Urban League Of Eastern Massachusetts Inc

TO DELIVER JOB TRAINING SERVICES AND PROGRAMS THAT AIM TO INCREASE THE ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE OF AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR THROUGHOUT ITS SERVICE AREA AND TO ADVOCATE FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS ISSUES THAT CRITICALLY AFFECT THEIR LIVES

IN FISCAL YEAR 2021, TRAINING WAS CONDUCTED ONLINE, BUT RETENTION AND PLACEMENT PROVED TO BE CHALLENGING. AT THE BEGINNING OF 2021, MANY COMPANIES BEGAN TRYING TO FIGURE OUT THE NEW NORMAL, RETURNING TO FULL-TIME OR HYBRID. THEN THE DELTA VARIANT SLOWED THINGS DOWN A BIT. THE GOVERNMENT STIMULUS PACKAGE EXTENDED UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS, AND COMPANIES PAUSED THEIR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS. ACCORDING TO THE BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS, IN AUGUST 2021, 4.3 MILLION PEOPLE HANDED IN RESIGNATIONS. AS BUSINESSES REOPEN, WE PREDICT THAT THE INDIVIDUALS WHO SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED OUR PROFESSIONAL SKILLS PROGRAMS WILL BE READY FOR THE OPPORTUNITY. MSIMBO ULEM CODING ACADEMY MSIMBO, WHICH MEANS "CODE' IN SWAHILI, EMBRACES THE RICH HISTORY OF ULEM ADVANCING CULTURE. THE 20-WEEK INTENSIVE MSIMBO CODING ACADEMY, EQUIPS ADULTS WITH THE TOOLS, SKILL SET AND CONFIDENCE TO GAIN ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY IN THE COMPETITIVE FIELD OF PROGRAMMING. SUPPORTED BY BANK OF AMERICA AND THE EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF LABOR AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, THE MSIMBO CODING ACADEMY AT ULEM, IS AN OPEN DOOR WITHIN COMMUNITIES OF COLOR OFFERING A PATHWAY TO COMPETITIVE CAREERS IN IT. PRIOR TO THE START OF THE COVIR-19 PANDEMIC, MORE THAN HALF OF MSIMBO ALUMNI WERE SUCCESSFULLY PLACED AND GAINFULLY EMPLOYED IN IT POSITIONS EARNING A SALARY, ON AVERAGE UPWARDS OF 80,000. DIGIUL DIGITAL DESIGN LAB DIGIUL DIGITAL DESIGN LAB IS A CREATIVE SPACE WHERE STUDENTS ENGAGE AND PRACTICE THE LANGUAGE AND TECHNIQUES OF PROFESSIONAL GRAPHIC DESIGN. IN "THE LAB" STUDENTS RECEIVE HANDS ON INSTRUCTION DELVING INTO DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION OF: VISUAL COMMUNICATION, USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN, ADVANCED AND INTERACTIVE TYPOGRAPHY, DESIGN HISTORY AND LANGUAGE, AND INTERACTIVE TECHNOLOGY. EMERSED IN VISUAL ARTS TECHNOLOGY AND GRAPHIC DESIGN, THIS 16- WEEK INTENSIVE, IS FAR MORE THAN A CREATIVE OUTLET FOR STUDENTS OF COLOR. FOR MANY, IT ALLOWS THEM TO ENVISION THEIR TALENT FAR BEYOND CREATIVE EXPRESSION AND INTO ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT. EQUIPPED WITH INTERMEDIATE AND SENIOR PORTFOLIO MATERIALS AND REVIEW, 100% OF ALL DIGIUL ALUMNI ARE EQUIPPED TO TRANSITION INTO A HOST OF DIGITAL DESIGN POSITIONS. DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE PROGRAM WAS CONDUCTED ONLINE ONLY IN FISCAL 2021. CULTIVATED THE PROGRAM ENGAGES PRIMARILY IN THE CONDUCT OF CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING TO EDUCATE, INSTRUCT AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE SUFFERED DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT AND HARM FROM THE FAILURES OF THE WAR ON DRUGS AND THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSE AS SIMPLY A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED ONLY THROUGH ARREST, PROSECUTION, INCARCERATION AND RESTRICTION ON SUPPLY. THE PROGRAM ENGAGES PRIMARILY IN THE CONDUCT OF CHARITABLE, EDUCATIONAL, AND SCIENTIFIC ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING TO EDUCATE, INSTRUCT AND EMPOWER INDIVIDUALS AND COMMUNITIES WHICH HAVE SUFFERED DISPROPORTIONATE IMPACT