The 100 Strong Foundation (‘100 Strong’) was created by a group of professional black men as a way to come together and address issues in their own community and, in particular, those affecting young black men ages 11-14 years old. 100 Strong aims to shift the Black community’s current paradigm towards self-empowerment and success, with the ultimate aim of uniting young boys with supportive mentors. In collaboration with the University of Toronto and the Centre for Student Engagement, the 100 Strong Academy UTM fosters an environment of learning and community to inspire excellence in every boy and support their journey towards self-empowerment, professional development, and the pursuit of “Excellence without Excuses.” The 100 Strong Academy UTM is a summer program held at the UTM campus for 25-50 young Black males across Peel and Halton Regions.