Urban League Leaders Bring Momentum and Measurable Impact to Spartanburg
Spartanburg, S.C. — A two-day visit from National Urban League representatives LaKindra Askew and Joshua Brown left an outsized imprint on Spartanburg’s civic, business, and education ecosystem last week, signaling renewed momentum behind the region’s workforce and talent-development agenda.
From the moment they arrived, the pair moved with the urgency of seasoned community strategists. Their first stop—a lunch at a local higher-education institution—set the tone. The college president personally welcomed them, underscoring the significance of the partnership. It was a symbolic gesture that reflected the broader enthusiasm for deepening cross-sector collaboration in a city advancing an ambitious Vision 2030 strategy.
The visit quickly escalated into a day of high-level engagement. At the Spartanburg Chamber, Urban League representatives LaKindra and Josh met with business, economic development, tourism, and talent-retention leaders to examine how Urban League workforce initiatives can align with regional priorities. Spartanburg’s Vision 2030 plan, which centers on strengthening the local economy and retaining young talent, found clear points of connection with the Urban League of the Upstate’s (Greenville, SC) emerging workforce portfolio.
Their engagement then extended to a conversation with the Spartanburg Academic Movement (SAM), the anchor overseeing a $5.6 million investment from Blue Meridian Partners aimed at improving cradle-to-career outcomes. SAM leaders outlined current progress indicators and discussed opportunities for Urban League alignment—particularly in expanding pathways to postsecondary success and high-skill careers.
Another pivotal stop was with the President & CEO of the Northside Development Group, Spartanburg’s Purpose Built Communities affiliate and a longtime neighborhood revitalization partner. The conversation unfolded adjacent to the Urban League’s new Entrepreneurship & Career Development Center, recently purchased to support training for youth and emerging professionals. Although the center is not yet open, it was bustling: more than 30 nonprofit organizations were on-site seeking program space and youth-engagement opportunities for ages 16 and up. For LaKindra and Josh, it offered a vivid snapshot of community demand and the stakes of the Urban League’s expansion.
Perhaps the most resonant exchange came during a listening session with 11 current and prospective participants in the Verizon Skill Forward program. Participants shared personal testimonies about their training experiences and aspirations. LaKindra and Josh offered strategic guidance on integrating Skills Forward more deeply into the affiliate’s upskilling model—particularly for creative professionals entering Spartanburg’s emerging film and digital-media industries, a niche sector with growing economic potential.
For a national organization accustomed to rigorous site-visit requirements, their presence represented a meaningful investment of time and expertise. But the return, local leaders say, was immediate. “This visit has already made a tremendous difference for our affiliate, for our community, and for me personally and professionally,” said one Spartanburg leader involved in the coordination.
As Spartanburg prepares for major growth—both in physical development and in workforce opportunity—the visit served as an inflection point. It demonstrated that national-local alignment, when paired with data-driven strategy and genuine human connection, can accelerate community progress. The impact, measured not just in metrics but in renewed optimism, will resonate long after the Urban League team’s departure.