AND HARM FROM THE FAILURES OF THE WAR ON DRUGS AND THE TREATMENT OF DRUG ABUSE AS SIMPLY A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM TO BE ADDRESSED ONLY THROUGH ARREST, PROSECUTION, INCARCERATION AND RESTRICTION ON SUPPLY. EMPLOYMENT RESOURCE CENTER AS THE WORLD CONTINUOUSLY TRANSITIONS INTO A DIGITAL MARKETPLACE; EMPLOYMENT TOO, FUNCTIONS MAJORLY AS AN "ONLINE ONLY" EXPERIENCE. ONLINE ONLY ACCESS TO JOB POSTINGS, AND THE ABILITY TO APPLY; LOCKS THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY FOR MANY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THE EMPLOYMENT AND RESOURCE CENTER (ERC) SERVES AS A VIABLE EXTENSION OF THE URBAN LEAGUE OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS' EFFORT TO HELP COMMUNITIES OF COLOR GAIN ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY. THE ERC IS MADE AVAILABLE TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMMUNITY; OFFERING A MULTITUDE OF SERVICE AREAS RANGING FROM: ONLINE JOB SEARCHES, RESUME SUPPORT, UPDATED INFORMATION ON JOB LISTINGS AND ACCESS TO THE JOB BOARD. OUR OFFICE HAS BEEN CLOSED TO THE PUBLIC DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. HOWEVER, THE ERC MADE CERTAIN THAT REGISTERED JOB SEEKERS RECEIVED CURRENT JOB ANNOUNCEMENTS AND INFORMATION DIRECT FROM THE AGENCY WEBSITE. ADDITIONALLY, THE ERC PARTNERED WITH GROW WITH GOOGLE TO ASSIST MINORITY, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MANAGE THEIR BUSINESSES REMOTELY IN THE PANDEMIC. THIS PARTNERSHIP GARNERED A SUCCESSFUL TURNOUT OF OVER 50 BUSINESS OWNERS GAINING INFORMATION TO ASSIST THEM WITH KEEPING THEIR DOORS OPEN DURING THE PANDEMIC JOB PLACEMENT THE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AT THE URBAN LEAGUE OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS IS PROUD OF OUR PARTICIPANTS AND THEIR ABILITY THRIVE IN AREAS IN WHICH THEY RECEIVED CERTIFICATES OF COMPLETION. UPON GRADUATION FROM ANY OF OUR PROGRAMS, WE WANT CANDIDATES TO SECURE THE RIGHT JOB, NOT JUST FIND A JOB. TO ENSURE A PROPER FIT IS OBTAINED, PARTICIPANTS WORK WITH A JOB PLACEMENT SPECIALIST (JPS). THROUGHOUT THE PROGRAM DURATION, PARTICIPANTS MEET REGULARLY WITH THE JPS TO ASSIST IN A PLACEMENT WHERE BOTH THE CANDIDATE AND EMPLOYER ARE MUTUALLY SATISFIED. ALL PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE ONGOING SUPPORT FROM THE JPS FOR UP TO 12 MONTHS AFTER GRADUATION AND/OR PLACEMENT. THESE EFFORTS RESULT IN OUR WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM GRADUATES GAINING LONGEVITY IN SINGLE COMPANY EMPLOYMENT WITH INCREASED BENEFITS. PRIOR TO THE PANDEMIC, EVERY PARTICIPANT PLACED WAS OFFERED A FULL- TIME POSITION MAKING AN AVERAGE OF 10 ABOVE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE. JOB PLACEMENTS FOR THE PROFESSIONAL SKILLS PROGRAMS DURING THE PANDEMIC HAVE BEEN VERY CHALLENGING. ULEM WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH ALL PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS TO ENSURE SUCCESSFUL PLACEMENTS. WE BELIEVE THAT OUT GRADUATES WILL BE PREPARED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF NEW OPPORTUNITIES AS BUSINESSES REOPEN. TO SUPPORT THE COVID RELIEF EFFORTS THE LEAGUE FOCUSED ON PLACING INDIVIDUALS AT THE REGGIE LEWIS CENTER, IT WAS DESIGNATED ONE OF THE COMMONWEALTH VACCINATION SITES. THE LEAGUE PLACED 105 INDIVIDUALS IN PAID POSITION AVERAGING 25/HR. TO OPERATE THE PHONEBANK, SCHEDULE APPOINTMENTS, AND EDUCATE THE COMMUNITY ON THE CENTER ACTIVITIES. CASE MANAGEMENT CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN OUR WFD PROGRAMS. CASE MANAGEMENT IS THE MOST SIGNIFICANT ASSET AND STRONGEST COMPONENT OF ULEM'S PROGRAMS, ACCORDING TO FEEDBACK RECEIVED FROM PARTNERS AND EMPLOYERS. WE BELIEVE THIS IS BECAUSE OUR STAFF IS REFLECTIVE OF THE CONSTITUENTS THAT WE SERVE AND ARE ABLE TO PROVIDE RESOURCES TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES TO EMPLOYMENT. