Yetunde Balogun moved from Nigeria to Edmonton excited to continue her career as a pharmacist, but she found herself in a nightmarish job search instead —  until she found the Skillcity Institute.

Over the next month, Skillcity’s CEO and founder Funke Smith coached Balogun as she learned about Canadian work culture and translated her pharmacy skills to widen her search for meaningful employment.

It also felt reassuring for Balogun to be mentored by another professional woman of African descent.

“There was this great relief when I saw a Black woman, and I was like ‘Oh this woman can relate to whatever I’m going through,’” Balogun told CBC News Monday.

“She coached me on how to integrate into the system, and she also gave me a lot of encouragement to aim for higher positions.”

Three years later, Balogun is now employed as a government policy analyst while she works toward her dream of becoming a licensed pharmacist in Alberta. 

‘Here to curate futures’

Helping participants unleash their potential is the essence of Smith’s work at Skillcity. The institute is tucked in a corner of the Clareview Recreation Centre in northeast Edmonton, a community largely home to racialized and immigrant families.

Over the past decade, Skillcity has steered 1,000s of participants away from low-level positions toward career paths offering higher earning and growth potential.

As well as newcomers, Skillcity works with youth facing barriers due to race, income or neurodivergent learning and work styles.

Of more than 6,000 youth and newcomers served by the organization, roughly 4,260 have gone on to employment, paid work experience, post-secondary education or career-aligned training, Smith said.

“My life’s call is to help people discover and maximize their potential and use this opportunity as a launchpad to their success in life,” Smith said.

“Many times people need tailored supports, and that’s why we’re here.”

Part of that programming allows participants to keep their skills up-to-date in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) skills, with access to 3D printer and VR goggles.

“We say sweet dreams are made of skills and if anyone wants to achieve greatness in life, they need to up their skills. The skills can open doors for them to their future, and that’s why we are here. We are here to curate futures,” Smith said.

Luinenburg, 19, who identifies as neurodivergent, recalled how she struggled in university last year because her classes weren’t compatible with the way she learns. 

“Skillcity gave me this chance to remember that I can do hard things and it’s not that I was a bad person for not succeeding in what I was trying to do — it was just that the thing I was trying to succeed in was not the right thing for me,” Luinenburg said.

“When I pursue things that are right for me, then I can succeed.”

Luinenburg now works for Skillcity, running programs for kids to improve their STEM skills.

“As a person of colour and as a neurodivergent person, hopefully those kids are able to look at me and see that if someone who’s dealing with the same thing they’re dealing with can succeed, then they can too.”