Knoxville Area Urban League

KNOXVILLE AREA URBAN LEAGUE, INC.'S MISSION IS TO ENABLE AFRICAN AMERICANS, OTHER MINORITY GROUPS AND THE UNDERSERVED TO SECURE ECONOMIC SELF-RELIANCE, PARITY, POWER AND CIVIL RIGHTS.

WORKFORCE - THE LEAGUE OFFERS AN EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT AIDS A BORAD RANGE OF INDIVIDUALS INCLUDING THE CHRONICALLY UNEMPLOYED, MATURE WORKERS REENTERING THE JOB MARKET AND COLLEGE GRADUATES. THE PROGRAM ADDRESSES BARRIERS USING PROFESSIONAL CAREER COUNSELORS WHO PROVIDE INDIVDIUAL AND GROUP CAREER COUNSELING, VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENTS, RESUME DEVELOPMENT, JOB SEARCH, JOB REFERRALS AND JOB PLACEMENT ASSISTANCE. THE LEAGUE ALSO WORKS WITH AREA EMPLOYERS TO IDENTIFY EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND IDENTIFY AND PRE-SCREEN EMPLOYEES.

HEALTH NAVIGATORS - IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE AND THROUGH FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN, THE LEAGUE BEGAN HIRING HEALTH NAVIGATORS DURING THE YEAR TO INCREASE COVID-19 VACINATION RATES AMONG HIGH-RISK COMMUNITIES THORUGH THE HIRING OF COMMUNITY HEALTH NAVIGATORS. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LOAN PROGRAM - THE LEAGUE OPERATES A LOAN PROGRAM, ENTREPRENEURSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER. AS A CERTIFIED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, THE LOAN AND FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT CENTER PROVIDES ACCESS TO THE CAPITAL, TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND BUSINESS SUPPORT SERVICES NEEDED TO START OR EXPAND A BUSINESS. THIS ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO ACHIEVE FINANCIAL AND ECONOMIC SELF- SUFFICIENCY. THE LEAGUE PROVIDES ONE-ON-ONE FINANCIAL PLANNING AND COACHING, BUDGET AND CREDIT COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE OPENING CHECKING AND SAVINGS ACCOUNTS. WHEN CLIENTS UTILIZE MULTIPLE LEAGUE SERVICES, THE LEAGUE USES A TEAM APPROACH TO DELIVER INTEGRATED SERVICES THAT INVOLVE EACH DEPARTMENT IMPACTED (WORKFORCE, YOUTH, HOUSING, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND LOAN PROGRAM) TO ENSURE A SEAMLESS CONTINUUM OF SERVICES TO OUR CLIENT.

YOUTH - THE EDUCATION AND YOUTH PROGRAM PROVIDES MENTORING, ACADEMIC SUPPORT, LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICES TO STUDENTS. THE NATIONAL ACHIEVERS HONOR SOCIETY PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH YEAR-LONG PROGRAMMING, OFFERING OPPORTUNITIES FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE, AN ACADEMIC SUMMIT, WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS SUCH AS ETIQUITTE, AND NETWORKING AND COLLEGE TOURS.

HOUSING - THE LEAGUE OPERATES AS A HUD-CERTIFIED NON-PROFIT COUNSELING AGENCY TO BOOST THE LIKELIHOOD OF SUCCESSFUL HOMEOWNERSHIP FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES BY PROVIDING FINANCIAL CAPACITY INSTRUCTION, HOMEOWNERSHIP COURSES FOR FIRST TIME HOME BUYERS, AND FORECLOSURE COUNSELING TO HELP HOMEOWNERS STAY IN THEIR HOME. FORECLOSURE COUNSELING OR FORECLOSURE PREVENTION INLCUDES A THOROUGH FINANCIAL ANALYSIS TO ASSESS THE CLIENT'S ABILITY TO MAINTAIN THE MORTGAGE AND HELP IN WORKING WITH THE CLIENT'S LENDING INSTITUTION TO DEVELOP A MUTUALLY AGREEABLE REPAYMENT STRUCTURE TO PREVENT DEFAULT AND/OR FORECLOSURE AND BUDGET COUNSELING TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FUTURE MORTGAGE PAYMENT PROBLEMS. FINANCIAL LITERACY INSTRUCTION TEACHES CLIENTS HOW TO CREATE A HOUSEHOLD BUDGET, UNDERSTAND THEIR SPENDING HABITS AND MAKE WISE SPENDING CHOICES AND BUILD THEIR CREDIT. THE LEAGUE PROVIDED CLIENTS WITH DIRECT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR HOUSING AND UTILITY SERVICES IN CONNECTION WITH A GRANT PROGRAM.