2018

From Welfare to the Workforce: Training Low-Income Mothers for 21st Century Success

Valarie Shultz-Wilson
President & CEO, Urban League of Southern Connecticut

Twitter:   @UrbanLeagueSoC1

For many low-income mothers timing out of welfare-to-work programs, they face a future where they do not possess the credentials and technological skills necessary to secure 21st century jobs. New collar jobs require an easy familiarity with high levels of automation. Employers routinely seek workers with college degrees in science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics (STEAM) and companies are increasingly relying on non-permanent, agile talent, e.g., temporary workers, consultants, and freelancers, all of which places a greater burden on workers to be competitive in our global job market.  

Full STEAM Ahead: Unlocking The Creativity of The Next Generation

Arva R. Rice
President & Chief Executive Officer, New York Urban League

Twitter: @arvarice

A few years ago, I attended a national conference focused on science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) that singlehandedly transformed the focus of our affiliate.  One of the consistent themes of the conference was the dearth of Black and brown students and adults in the sector.  After the first hour, I also noted the dearth of people of color attending the event.  By the end of the conference, I felt compelled to weave STEAM into our existing programs by seeking relevant partnerships and creating programs to address this crisis head on. 

Preparing Newark’s Kids for the Digital Future

Vivian Cox Frasier
President & CEO, Urban League of Essex County

Facebook: @urbanleagueEC

 

Quantum leaps in technology are creating a world even the most talented science fiction writers could not have envisioned. Driverless cars that can be summoned by smartphones more powerful than the old IBM mainframe computers and digital personal assistants like Siri and Alexa that respond to your every command are no longer figments of the imagination. These modern wonders are the result of the application of human intellectual capital.

The STEM to Success Pipeline: Investing in Youth and Their Future

Warren E. Logan, Jr.
President & CEO, Urban League of Greater Chattanooga

Twitter: @ulchattanooga

 

Chattanooga, Tennessee’s fourth largest city, struggles with the same challenges other urban communities and public schools face across the nation—serious achievement gaps and inequities in education for minority and low-income students. In 2008, the Urban League of Greater Chattanooga responded to these challenges by securing a multi-year state grant to launch the Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Academy, a dynamic after-school and summer academic enrichment program for minority and low-income students attending some of the lowest performing inner-city schools in our community. Our vision was to reduce achievement gaps in science, math, and reading for at-risk students and inspire them to consider pursuing a STEM college and career pathway.

Each One Teach One: Gearing Up Our Youth for the Future

Andrea L. Custis
President & Chief Executive Officer, Urban League of Philadelphia

Twitter: @ULPhilly

This is the story of a 17-year-old young man named Deonte and the life-altering potential of early mediation and mentorship to transform lives.

Deonte is a sophomore at the School of the Future. The high school was a model of innovation and modern design when it was constructed 12 years ago in a developing West Philadelphia neighborhood.  Since opening its doors, this “paperless” school has struggled to boost its graduation rate while meeting the immediate needs of its students, many of whom are socioeconomically disadvantaged.  The four-year graduation rate—a key measure of success—is 73 percent. 

STEM Education Offers A Path Out of Poverty

William G. Clark
President & CEO, Urban League of Rochester, NY

Twitter: @UrbanLeagueRoch

 

During the 20th century, Rochester, New York, relied on big manufacturers like Eastman Kodak and Xerox to drive its economy. Individuals without a post-secondary degree could find well-paying jobs that provided lifelong careers. Those days are long gone. Manufacturing jobs have declined, and the region is investing in STEM-related industries. This transition is fueling demand for workers with science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) skills. Workers with STEM skills also have higher earning potentials compared to other industries. However, people of color are underrepresented within STEM fields, putting them at a disadvantage as the economy continues its transformation.

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