Black 2SLGBTQI+ youth in Simcoe County are telling us something urgent: safety cannot be promised in policy and denied in practice. In June 2025, UPlift Black hosted a community consultation in support of Parents of Black Children and their landmark Sankofa Framework for Dismantling Anti-Black Racism in Ontario’s Education System. This work is deeply connected to our own mission, and we are proud that UPlift Black President and Founder, Shelley-Ann Skinner served as an advisor for the...

For six years, UPlift Black has stood as a cornerstone in our community, providing vital programs and building a foundation for a shared future. Recently featured in Queer & Now, we shared the realities of growing a grassroots organization under financial constraints. Our latest project, a 6,500-square-foot sanctuary at 60 Bell Farm Road, represents a bold step forward. Thanks to the foundational support from Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions (SMFC), we have made significant progress. Yet, to...

Black Excellence Continues Beyond Black History Month: Rehearsals Begin for 2nd Annual Afrofusion Fashion Show and Fundraiser