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS HIGHLIGHTED DISPARITIES IN HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS, EDUCATION, BUSINESS, AND WEALTH ATTAINMENT WITHIN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COMMONWEALTH AND OUR NATION. DURING THE PANDEMIC, URBAN LEAGUE EXPANDED CASE MANAGEMENT TO PROVIDE SOME RELIEF AND COMFORT TO THE COMMUNITY IN THE FORM OF RENT ASSISTANCE, FOOD, AND FREE COVID-19 TESTING. LEADERS OVER LUNCH THE URBAN LEAGUE OF EASTERN MASSACHUSETTS' LEADERS OVER LUNCH SERIES PROVIDES AUDIENCE MEMBERS WITH UNIQUE AND DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES FROM A DIVERSE GROUP OF GUESTS AND PANELIST. THE MONTHLY SERIES GIVES VOICE TO CONCERNS AND ISSUES THAT IMPACT LARGELY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. THE VIRTUAL PLATFORM SERVES TO KEEP COMMUNITIES OF COLOR INFORMED AND CONNECTED TO SERVICES, RESOURCES AND PROVIDES INSIGHT ALIGNED WITH THE ULEM MISSION TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES, CHANGE LIVES. DATE LEADERS OVER LUNCH SERIES TOPICS AUDIENCE JULY 2020WHAT'S THE COST OF THE PANDEMIC ON BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES?294 SEPTEMBER 2020STATE OF BLACK AMERICA269 OCTOBER 2020WHAT'S AT STAKE?391 NOVEMBER 20201619 FREEDOM RALLY238 NOVEMBER 2020KEYS TO GOOD HEALTH AND BEING COVID READY DURING THE HOLIDAYS AND BEYOND90 DECEMBER 2020LEADING A LIFE IN BALANCE W/AUTHOR DR. JOAN WALLACE BENJAMIN160 FEBRUARY 2021RACIAL EQUITY THE PATHWAY FORWARD238 FEBRUARY 2021AFTER THE PROTEST: WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?171 APRIL 2021SUICIDE PREVENTION AND MENTAL HEALTH IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY273 APRIL 2021RACISM AND HATE HAVE NO PLACE HERE274 MAY 2021THE FUTURE OF AN EQUITABLE WORKFORCE POWERED BY MASSTLC150 MAY 2021SMALL BUSINESS ACCESS TO CAPITAL PRESENTED BY THE SBA123 TOTAL 2671

DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE PROJECT THE DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE PROJECT IS A CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES PROGRAM DESIGNED TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR AFRICAN AMERICAN DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE VICTIMS/SURVIVORS AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN FISCAL 2021, THE PROJECT PROVIDED SERVICES TO MORE THAN 1,000 INDIVIDUALS. IN FY2021 THE PROJECT REMAINED FOCUSED AND ALIGNED WITH ITS PROPOSED OVW OBJECTIVES: "DELIVERING AN IN-DEPTH DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AWARENESS MONTH PROGRAM TO STAFF AND GUESTS, CLOSING WITH A MOVING VIRTUAL VIGIL IN HONOR OF VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS. "HOSTING A DENIM DAY THEMED SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH PROGRAM: HOW DENIM WAS TRANSFORMED BEYOND FASHION INTO A WORLDWIDE SHOW OF SOLIDARITY IN SUPPORT OF VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF SEXUAL ASSAULT. "PROVIDING CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING TO STUDENTS AT NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY, SCHOOL OF LAW "ENGAGING WITH CHURCH LEADERSHIP TO PROVIDE TRAINING, EDUCATION, AND SUPPORT FOR VICTIMS/SURVIVORS "PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO OTHER OVW FUNDED PROGRAMS AROUND THE COUNTRY "ATTENDING ALL OVW MANDATORY TRAININGS AND EVENTS EXPANDED REACH: FY2021 PRESENTED US WITH MORE OPPORTUNITIES TO EXPAND OUR REACH RIGHT FROM OUR LIVING ROOMS. AS PROGRAM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, OF