What Montreal in Action does

Montreal in Action is a Montreal-based nonprofit grassroots organization founded in 2017 by Balarama Holness to mobilize citizens around issues of systemic racism, discrimination, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Its defining achievement was gathering over 22,000 signatures in 2018 to force the City of Montreal to hold a Public Consultation on Systemic Racism and Discrimination via the OCPM, making it the first organization in North America to compel such a municipal-level consultation. The OCPM published its final report in June 2020 containing 11 findings and 38 recommendations, and the organization now focuses on advocating for their implementation through the 38 Recos Campaign and Art for Social Change Initiative.

The organization's product surface is centered on advocacy, education, and community mobilization rather than software or commercial goods. Its offerings include the 38 Recos Campaign, an art-activism initiative commissioning local artists at $625 per piece; EDI Consulting services for external organizations; a Mental Health Resources Hub for Black Canadians; annual Black History Month programming delivered with partners including the Government of Canada, Overture with the Arts, the Peace Network for Social Harmony, and McGill School of Continuing Studies; curated video, podcast, and literature resource libraries; a Public Consultation on Systemic Racism (PCSRD) advocacy initiative; and an Internship and Volunteer Program. All direct-to-public content is free; revenue derives from donations (including GoFundMe crowdfunding) and a nascent EDI consulting stream. Geographic operations are confined to Montreal and Quebec, with no disclosed headcount or annual financial figures.

Name

Montreal in Action

Legal name

Montreal in Action

Website

https://montrealenaction.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Montreal in Action is a Montreal-based nonprofit founded in 2017 that mobilizes citizens against systemic racism through advocacy, the 38 Recos Campaign, EDI consulting, and free educational resources serving BIPOC and marginalized communities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social Justice Advocacy and Community Mobilization

NAICS

Human Rights Organizations (813311), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Other Social Advocacy Organizations (813319)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Human Rights & Anti-Discrimination Organizations (BPAGAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Civil Liberties & Constitutional Rights Advocacy (BPAGAFAA), Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL), Civic, Citizenship & Community Engagement Education (EDAAAEAI)

Keywords

• Social justice advocacy
• Anti-racism education
• EDI consulting services
• Community mobilization
• Systemic racism research

Headquarters

HQ city

Montreal

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: The organization relies on financial donations from the public to support its activities including developing educational content, workshops, trainings, implementing OCPM recommendations, and art-based awareness campaigns.

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Montreal in Action is a nonprofit grassroots social justice organization that mobilizes Montreal citizens to address systemic racism and discrimination. Its primary activities include advocating for the implementation of the 38 recommendations from the OCPM municipal consultation, producing educational content and workshops, running the Art for Social Change campaign, providing EDI consulting services to organizations, and maintaining a volunteer and internship program. The organization distributes free digital resources on mental health, Black History Month programming, literature, and curated videos and podcasts.

