Expanding the reach of DiverseCity initiative
When the G. Raymond Change School of Continuing Education at Ryerson University took over the facilitation of the DiverseCity onBoard program, the School’s dean says she knew she had to expand the reach of the important initiative.
“The goal of this program is to provide affordable governance training for everyone and connect qualified candidates from underrepresented groups to not-for-profit organizations and public agencies, boards and commissions,” says Marie Bountrogianni of the program, which was previously facilitated by Ryerson’s Ted Rogers School of Management. “What we have focused on recently is ensuring DiverseCity is compliant with the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).”
While the governance training is open to anyone, DiverseCity’s matching program is available to Aboriginal peoples, the LBGT+ community, underrepresented immigrants, visible minorities and women. This year, its website, matching database and learning environment became completely accessible.
“Beyond AODA being the law,” Bountrogianni says, “it’s just the right thing to do. The program is designed to help people who are underrepresented, and people with disabilities will now be able to take advantage. You can’t be integrated into the society in which you live until you contribute. Serving on a board is a great way of doing that.”
DiverseCity’s governance training consists of seven self-paced courses that cover topics such as board essentials, legal roles and responsibilities, finance fundamentals, risk management and strategic planning. A team of subject experts, says Bountrogianni, delivers the training through webinars, and supplementary online and in-person sessions to provide learners with the skills, knowledge and resources to make an immediate contribution.
“The program has been available in the Greater Toronto Area, Hamilton and London, Ont., Montreal, Calgary and Ottawa,” says Bountrogianni. “Vancouver and Windsor, Ont. are our newest locations. We are conducting research on new cities and I think we’ll be looking at the Maritime provinces next.”
With Ryerson University making a commitment in its overall academic plan to be more community based, Bountrogianni says DiverseCity onBoard is an initiative that addresses the needs of the larger community of Canada.
“We’re always encouraged to facilitate initiatives like this,” she says. “It is in Ryerson’s DNA.”