- National Urban League Picture by Jim Henderson at Wikimedia Commons
The National Urban League (NUL) was founded on September 29, 1910 as the Committee on Urban Conditions Among Negroes. It changed its name to the National Urban League in 1920. George Edmund Haynes served as the organization’s first President. He presided over the NUL from 1910 until 1918 at which time Eugene Kinckle Jones, a Civil Rights activist, took the helm. NUL is one of the oldest and largest community based organizations in the United States. The organization is headquartered in New York City; it has more than 100 affiliates in 36 states and the District of Columbia.
Early Days at the National Urban League
During its early days the NUL took on legal and social issues like segregation (e.g. Plessy versus Ferguson), discrimination and racial trade union pay disparities. Whitney Young, Jr. (a social worker like the organization’s first president) was deeply involved in the Civil Rights Movement that swept across the United States in the 1960s. NUL suffered a tragic blow in 1971 after Whitney passed away due to a drowning incident off the coast of Lagos, Nigeria.
One of the organization’s most recent victories includes securing a $127.5 million equity fund for diverse business owners through the “new markets tax program”. Local cities like Philadelphia, Pennsylvania hold regular meetings amongst NUL members. Career development programs for at-risk youth, training seminars for managers and home ownership support are offered through the Philadelphia chapter.
National Urban League Regional Offices
Chicago’s NUL operates its core programs under their projectnext development agenda. Areas that the programs focus on include workplace diversity, training, education, real estate, healthcare and entrepreneurship. Training programs offered through the entrepreneurship segment of the overall plan provide regular (semester based) courses that teach potential business owners how to create a business plan, finance and license and certify their business. Classes also cover steps that entrepreneurs can take to market and grow their businesses so that they can increase their sales or/and revenues.
The New York NUL affiliate offers and supports education and youth development programs and economic empowerment plans. Arva Rice serves as President of the New York City affiliate. The organization is working with Walgreens to host a Wellness Tour. Healthcare screenings and discount prescription cards are available during the Wellness Tour.
President of the National Urban League
Former New Orleans’ mayor, Marc Morial, serves as current President and Chief Executive Officer at the National Urban League. The NUL Board of Trustees voted him in on May 15, 2003. October 19, 2010 the NUL endorsed the Lung Cancer Mortality Reduction Act of 2009. The Act would increase the amount of money and research that the federal government contributes toward lung cancer prevention, treatment and research.
Throughout the month of October the National Urban League celebrates its 100th year anniversary. Local affiliates from Jacksonville, Florida to Dallas, Texas to New York City hold events to commemorate the founding of the organization. Local affiliates and community members also come together to express appreciation to the organization’s founders, early leaders and continuing supporters.
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Sources:
http://www.mesotheliomanews.com/2010/10/19/league-joins-fight-against-lung-cancer (Mesothelioma News: National Urban League Joins Fight Against Lung Cancer)
http://www.nul.org (National Urban League Official Website)
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