New York Urban League Announces the Election of New Members to its Board of Directors
New York, NY – The New York Urban League (NYUL) is proud to announce the appointment of four distinguished leaders to its Board of Directors. NYUL, a 105-year-old civil rights organization, provides programs and services to empower African Americans and other underserved communities in New York City. “We are thrilled to welcome these exceptional leaders to our Board of Directors,” said Arva Rice, President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York Urban League. “These individuals bring a wealth of experience, expertise, and a shared commitment to advancing social and economic equity for all New Yorkers.” The new board members include:
Rodney Capel is the Vice President for Government Affairs within the Northeast Region for Charter Communication. He was introduced to the Urban League as a kid attending a football game at Yankee Stadium with current NYUL board member Rev. Jacques DeGraff. Rodney will utilize his experience in government and politics to work with the NYUL Public Policy & Advocacy Committee.
Keith Downer is the Chief Operating Officer of TechBlue and co-founder of VENTI. A forward-thinking strategic and tactical executive, he brings 32 years of experience in the Risk, Finance, Data, Analytics, and Emerging Tech sectors on an international scale. Keith will bring his financial background and business acumen to the NYUL Finance Committee.
Andrea (Andi) Gillentine is the Plan Chief Operating Officer at Fidelis Care. Andi is passionate about improving healthcare access and outcomes for underserved populations and fostering a culture of excellence and innovation at Fidelis Care. Andi learned about the Urban League in Texas, where her company supported the Austin Urban League. Andi will bring her experience in operations to serve on NYUL's Program Committee.
Jay Norris is the Chief Executive Officer of Guesst, and co-founder of BlackLight and StartUp Westport. His successful business track record demonstrates how technology transforms business. Jay will utilize his years of entrepreneurial experience to work with NYUL's Small Business SOLUTIONS Center as well as on our Fundraising Committee.
Malcolm Ellis, Chair of the New York Urban League Board of Directors, said, “Their diverse backgrounds and deep commitment to our mission will help us drive impactful change across the city. The collective business acumen, government knowledge, and operational know-how of our new board members will help us broaden our footprint in New York City and meet what we are certain will be increased demand for programming and services in 2025.
With these new members, the New York Urban League is poised to enhance its efforts to empower underserved communities and broaden its impact in New York City.
For more information on the New York Urban League, please visit www.nyul.org.
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