Dear Friend of the New York Urban League,
We celebrated Black History Month 2023 with a stellar gathering at the 2023 Champions of Diversity Awards and Symposium. The annual event, held at the iconic Plaza Hotel, was emceed by WNBC-TV anchor David Ushery and chaired by Helen C. Shelton, NYUL Board Member and Global Chief Diversity Officer at FINN Partners. Rev. Jacques A. DeGraff offered the Invocation, as some 250 leaders from across New York’s business and civic sectors gathered to exchange ideas on advancing diversity, equity and inclusion and to celebrate those who are making a tangible impact. Honorees included Linda G. Levy, President, The Fragrance Foundation; Kimberly Davis, SVP, National Hockey League; Rising Star Champion Clarissa Moses-Washington; and Equity & Inclusion Ambassador Kenneth Ebie of NYC Small Business Services. Lastly, HR&A Advisors was recognized as a Champion in Recruitment, Retention and Belonging.
NYUL co-sponsored Black History Month events focused on economic empowerment with Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine and Comptroller Brad Lander. We also joined the National Urban League and the other five Urban Leagues in the state to host a reception at theBlack, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Caucus. We saluted local elected officials who have supported efforts in education and employment.
Our Diversity & Inclusion Lab added three new partners, and their work was featured at the Champions Breakfast. Our employment team has added a job coach with funding support from LISC and looks forward to furthering their goals. Their partnership with Manny Cantor is featured in this newsletter.
Our school-based partnerships are helping students meet a broad range of academic and social emotional needs. Our Project Ready Mentor initiative has launched. We are so pleased to pair caring adults with high school students when so many have fallen behind during COVID. Project Ready Mentoris one of several of our programs that is funded by the National Urban League. We have also selected the next round of grantees for our Non-Profit Stabilization Fund and they are featured in this newsletter.
Our Young Professionals hosted their annual Join Week where they highlight the work and impact of YP. We were pleased to co-host an event on February 22 on Black Love and Economics at Paypal through Board Member Andrea Donkor. The event was part of a weeklong showcase of the ways YP has a positive impact on the affiliate and the community.
We hope that you will continue to support our efforts. Thank you for your partnership.
Arva Rice