The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based
movement dedicated to enabling African Americans to enter
the economic mainstream. In Philadelphia, our vision is
that through its business and community leadership, the
Urban League of Philadelphia will be known as a premier
organization dedicated to enabling African Americans, and
other people of color, to secure economic self-reliance,
parity, power and civil rights.
Many of our current programs are under review; however,
the following represents how the Urban League of Philadelphia
has provided leadership on social and economic issues:
The Urban League Leadership Institute:
Established in 1988, it is believed to be Philadelphia's
first leadership development program designed to identify
and train minority leaders and establish a forum for promoting
effective leadership in all sectors of society. Over 500
participants have completed the program since inception
and many are well-known leaders in the Philadelphia community
in both corporate and nonprofit arenas.
Participants must successfully manage the Project Team Process,
a key component of the Leadership Institute. The class of
2002 developed a research paper for the ULP entitled Diversity
and Parity in the Corporate Community that can assist the
agency in establishing strategies to confront significant
barriers to African American economic development.
Youth Development: Scholarship Programs
The Whitney M. Young Jr. Scholarship for $500 given each
year to two youths who demonstrate sound academic achievement,
excellent character, and proven leadership ability, with
a documented commitment to community service, and who have
been accepted to an accredited college or university.
The Dr. Bernard C. Watson Scholarship for $10,000 given
to two or more students who graduate Philadelphia public
schools and are accepted to an accredited four-year college
or university. Participation in extracurricular activities,
a cumulative GPA of "B" or better, and a need
for financial assistance must be documented.
The National Urban League/CNCB Scholars Award annually funded
by NUL to affiliates across the country that compete on
behalf of community youth. Last year, Philadelphia's Cameron
Bardliving received a 4-year, $10,000 scholarship.
The Learning Center at Strawberry Mansion:
This program aims to provide children with a safe haven
after school that is focused on enriching and exposing them
to the arts and business entrepreneurship activities that
motivate and inspire for future success.
Read and Rise:
This partnership with Scholastic, Inc. and the National
Urban League advances the focus on early literacy. The ULP
is collaborating with the American Academy of Pediatrics,
(PA Chapter) to promote early childhood literacy among low
to moderate-income minority families in Philadelphia. The
guide will be available to all Philadelphia pediatricians
whose clients include minority and disadvantaged families.
ChildCare Information Services:
This department provides information and materials to assist
working parents in finding, selecting, and paying for childcare.
In its 10th year administering the subsidized child care
program, over $8 million in childcare payments were made
on behalf of over 2300 families, making childcare affordable
for low-income working families.
Seniors in Community Services:
A project of the National Urban League, this program assists
persons age 55 and over with re-entry into the workforce.
Aiding the most economically disadvantaged population, SCSP
partners work with 33 community-based organizations citywide
to provide stimulating training experiences to individuals
at or below Federal poverty guidelines. Currently funded
to work with 86 participants.
Work Opportunities Program: The ULP is a subcontractor to
KRA Corporation on this DPW grant to provide job development
and placement services to participants of the Philadelphia
Workforce Development Corp Welfare to Work program.
This department assists renters, homeowners, and homebuyers
with pre-purchase counseling, fair housing rights, real
estate, lending practices, money management and budgeting,
credit repair and selection of a broker. Escrow counseling
is available for clients living in substandard housing with
licensing and inspection violations. Housing counseling
focuses on consumer debt mortgages, forbearance and abatement
agreements, and advocacy on behalf of low-income families
and referrals to government programs. Post purchase counseling
enables homeowners to take advantage of opportunities to
renovate or make necessary repairs by facilitating the application
for low-interest home improvement loans. Borrowers are educated
about the dangers of predatory lending practices and provided
with guidelines for finding the best credit terms and lenders.
