Urban League of Springfield Celebrates 107th Anniversary

For more than 100 years, the Urban League of Springfield (Springfield, MA) has been providing services to the community in times of need.

With the coronavirus pandemic affecting education, employment and the well-being of people across the globe, the work of the Urban League and other community organizations has become even more critical, said Paul Reville, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and keynote speaker for the Urban League’s 107th anniversary celebration.

This year’s event was held online Thursday due to the state’s social distancing requirements.

The event also honored 33 scholarship recipients who have demonstrated academic success and community service. The Urban League provides $30,000 to $40,000 per year for the African American Scholarship Fund, which is maintained at the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

“The Urban League is excited about its partnership with the Community Foundation, which has enabled us to grant 35 higher education scholarships to high-achieving African American youth from Springfield,” said Henry M. Thomas III, president and CEO of Urban League of Springfield Inc. “Our efforts to help reverse the economic and social inequities in our region is a big part of our work efforts, and closing academic preparation and achievement gaps is our North Star.”

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