On Friday (August 23), 18 men and women graduated from a program - that is helping change the direction of their lives.

The Kentuckiana Builds program is a six-week construction sector training and job placement initiative delivered by the Louisville Urban League (Louisville, KY) and KentuckianaWorks with support from the Kentucky Cabinet for Education and Workforce Development.

Graduates earn three national credentials: National Center for Construction Education and Research Core Curriculum Certification; OSHA-10 and First Aid/CPR.

Kentuckiana Builds students engage with the Louisville Urban League through essential skills training, financial education, service navigation and job counseling during courses.

To read the full article, click here. 

The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN) hosted a free Tennessee Valley Authority weatherization training program on Saturday.

The free program taught minority employees interested in air sealing, attic insulation, and duct sealing how to properly weatherize homes, saving energy costs.

To read the full article, click here. 

Written By: 

Dr. Richard Danford, Pres. & CEO                                                                                                             Jacksonville Urban League (Jacksonville, FL)

The Jacksonville Urban League was invited to attend a combined meeting of the Duval County School Board and the Jacksonville City Council on Aug 14.

The meeting focused on the School Board’s desire to quickly submit their plan for financing the rebuilding of Duval County school facilities. Superintendent Diana Greene pointed out that the average age of schools in Duval County is 44 years and current funding is insufficient to bring these schools into the 21st century.

As she explained, a half-cent sales tax would address safety and learning; critical needs in areas with decaying facilities and rapid growth; operational cost inefficiencies; the historical vestiges of segregation and neglect; and teacher recruitment1.

Joshua's journey with sickle cell disease has inspired his dad's artwork, helping the family give back to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, where his family will never receive a bill for treatment, travel, housing or food – because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

In the language of abstract expressionism, Ephraim's year-old painting speaks volumes, but not about the usual topics. There’s no political commentary reflected in the artwork, no universal truth to be discerned from the shades of red, blue, gray and white adorning it.

This particular piece is about a place, an institution that’s helping his teenage son deal with potentially debilitating sickle cell disease.

His painting tells the story of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Get up to speed on recent congressional proceedings, current public opinion polling, and how a possible government shutdown might impact the looming presidential impeachment. 

The fight to remove these painful reminders of a brutal past are far from over. The director of the Make It Right Project has the latest. 

From Mayor to CEO. Here's why she's the perfect fit to lead the Chicago Urban League.