Urban League Of Philadelphia

THE MISSION OF THE URBAN LEAGUE IS TO EMPOWER AFRICAN-AMERICANS TO SECURE ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE, PARITY, POWER AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

OUR CAREER AND HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT REACHES THE COMMUNITY IN A VARIETY OF WAYS, INCLUDING AN IN-HOUSE CAREER CENTER, AN ONLINE JOB SEARCH PROGRAM AND THROUGH REGULAR PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCLUDING A LEADERSHIP FORUM, CONNECT TO WORK, URBAN TECH AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SERVICES AND ASSISTANCE. THE PEOPLE WE SERVE INCLUDE THE UNEMPLOYED, UNDEREMPLOYED AND CURRENT PROFESSIONALS SEEKING TO ADVANCE IN MANAGEMENT. THE SERVICES OFFERED INCLUDE SEMINARS, INDIVIDUAL CAREER CONSULTATIONS, CAREER APTITUDE TESTING, ACCESS TO JOB POSTINGS, AND INDUSTRY-SPECIFIC JOB TRAINING. THE URBAN LEAGUE JOBS NETWORK (ULJN) IS OUR ONLINE ARM THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO POST THEIR RESUMES AND APPLY FOR JOBS NATIONWIDE. CAREER TRAINING IS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF OUR WORK. IN 2022, WE SUPPORTED 212 MEN AND WOMEN FIND EMPLOYMENT, WITH AN AVERAGE SALARY OF $17.50/HOUR. OUR SIGNATURE INITIATIVE, OUT4GOOD, WHICH PREPARES RETURNING CITIZENS FOR WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES, HAD IN 2022, 144 MEN PARTICIPATED AND GRAUDATED FROM THE PROGRAM; ZERO HAVE EXPERIENCED RECIDIVISM. URBAN LEADERSHIP FORUM, A RIGOROUS SEVEN-MONTH LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE FOR RISING PROFESSIONALS IN THE REGION, GREW THE SKILLS AND BUSINESS ACUMEN OF 45 PARTICIPANTS. THE PHILADELPHIA AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FORUM, CREATED IN RESPONSE TO UNIQUE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY BLACK NONPROFIT EXECUTIVES, SUPPORTED 18 PROFESSIONALS THROUGH TRAINING, BEST PRACTICES, AND PEER MENTORSHIP. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MATCHED 46 COLLEGE STUDENTS WITH 21ST CENTURY TRAINING AND WORKPLACE OPPORTUNITIES, PREPARING THEM FOR POST-GRADUATION SUCCESS.

OUR HOUSING DEPARTMENT ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS BY PROVIDING HOUSING COUNSELING FOR THOSE FACING FORECLOSURE, SHERIFF'S SALES AND PREDATORY LEADING. OUR HOMEOWNER EDUCATION PROGRAM PROVIDES MULTIPLE FREE WORKSHOPS FOR POTENTIAL FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS, GIVING THEM A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AS THEY AIM TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH ACHIEVING THE AMERICAN DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP. WE COUNSEL INDIVIDUALS ON FAIR HOUSING RIGHTS INFORMATION, REAL ESTATE SELECTION, LENDING PRACTICES, MONEY MANAGEMENT, BUDGETING, CREDIT REPAIR AND BROKER SELECTION. ESCROW COUNSELING IS ALSO AVAIALBLE FOR CLIENTS LIVING IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING WITH LICENSING AND INSPECTION VIOLATIONS. OUR HUD-CERTIFIED TEAM OF HOUSING COUNSELORS PROVIDED FINANCIAL LITERARY TO 2,400 FAMILIES, AND 850 RECEIVED PERSONALIZED HOMEBUYER COUNSELING. 230 FAMILIES ACHIEVED HOMEOWNERSHIP, TOTALING $52 MILLION IN MARKET VALUE. WITH SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS FROM OUR COMMITTED PARTNERS, 189 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED SUPPORT FOR HOME CLOSINGS COSTS AND DOWN PAYMENTS, MAKING THE DREAM OF HOMEOWNERSHIP A REALITY FOR MANY BLACK AND LATINX FAMILIES. 100 HOMEOWNERS RECEIVED COUNSELING AND FORECLOSURE MEDIATION SERVICES, AND 448 RENTERS CONNECTED WITH COMPREHENSIVE RESOURCES TO AVOID EVICTIONS.

OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO EXPERIENCE RAPID GROWTH AND WE ARE ACTIVELY INTEGRATING S.T.E.M. AND SKILLS-BASED TECHNOLOGY ACROSS THE BREATH OF OUR INITIATIVES TO ENSURE THAT ELEMENTARY, MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN THE DIGITAL ECONOMY. DESPITE THE CHALLENGES OF THE PANDEMIC, WE CONTINUE TO PREPARE THE NEXT GENERATION FOR EMERGING OPPORTUNITIES. WITH AN EMPHASIS ON S.T.E.M., COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATION AND EXPOSURE AND 21ST CENTURY SKILLS, OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS DEVELOPED OVER 370 FUTURE LEADERS. TO OFFSET THE RISING COST OF HIGHER EDUCATION, 58 COLLEGE-BOUND SENIORS WERE AWARDED $143,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS, COUPLED WITH ONGOING ASSISTANCE TO SUPPORT WITH THE TRANSITION TO POST-SECONDARY PURSUITS.