Urban League Of Philadelphia

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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 2021, WE SUPPORTED 665 MEN AND WOMEN IN PURSUIT OF CAREER ADVANCEMENT AND WORKPLACE SKILLS DEVELOPMENT. 362 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN DIGITAL LITERACY EDUCATION, AND 132 CONNECTED WITH EMPLOYMENT. IN RESPONSE TO THE PANDEMIC, WE ADAPTED QUICKLY TO OFFER VIRTUAL JOB COACHING AND ACCESS TO AT-HOME INTERNET CONNECTIVITY. WE ARE PROUD TO REPORT THE LAUNCH OF WORKFORCE PROGRAMS TO PREPARE VULNERABLE COMMUNITY MEMBERS FOR FAMILY-SUSTAINING EMPLOYMENT, AND WE GREW OUR INTENSIVE RE-ENTRY PROGRAM, OUT4GOOD, WHICH PREPARES RETURNING CITIZENS FOR WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES. TO DATE, 103 MEN HAVE PARTICIPATED AND GRADUATED 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 61 PARTICIPANTS. THE PHILADELPHIA AFRICAN AMERICAN LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT FORUM, CREATED IN RESPONSE TO UNIQUE LEADERSHIP CHALLENGES EXPERIENCED BY BLACK NONPROFIT EXECUTIVES, SUPPORTED 20 PROFESSIONALS THROUGH TRAINING, BEST PRACTICES, AND PEER MENTORSHIP. OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CHEYNEY UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MATCHED 50 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 LENDING. 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 AVAILABLE FOR CLIENTS LIVING IN SUBSTANDARD HOUSING WITH LICENSING AND INSPECTION VIOLATIONS. IN FY2021, OUR HUD-CERTIFIED HOUSING COUNSELING PROGRAM IMPACTED A TOTAL OF 2,750 UNIQUE INDIVIDUALS -- NEARLY A 50 PERCENT INCREASE OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR. 778 RECEIVED FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER COUNSELING, AND 162 FAMILIES ACHIEVED HOMEOWNERSHIP, WITH A TOTAL MARKET VALUE OF OVER $27.7 MILLION. IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19, WE SUPPORTED TENANTS IN CRISIS ACROSS THE CITY. 1,004 INDIVIDUALS RECEIVED CRITICAL RENTAL COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE, EVICTION MEDIATION, AND EMERGENCY STIPENDS. ANOTHER 53 FAMILIES WERE GRANTED CLOSING-COST ASSISTANCE TO PURCHASE HOMES. OVERALL, 1788 CLIENTS BENEFITTED FROM OUR TRUSTED FINANCIAL LITERACY EDUCATION.

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 313 FUTURE LEADERS.OUR EVIDENCE-BASED GEAR UP PROGRAM, A PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SCHOOL DISTRICT OF PHILADELPHIA, CONTINUED TO SUPPORT UNDERSERVED STUDENTS AT NEIGHBORHOOD HIGH SCHOOLS. THROUGH PROJECT READY, A SIGNATURE INITIATIVE OF THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE, 25 STUDENTS ACCESSED COLLEGE AND CAREER PATHWAYS. THE IGNITE PROGRAM ENGAGED 167 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, PREPARING THEM FOR EXISTING WORKFORCE OPPORTUNITIES. TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AFTER GRADUATION, WE CONTINUE TO LAUNCH PROGRAMS SUCH AS LINKABLE, WHICH OFFERED 10 HIGH SCHOOL SENIORS PAID EXPERIENCE IN THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY. FINALLY, TO OFFSET THE RISING COSTS OF HIGHER EDUCATION, 66 STUDENTS WERE AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS TO PURSUE THEIR GOALS, AN INVESTMENT TOTALING MORE THAN $138,000.