DESTA was founded in 2006 with a mandate to focus on the employability needs of Black youth in Little Burgundy. An integrated strategy was adopted to address both systemic and personal barriers to employment, such as justice involvement, housing, and lack of resources. Recognizing the economic needs of participants, Desta’s mission was redefined in 2017 to empower Black youth between the ages of 18 to 35 to achieve their educational, employability and entrepreneurship goals through tutoring, skills training programs, mentorship, individual coaching, career guidance, access to internship opportunities, and an in-house marketing consulting agency. Desta supports social justice work through it’s re-entry program, which is currently offering individual support with legal issues, housing, employment and health to participants who are either currently incarcerated or were recently released from the prison system. Desta also launched a Food Security program to offer food to the community through several, local black-owned business partners, supporting the social and economic needs of the community. Desta is located on unceded Indigenous lands of which the Kanien’kehá:ka Nation are recognized as the custodians. Tiohtiá:ke (Montreal) is historically known as a site of meeting and exchange for many First Nations. Today it is home to a diverse population of Indigenous and other peoples. We respectfully acknowledge this legacy as it informs past, present, and future in our relationships with Indigenous and other peoples within the Montreal community.