THE APPOINTMENT OF DENNIS WALCOTT AS DEPUTY MAYOR OF POLICY FOR NEW YORK CITY : A STATEMENT BY NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE PRESIDENT

HUGH B. PRICE

New York, NY, Dec. 10, 2001–National Urban League president Hugh B. Price today released the following statement congratulating Dennis Walcott, president of the New York Urban League, on his appointment as the new Deputy Mayor of Policy in the incoming Bloomberg administration. Walcott will take office, along with the new Mayor, on January 1^st 2002.

Walcott was appointed president and chief executive officer of the New York Urban League in July 1990. His tenure was marked by his continued advocacy in the areas of education, police/community relations and welfare-to-work initiatives. Earlier this year he was responsible for the New York Urban League’s award of a $9 million contract from the New York City Board of Education to recruit and train parents to serve on school leadership teams.

Of his appointment, Price said,

"The Urban League movement is proud that one of our own will be able to bring his extraordinary talents and experience at public service to the larger New York community. I can think of no individual with a greater ability to work with diverse groups of people and bring them together.

Through his decade-plus tenure at the helm of one of New York’s core urban communities, Dennis has demonstrated unique insight into the needs and policies of varied New York communities. His tenure as head of the New York Urban League has been distinguished by his commitment to children, education, access to decent, affordable healthcare, and the overall well-being of the New York community.

New York and Mayor-elect Bloomberg will be well served by Mr. Walcott’s experience and dedication to public service. The Urban League congratulates one of our finest leaders and, though he will relinquish his role as the head of our New York affiliate, he will always remain an integral part of the Urban League family."

Founded in 1910, the National Urban League is a nonprofit organization that, through its 114 affiliates in 34 states and the District of Columbia, provides direct services and functions as an advocate to generate policy reforms that empower African-Americans to achieve economic, academic and racial equality. The League’s headquarters is located at 120 Wall Street in New York City.