Urban League Exhibit Honors Michael Brown

Gone but not forgotten, August 9th marks the fifth anniversary of Michael Brown’s death, and he is being honored with a public exhibit of things that were close to heart in an effort to humanize the slain teen.

Brown’s graduation gown, an Arnold Palmer drink can, a bag of Skittles and a Cardinals’ scarf is just some of the items his family wants the world to see at the “As I See You: A Tribute to Mike Brown Jr.” exhibit at the Urban League Ferguson Community Empowerment Center (St. Louis, MO).

The public display opens August 9th in Ferguson to the public through Sunday. It is a recreation of Brown’s bedroom on August 9, 2014, the day he was fatally shot by Officer Darren Wilson.

Submitted byihall_11 onFri, 08/09/2019 - 12:22

Williams: School Choice Panel at National Urban League Summit Shows We’re Having the Wrong Conversation About Charter Schools

By Conor P. Williams, Fellow at The Century Foundation Last month, the National Urban League hosted an all-star panel of activists at its Young Professional L.E.A.D. Summit to discuss the present — and potential — of school choice programs for African Americans in public education.
Submitted byrwilliams@nul.org onThu, 08/08/2019 - 09:55

Philadelphia Foundation Announces Key to Community Grant Nonprofit Winners

The nine winners of the $1 million Key to Community Grants have been announced.

As part of the Philadelphia Foundation's Key to Community Grant, the general public throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region were given the opportunity to cast their vote between 15 different nonprofits, between July 8 and July 26. 

Three first place winners received $200,000, three second place winners received $100,000, and three third place winners received $33,000.

The grants were split between three categories: economic prosperity, the opportunity divide, and community and civic engagement. 

These are the organizations that have been named the winners across the grant categories, as chosen by three panels of judges:

Economic Prosperity

Submitted byihall_11 onTue, 08/06/2019 - 17:24

Remembering Toni Morrison: Her literary and spiritual legacy lives on

National Urban League President Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the death of Nobel Laureate Toni Morrison:

“The world has lost an eloquent and singular voice of the African-American experience. Her work plumbed the psychic wounds of slavery and brought Black-centered stories into the mainstream. Her literary and spiritual legacy lives on. The Urban League Movement joins her family, friends and the nation in mourning this tremendous loss.”

Submitted byiamempowered onTue, 08/06/2019 - 12:08

Program to Offer Free Coding Classes to 25 Residents of Louisville's Poorest Neighborhood

Twenty-five people from Louisville's poorest neighborhoods can take a coding class for free as part of the Louisville Skills program.  The program is a partnership between Interapt, The University of Louisville, the Louisville Urban League (Louisville, KY) and The Humana Foundation.

Anyone can apply.

It's designed to put people from Louisville's poorest zip codes in high-paying jobs.  Louisville Skills runs for 40 hours a week for 3-4 months at the Hite Art Institute in west Louisville.  Students will also get a $100-a-week stipend, and they could land an apprenticeship when classes are done.

Applications are due Aug. 9.

To read the full article, click here

Submitted byihall_11 onMon, 08/05/2019 - 17:04

Free School Supplies Provided at Denver 'Back to School Block Party'

Hundreds of families celebrated the end of summer and received free school supplies thanks to the Urban League of Metropolitan Denver Young Professionals (Denver, CO).

"Everyone is having fun here today," Kwon Atlas of the ULMDYP said. "It's very important to engage the community, especially the young folks."

The nonprofit hosted its fourth annual 'Back to School Block Party' outside of the Vickers Boys and Girls Club. The event featured food and games for kids and their parents, in addition to free lunchboxes and an estimated 200 backpacks filled with school supplies.

"It says that Denver is a community that just everybody wants to help. Everybody wants to help anybody and everybody," Myka Barnes-Garcia, the Vice President of ULYP Denver Chapter, said. "Some of these people donating supplies have no idea who it's going to."

Submitted byihall_11 onMon, 08/05/2019 - 16:41

Akron Urban League Names Teresa LeGrair President and CEO

The Akron Urban League (Akron, OH) has a new president and CEO, but it's a familiar face.

The league on Monday, Aug. 5, announced that Teresa LeGrair will lead the nonprofit, beginning Sept. 3. LeGrair, who most recently served as director of community investment for the Akron Community Foundation, was the Akron Urban League's vice president of operations from 2003-05.

LeGrair also previously served as president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Western Reserve and a vice president of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. She also held positions with National Inventors Hall of Fame and Aetna Health Plans.

"I am honored to be selected to lead the Akron Urban League and help advance the organization's mission," LeGrair said in the release.

Submitted byihall_11 onMon, 08/05/2019 - 16:03

Project Ready: Chicago Urban League Goes to China

For the seventh year in a row, The Chicago Urban League (Chicago, IL) took part in their signature Student Mission Trip to China, an exchange program which included 16 African American students.  The Student Mission Trip to China gave youth from underserved communities a global perspective on their lives and empowered them to see themselves as part of a global community. 

Submitted byihall_11 onMon, 08/05/2019 - 15:25