THE DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE PROJECT, TRACI JACKSON REMAINED IN HIGH DEMAND TO TEACH, AND PROVIDE TRAININGS ON ZOOM, TEAMS, AND OTHER VIDEO CONFERENCING PLATFORMS. THE LIVE DISCUSSIONS FOCUSED ON THE IMPORTANCE OF CULTURALLY SPECIFIC SERVICES, AND THE NECESSARY WORK REMAINING TO BRIDGE THE GAP TO BETTER SERVE COMMUNITIES AND SURVIVORS OF COLOR. FROM LISTENERSHIP AND VIEWERS, THE PROJECT EXPERIENCED A CONSISTENT INFLUX OF REQUESTS FROM LOCAL AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING TRAINING, TRAINING SUPPORT AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE. AS A RESULT, THE PROJECT COLLABORATED WITH SEVERAL ORGANIZATIONS INCLUDING: "SAFE HAVENS (INTERFAITH PARTNERSHIP AGAINST DOMESTIC VIOLENCE) "SISTERS AGAINST ABUSE SOCIETY (DUAL DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL VIOLENCE PROGRAM/DETROIT, MI). "MASSACHUSETTS WOMEN OF COLOR NETWORK (COALITION TO ERADICATE RACIAL INEQUITIES AMONG WOMEN OF COLOR) "ASSOCIATION OF HAITIAN WOMEN INC. (GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATION DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING LOW-INCOME HAITIAN WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN, DORCHESTER, MA). ADDITIONAL IMPACT: FUNDING RECEIVED FROM THE BOSTON RESILIENCY FUND (BRF) TO AID IN EMERGENCY PANDEMIC RESPONSE EFFORTS ALLOWED THE PROJECT TO EXPAND ITS CORE SERVICES TO INCLUDE: "RENTAL ASSISTANCE "FOOD ASSISTANCE "HOUSEHOLD SANITIZING SUPPLIES AND PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) "FUNDS FOR MOVING EXPENSES FOR VICTIMS/SURVIVORS OF DOMESTIC AND SEXUAL ABUSE. IN ADDITION, RELIEF EFFORTS GARNERED INCREASED RECOGNITION OF THE PROJECT AND ULEM FROM MAINSTREAM AGENCIES SEEKING ORGANIZATION AND STAFF SUPPORT.

COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND SUPPORT DURING THE 1918 SPANISH FLU THE URBAN LEAGUE CONTRACTED NURSES TO GO INTO THE BLACK COMMUNITIES TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY RECEIVED THE MEDICAL CARE NEEDED TO SURVIVE THE PANDEMIC. IN THAT SAME VAIN, THE AGENCY PIVOTED TO PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY IN VARIOUS WAYS: 1619 PROJECT THE URBAN LEAGUE ORGANIZED A COALITION OF OVER 50 BLACK AND BROWN LED ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO VOTE. THE 1619 PROJECT PROVIDED GET OUT THE VOTE (GOTV) MATERIALS TO HELP REGISTER AND ENGAGE VOTERS, CREATE, AND SHARE IMPORTANT INFORMATION, DEFEND OUR VOTING RIGHTS, AND ACT ON THE ISSUES THAT IMPACT OUR LIVES. BLACK BOSTON COVID COALITION THE URBAN LEAGUE IS ONE OF THE FOUNDER MEMBERS OF THE COALITION THAT ADVOCATED FOR MORE TESTING AND VACCINATION ACCESS TO THE COMMUNITIES OF COLOR. IT RESULTED IN THE REGGIE LEWIS CENTER BEING CHOSEN AS ONE OF THE COMMONWEALTH VACCINE DISTRIBUTION CENTER. ALSO, SUCCESSFULLY ADVOCATED TO HAVE BLACK DOCTORS AND NURSES TO LEAD THE EFFORTS AT THE CENTER AS WELL. LEVERAGE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH LYFT TO PROVIDE OVER 25,000 RIDES TO UNDERREPRESENTED COMMUNITIES. MOBILE COVID TESTING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH HARVARD STREET NEIGHBORHOOD HEALTH CENTER, WE PROVIDED HUNDREDS OF TESTS TO OUR COMMUNITY FROM OUR ULEM ROXBURY FACILITIES SAMARITANS SUICIDE PREVENTION WEBINAR MENTAL HEALTH HAS BEEN A CHALLENGE IN THE COMMUNITY OF COLOR BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, BUT THE QUARANTINE EXACERBATED THE SITUATION. WE HOSTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAMARITANS, SUICIDE PREVENTION TRAINING. 273 PEOPLE VIEWED THE WEBINAR. "DEEDEE'S CRY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DEEDEE'S CRY PROVIDES TOYS AND HOLIDAY CHEER TO OVER 100 FAMILIES IN ROXBURY