Universal Music Canada's B.L.A.C.K. Label Coalition (Businesses Levelling Access to Change and Knowledge) and the Pinball Clemons Foundation have teamed up to spotlight and support young Black leaders with a new scholarship.
The B.L.A.C.K. Label Scholarship will be awarded to five first-year post-secondary Black students each academic calendar year from present until 2024, aiding to cover the costs of tuition, books and mentorship up to $10,000 each.
"In the midst of a social uprising and the complexities of a global pandemic, the Black employees at UMC rallied together to form a coalition of people who desperately saw the need to act immediately," B.L.A.C.K. Label Coalition founder Kardinal Offishall explained in a statement. "We found it imperative to combat the systemic inequalities that existed around us, in all parts of our lives — professional, social and personal. We are extremely happy to have worked swiftly and strategically with the Pinball Clemons Foundation, to create a scholarship supporting underserved youth in our communities."
UMC Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Remedios added: "On behalf of all Universal Music Canada employees and specifically those on our B.L.A.C.K. Label Coalition, we are honoured to be partnering on a new scholarship program with the Pinball Clemons Foundation. While the B.L.A.C.K. Label Scholarship is not specifically tied to the music industry, this announcement today further reflects our company's commitment to bring about impactful, meaningful change. I hope that some of these recipients may choose to pursue a career in the music industry, resulting in empowered Black voices and leaders of the future."
Earlier this year, the B.L.A.C.K. Label Coalition was formed by a group of UMC employees and interns who put forward a detailed proposal highlighting education, mentorship and developing a progressive equitable infrastructure to increase Black representation within the company. You can learn more about the BLC here.
The B.L.A.C.K. Label Scholarship will be awarded to five first-year post-secondary Black students each academic calendar year from present until 2024, aiding to cover the costs of tuition, books and mentorship up to $10,000 each.
"In the midst of a social uprising and the complexities of a global pandemic, the Black employees at UMC rallied together to form a coalition of people who desperately saw the need to act immediately," B.L.A.C.K. Label Coalition founder Kardinal Offishall explained in a statement. "We found it imperative to combat the systemic inequalities that existed around us, in all parts of our lives — professional, social and personal. We are extremely happy to have worked swiftly and strategically with the Pinball Clemons Foundation, to create a scholarship supporting underserved youth in our communities."
UMC Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Remedios added: "On behalf of all Universal Music Canada employees and specifically those on our B.L.A.C.K. Label Coalition, we are honoured to be partnering on a new scholarship program with the Pinball Clemons Foundation. While the B.L.A.C.K. Label Scholarship is not specifically tied to the music industry, this announcement today further reflects our company's commitment to bring about impactful, meaningful change. I hope that some of these recipients may choose to pursue a career in the music industry, resulting in empowered Black voices and leaders of the future."
Earlier this year, the B.L.A.C.K. Label Coalition was formed by a group of UMC employees and interns who put forward a detailed proposal highlighting education, mentorship and developing a progressive equitable infrastructure to increase Black representation within the company. You can learn more about the BLC here.
