In partnership with the William Monroe Trotter Institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston, New England Blacks in Philanthropy, and Channel 7/WHDH TV’s Urban Update program, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM) is piloting The State of Black Boston, a multi-year initiative that combines research and community assessment to bring attention to critical issues affecting Blacks in Boston. The initial phase is to promote dialogue among some of the leading experts in the field through a series of dialogue with Channel7’s Urban Update.
“The Urban League thinks this effort is so long overdue and critically important to understanding who we are as a people and community, how we should be viewed both internally and externally, and what are the critical success factors required for the black community to move forward, especially during this exciting election time” emphasized Darnell L. Williams, President & CEO of ULEM. The State of Black Boston is the first step to help bring the community, elected officials, institutions, non-profits and philanthropic partners together to build an efficient network of resources to immediately address pertinent issues of Civil Rights & Leadership, Education, Economic Empowerment, and Health and Social Education.
Barbara Lewis, Director of the Trotter Institute, echoes the need for this kind of partnership: “Right now we are in the launching period of a new century, so this is the right moment to undertake a demographic study like this. For the Trotter, a research institute that advocates for effective change, to collaborate with the Urban League, with its reputation for taking the pulse of today, spells range and possibility. In Boston, we can look back at a very long history, seeing what we did that was right as well as wrong, which puts us in an informed position to chart a long-range view based on current and anticipated challenges. New folks are coming into this city, and we are no longer sure exactly who we are as people of color. So we have to take stock. We have to assess and plan. The paradigms of the past are giving way. It’s a new time, and we have the chance to be in on the ground floor of tomorrow. We are excited by that promise, and we have a responsibility to take the statistics off the page and turn them into momentum.”
Some featured guests in the upcoming series include long-time activist Hubie Jones, John Johnson, President & CEO of the Schott Foundation, Karen Payne, President of the NAACP, Dr. Dana Mohler-Faria, President of Bridgewater State College, Charles Yancey, Boston City Council, and Richard Ward, Director of Programs at The Boston Foundation.
During the month of May, every Sunday at 11:30am, Urban Update is featuring a series of important topics within the Black community in Boston. These include: Civil Rights & Leadership: How far have we come? (May 4th), Education: Where are we in supporting youth? Lessons & Next Steps (May 11th), Economic Empowerment: How much accumulated wealth do we have, and how can we leverage it? (May 18th), and Health and Social Education: Closing the gap (25th). These shows will be viewed by 25,000 households, or 40,000 viewers.
Partners of The State of Black Boston
About ULEM: Founded in 1917, the mission of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts is to deliver services and programs that aim to increase the economic self-reliance of African Americans and other people of color throughout our service area and to advocate for the core initiative [Empowerment through Math and English] and civil rights issues that critically affect their lives. For more than 90 years, the Urban League has successfully provided education, employment skills training, job placement, and advocacy for the betterment of African Americans and other people of color.
Join the Urban League’s movement of giving by signing up to become a member at www.ulem.org.
About the William Monroe Trotter Institute: The William Monroe Trotter institute of the University of Massachusetts Boston was founded in 1984 to address the needs and concerns of the Black community and communities of color in Boston and Massachusetts through research, technical assistance, and public service. Many forms of technical assistance are provided to community groups, organizations, and public agencies. The institute sponsors public forums as a means of disseminating research and involving the community in the discussion of public policy and other issues impacting Blacks locally and nationally. The institute also publishes the Trotter Review, a journal of articles addressing current Black studies, race, and race relations in the United States and abroad. Visit http://www.trotter.umb.edu/ for additional information.
About the New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBIP): Founded in 2006, NEBIP was created to inform and transform the practice of philanthropy in Black communities. The transformation that it seeks is to create a straight line of sight from philanthropic grantmaking practice to self-sufficiency for the Black community.
New England Blacks in Philanthropy (NEBIP) is an affinity member entity that unites Black philanthropists, trustees and staff of grantmaking organizations. The purpose of NEBIP is to build a network of support that will enhance the philanthropic community’s ability to effectively address the specific needs of Black communities while increasing the influence and presence of Blacks in philanthropy. For more info, visit http://www.agmconnect.org/nebip/aboutus.html
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