About Us
"History has shown us that courage can be contagious,
and hope can take on a life of its own. – Michelle Obama
Malton Black Development Association (MBDA)
MBDA is dedicated to fostering good inter-community relationships in the Malton area and beyond, through educational, cultural, and social activities. We are a black-led and black-focused Association with 95% of our membership self-identifying as black and 92% of our leadership. Our mandate is to promote the well-being of the Black Community through cultural, recreational, social, and educational activities. All programs are Black-focused and tailored to the unique needs of the target population. We focus on the following objectives:
- Working cooperatively with parents, guardians, and all stakeholders to improve the academic standing of Black students
- Encouraging and promoting social and cultural expression
- Mentoring and empowering Black adults to participate in the decision-making level of our educational system impacts the sustainability of families
- Promoting youth and adult involvement in recreational and competitive sporting activities that contribute to a healthy lifestyle
- Sponsoring programs that educate the less fortunate about available resources that can enhance their livelihoods
A few of the companies we have collaborated with:
Families build the world.
MBDA builds strong families through education, culture and connection.
How We Started
The Malton Black Development Association came about as a result of issues identified within the Black and Caribbean Community relative to newly arriving students who were experiencing difficulties adapting to the Canadian education system. At that time, there were no effective methods of assessment that would enable students to be properly placed.
Communication was also an issue between students and teachers. As a result many students with sound academic potential were being placed in vocational programs to the dismay of their parents. In the summer of 1975, out of concern, a group of parents got together to access and develop strategies to address their concerns.
Historical Success
That initial meeting was the inception of what was to become the Malton Black Development Association. At the second meeting of the group, after much debate, it was determined that a homework program was essential in helping to bridge the gap between the old and new learning environment. Subsequently an action plan was developed, part of which was to seek the Peel Board of Education’s co-operation in providing classroom space and curriculum material. The Board was incredibly supportive of the incentive and provided the group with what they had requested.
At the beginning of the school year the program was implemented at Lancaster Senior Public School. The program attracted many volunteers some of whom were professionals who wanted to make a difference. The program was indeed a success based on the number of professionals who were once students of the program. In 1980 the Board of Directors applied for and received federal and provincial charitable status.
In 1992 a building fund was established along with a Scholarship Foundation. Since then, the Association has awarded Scholarships with a total net worth of over $85000. In the mid 1980s the Association lobbied the Peel Board of Education to sponsor Black History classes at Lancaster Senior Public School on Saturday mornings which became the catalyst for the Heritage Language program across the Peel Board.