSM from African, Caribbean, and Black (ACB) communities. We use creative methods to inform and educate Black MSM about their risk for HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and to negotiate safer sex. The Program works to reach youth (16 to 29).
• Youth Community Outreach
  • Black CAP’s Community Outreach Program shares HIV and other STI information with ACB youth (ages 16 to 29).
• Youth Trans & Non-Binary Programs
  • The needs of Black PHA (people living with HIV/AIDS) and LGBTQI+ youth community members are especially complex. In many cases, they are unable to access mainstream services because of HIV stigma and homophobia/transphobia.
• Employment Program
  • Black youth face real barriers to meaningful employment and training. As a community largely made up of newcomers to Canada, gaining Canadian work experience or accessing training that leads to employment continues to be a real challenge. Given these barriers, Black CAP’s Kazi employment program (Kazi means work in Swahili) provides participants with the knowledge, tools, and support to join the Canadian workforce or pursue opportunities for education and training. 
• For more information, call us at 416.977.9955 or email info@black-cap.com