Product overview

Montreal in Action is a grassroots social justice organization (founded 2017) rather than a technology product company. Its offerings consist of advocacy programs and community services: the 38 Recos Campaign is the flagship initiative combining art and activism around 38 OCPM recommendations on systemic racism; supported by the Art for Social Change Initiative which commissions visual artists. EDI Consulting provides equity and inclusion training to external organizations. The Internship Program offers experiential learning for students. Additional resources include a Mental Health Resources Hub, Black History Month Resources programming, a Videos & Podcasts Hub, and a Literature Resources page. The organization also ran the landmark Public Consultation on Systemic Racism (PCSRD) in 2018–2020, and maintains a Volunteer Program. The product portfolio is centered on social activism, education, and community mobilization — not software products.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 38 Recos Campaign A social activism campaign that uses local visual art to communicate the 38 OCPM recommendations on systemic racism and discrimination in Montreal, covering themes such as employment, racial profiling, culture, housing, and Indigenous rights. Targeted at Montrealers and policymakers engaged in anti-racism advocacy.
• EDI Consulting Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion consulting, training, and advocacy services for organizations. Includes education, management, communication, leadership, and mediation training aimed at fostering inclusive, discrimination-free workplaces. Targeted at HR leaders, DEI committees, and executive teams at organizations seeking to build EDI capacity.
• Internship Program Experiential learning program for undergraduate and graduate students providing hands-on experience in a social justice context, with supervised projects aligned to academic learning objectives over a typically three-month period. Targeted at students seeking practical engagement in anti-racism and community organizing work.
• Mental Health Resources Hub Curated directory of mental health resources supporting Black Canadians, including a list of BIPOC mental health professionals in Montreal, multilingual support lines, community forums, and links to crisis services. Targeted at BIPOC community members in Montreal seeking culturally appropriate mental health support.
• Black History Month Resources Annual Black History Month programming featuring recorded webinars on topics such as colonial violence, African heritage in Quebec, and pandemic impacts on Black Canadians, along with podcasts and curated reading lists. Targeted at Montrealers interested in Black history, anti-racism education, and cultural programming.
• Videos & Podcasts Hub Curated collection of external videos and podcasts addressing social justice issues including modern slavery, anti-racism, and structural discrimination. Targeted at Montrealers and learners interested in deepening their understanding of systemic inequality through multimedia content.
• Literature Resources Curated reading list and literary resources covering topics of race, allyship, and systemic inequality, featuring works by authors such as Audre Lorde. Targeted at readers and educators seeking anti-racism literature.
• Public Consultation on Systemic Racism and Discrimination (PCSRD) A landmark municipal-level public consultation on systemic racism and discrimination in Montreal, forced through a citizen-led petition in 2018 that gathered over 22,000 signatures. The OCPM consultation engaged more than 7,000 Montrealers and produced 11 findings and 38 recommendations published in June 2020. Targeted at Montreal residents, policymakers, and community organizations.
• Art for Social Change Initiative Program that commissions local visual artists to create artwork representing the 8 themes of the 38 recommendations campaign, paying $625 per piece to BIPOC, LGBTQIA2+, and disabled artists, with works featured on social media, web, and print exhibitions. Targeted at local artists from equity-seeking communities and the wider Montreal public engaging with the campaign.
• Volunteer Program Volunteer recruitment across diverse fields including arts, science, digital content, law, and education, aimed at supporting the implementation of OCPM's recommendations on systemic racism. Targeted at Montrealers interested in contributing time and skills to anti-racism community work.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 22,000 signatures collected (surpassing the 15,000 required threshold) to force public consultations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered major.

• Government of CanadamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpecial collaborator for Black History Month programming and content. The organization presents programming in partnership with the Government of Canada, supporting initiatives around racial justice and community education.
• Overture with the ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerArts organization partner for Black History Month programming, contributing to cultural and educational initiatives around anti-racism.
• The Peace Network for Social HarmonymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization for Black History Month programming, supporting social harmony and anti-discrimination initiatives.
• McGill School of Continuing StudiesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational institution partner for Black History Month programming, contributing academic expertise to anti-racism education initiatives.
• Black Law Students' Association of McGillmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent organization partner for Black History Month programming, contributing legal expertise and student engagement to anti-racism initiatives.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• Color of Change: U.S.-based racial-justice advocacy organization that mobilizes members to influence policy and corporate behavior. Comparable to Montreal in Action as a digital-first grassroots advocacy organization pursuing systemic anti-racism outcomes, though at significantly larger scale.
• Anti-Defamation League (ADL): International NGO fighting antisemitism and all forms of hate through education, advocacy, and policy work. Comparable to Montreal in Action in advocacy mission and educational programming, but operates at much larger scale across multiple forms of discrimination.
• NAACP: One of the largest and oldest U.S. civil rights organizations, pursuing advocacy, litigation, and policy reform on systemic racism. Comparable in mission and civic-mobilization tactics to Montreal in Action, though at vastly greater scale and scope.
• Canadian Race Relations Foundation: Federally chartered Canadian nonprofit focused on eliminating racism and promoting racial harmony through research, education, and community engagement. A broader, well-established incumbent operating nationally with institutional funding — comparable in mission to Montreal in Action.

Direct peers

• Centre for Research-Action on Race Relations (CRARR): Montreal-based independent nonprofit dedicated to combating racial discrimination through research, advocacy, and education. Closely comparable to Montreal in Action in mission, geographic focus, and grassroots mobilization model, with longer operating history.
• Black Lives Matter Canada: Canadian chapter network of the Black Lives Matter movement focused on Black liberation and anti-Black racism. Directly comparable to Montreal in Action as a Canadian grassroots advocacy organization targeting systemic racism and police/community relations.

Emerging players

• Equitas — International Centre for Human Rights Education: Montreal-based nonprofit focused on human rights education and EDI training for organizations, institutions, and governments. Directly comparable to Montreal in Action's EDI consulting offering, with overlapping target buyers (organizations seeking equity training).
• Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ): U.S.-based national network mobilizing white people and others to support racial justice movements. Comparable to Montreal in Action in grassroots mobilization tactics and anti-racism mission, though primarily focused on white ally mobilization.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/montrealenaction

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Montreal in Action