Fayette County Public Schools was honored recently by the Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County (Lexington, KY) as the 2019 Community Service Award winner.

P.G. Peebles, Urban League President and CEO, presented the award to Fayette County Public Schools Superintendent Manny Caulk at the Urban League's 51st annual empowerment banquet.

Caulk has been with Fayette County Public Schools for just four years, but he has already left an indelible mark.

"We are all working to make a difference in the lives of the children and families we serve," Caulk said.

When he took over in 2015, then education commissioner Terry Holiday put FCPS on warning saying if the district did not close the achievement gap, they faced state takeover. Four years later, he is being honored for accomplishing just that.

Because of the Urban League, “a miracle is happening in the United States of America on the most pervasive issue holding back our progress,” CNN political contributor Jones told the crowd who attended the Urban League of Philadelphia’s (Philadelphia, PA) annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Empowerment Luncheon.

All of the current presidential candidates are willing to discuss and address criminal justice reform.

Jones said that has never happened before.

Jones, one of the founders and CEO of the REFORM Alliance, said there are more African Americans locked up today than there were enslaved in the 1800s. He noted that 2.3 million African Americans are currently incarcerated, while another 4.5 million are on probation and parole.

Pennsylvania has the second-highest percentage of residents on probation or parole in the country.

On the front lines of education. Check out Forbes magazine's Q&A with Marc Morial on educational opportunities for students of color and low-income students.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“If this incident was motivated by hate, which news reports indicate, then this is another incident in a long line of violent incidents targeting the Jewish community. This hatred is a disease and right now we are experiencing an epidemic. Leaders must lead and call out hate wherever and whenever it rears its ugly head – regardless of politics. This is about principle.” – Jonathan Greenblatt,  CEO and National Director, Anti-Defamation League

For the third time in just over a year, the nation is reeling in the face of a deadly mass shooting that appears to have been motivated by anti-Semitism. 

NEW YORK (December 12, 2019) -- With Black homeownership at a 50-year low, and borrowers of color facing blatant racially discrimination, the Trump Administration’s proposed changes to the Community Reinvestment Act could further limit access to the American Dream, National Urban League President Marc H. Morial said today. 

The November jobs report  shows a strong, fully employed economy. Total nonfarm payroll employment rose 266 thousand, substantially above the market expectation of 185 thousand jobs.  Within the private sector, manufacturing employment increased by 54 thousand, boosted by 46 thousand G M strikers who returned to work.  The service producing sector, 70 percent of the workforce, created 206 thousand jobs.  Job creation was broad-based throughout  the economy, with most industries showing increased hiring.

When participants in a new Summit County probation program were asked what they’re thankful for during a recent court session, one man answered: “progress.”

“I’m succeeding a lot — and putting the effort in to do it,” said Dwante Hawthorne-Ball, who has been in the SCORR program for two months.

Hawthorne-Ball was terminated from another Summit County court program for repeated violations. Probation officers saw potential, but feared the 20-year-old might end up in prison.

“He wasn’t like that before,” said Luroy Ferguson III, the probation officer for SCORR.

Summit County court officials are pleased so far with the results of SCORR, or Summit County Offender Recidivism Reduction. The pilot program, which is a more intensive form of probation, began in April and will last three years.

Participants are considered high risks for failing on probation based on factors like criminal history, ability to hold a job and substance abuse.

Sold-out 60th annual event honors community activists, philanthropists and corporations

The Milwaukee Urban League (Milwaukee, WI) caps its’ 100th anniversary celebration on December 11, 2019 with the annual Equal Opportunity Day Luncheon at the Pfister Hotel, 424 E. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53202. The sold-out event honors some of Milwaukee’s strongest advocates of equity and equality in corporate and nonprofit fields.

Honorees include:

• Whitney M. Young, Jr. Legacy Award honorees – former broadcast journalist Mike Gousha and McArthur

  (Mac) Weddle

The Louisville Urban League (Louisville, KY) released its annual Impact Report on Friday (December 6th).

Sadiqa Reynolds, President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League, discussed the organization's major successes during a luncheon at the Omni Hotel.

"Over the past year, we've had more than 18,000 visits," said Reynolds. "People came in search of jobs, justice, education, health and housing. They left with the opportunity for a pathway forward."

The report was compiled using data collected from July of 2018 to June of 2019. In that time, the Urban League helped 512 people land jobs, which accounted for $12.7 million in new wages. Staff members also provided job training to 200 seniors and worked with 370 students through six youth programs.

Reynolds also discussed the 85 people who became homeowners with the help of Urban League services.

One by one, students gathered in a classroom at a job center on Madison’s southwest side took their turns answering interview questions. Addressing about 20 of their peers, some felt self-conscious and nervously referred to notecards or stumbled over prepared statements.

But they all participated.

“I get really nervous in interviews,” said Kiana Cline. “They put us on the spot, which I feel like is good practice to get over our anxiety.”

Cline, 20, graduated from Verona Area High School in 2017 and took a few courses at Madison College before her mom encouraged her to apply to a six-week course at the job center, organized by the Urban League of Greater Madison.