BlackNorth Initiative’s BBDH

Temitope Isaac Olowolafe is an award-winning real estate entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Toronto, Canada. With almost two decades of experience leading his asset management firm, Dream Maker Inc., Temitope Isaac Olowolafe heads the housing committee of the BlackNorth Initiative.

The BlackNorth Initiative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to eradicating anti-Black systemic barriers in the business sector. The organization seeks programs that address and combat challenges faced by Black Canadians in business. To this end, the housing committee of the BlackNorth Initiative has proposed the building of a Black business development hub to encourage entrepreneurship in the Afro-Canadian community.

The hub will provide the Black community with opportunities to build institutional partnerships with banks and colleges. The mixed-use development near Toronto's airport will support the growth of Black-owned businesses. It will feature a dozen working rooms, a hotel, an event space, and a commercial kitchen. The BlackNorth Initiative has partnered with Ryerson DMZ and the Dream Legacy Foundation to raise funds to expand the hub from 13,000 square feet to 30,000 square feet.

Awards Celebrate in Black Community

An award-winning entrepreneur, philanthropist, and real estate developer in Toronto, Canada, Temitope Isaac Olowolafe leads many areas of Dream Maker, Inc., including its development department, brokerage, and private equity department. As testament to his success in business and his commitment to eliminating racial inequality in Canada, Temitope Isaac Olowolafe received the Harry Jerome Business Award.

Recognized as a Canadian hero, Harry Jerome had a huge impact on the community. Known for his physical and scholastic successes, he was a premiere track athlete who earned awards from the University of Oregon and represented Canada three times at the Olympics.

Despite his success, he remained conscious of the challenges of African Canadians. He helped others enjoy more opportunities for success through his athletic accomplishments and was a vocal opponent of how television portrayed African Canadians. He also fought for the removal of wage discrimination barriers against Blacks and questioned the lack of Black models and clerks at department stores.

Given Harry Jerome’s major influence on modern Canadian life, it’s no surprise that the awards are presented in his memory. The Black Business and Professional Association (BBPA) Harry Jerome Awards celebrate achievements in the Black community and promotes the success of the Black Canadian community. Individuals of at least 16 years of age are eligible for these awards and should demonstrate success in area such as academics, leadership, business, media, or the arts.

Food Allergy Research from SickKids

A graduate of the University of Toronto, Temitope Isaac Olowolafe helps support the Canadian community and real estate market. Known for his philanthropy, he is heavily involved in racial equality in the country. Temitope Isaac Olowolafe also serves on the board of directors of several nonprofit organizations, including the SickKids Foundation, an organization working towards the improvement of child health through learning and research.

One of the many programs maintained by SickKids is its Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Program. Launched in 2013, the program addresses the challenge of protecting kids and their families from food allergies. According to the organization, around 500,000 children in Canada suffer from such allergies. Despite the fact that food allergies are becoming more common, there is no widely available treatment.

The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Program tackles this issue through a two-pronged approach. It tests treatments for food allergies via clinical trials and promotes understanding about food allergy biology. This approach has laid a solid foundation for food allergy treatment research. As the organization continues testing new hypotheses relating to food allergies, more and more children are enjoying treatments that turn their feared foods into some of their favorites.

BNI & RWC Partner to Fight Police

A business leader and real estate professional, Temitope Isaac Olowolafe is based in Toronto, Canada. He is the recipient of various awards, including the Toronto Board of Trade Award for Business, the Harry Jerome Business Award, and the Arbor Award from the University of Toronto. Temitope Isaac Olowolafe contributes to the activities of the BlackNorth Initiative.

In June 2021, the initiative partnered with the Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights. Both organizations announced an effort aiming to fight police brutality and racism in Canadian communities.

A statement by Wes Hall, the founder and executive chairman of BlackNorth Initiative, references the deaths of George Floyd in Minneapolis and Junior Manon in Toronto to describe situations in which people of color have been killed due to police brutality. The announcement also posits that police brutality is not only an American problem but also a Canadian one. The crux of the program fostered by BlackNorth Initiative and Raoul Wallenberg Center for Human Rights is stated below:

-Anti-racism education.

-Human rights education with reference to the constitutionalizing of equality and the promotion of human dignity.

-Multi-cultural education, including the promotion of respect for diversity and difference across ethno-cultural and racial divides.