Urban League Of Louisiana

TO EMPOWER COMMUNITIES AND HELP CHANGE LIVES FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHER EMERGING COMMUNITIES ANF GROUPS. THE URBAN LEAGUE SEEKS TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS TO OPPORTUNITY AND ASSISTS INDIVIDUALS IN ATTAINING ECONOMIC SELF SUFFICIENCY.

CENTER FOR ECONOMIC DEVLEOPMENT (REVENUE 2,852,422 & EXP 2,279,758) "URBAN LEAGUE OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (OWD) - URBAN LEAGUE'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT (OWD) SERVES AS THE ORGANIZATION'S IN-HOUSE ECONOMIC ENGINE, PROVIDING INDIVIDUALS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO THRIVE IN THE WORKFORCE, GROWING LOUISIANA'S POOL OF QUALIFIED WORKERS TO CONNECT THEM TO EMPLOYERS ACROSS THE STATE. OWD CONNECTS NEW CAREER SEEKERS, UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED INDIVIDUALS, AND PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYEES RE- ENTERING THE WORKFORCE WITH THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ATTAIN LIVING WAGE JOBS. OUR SIGNATURE CAREER PATHWAYS PROGRAM (CPP) IS A MULTI-PRONGED SERVICE DELIVERY MODEL, WHICH INCLUDES CAREER READINESS TRAINING, INTEGRATED CASE MANAGEMENT, TUITION ASSISTANCE, FINANCIAL LITERACY, OCCUPATIONAL SKILLS TRAINING, AND DIRECT EMPLOYMENT PLACEMENT, TO MOVE PARTICIPANTS TOWARD SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THE PROGRAM SERVES RESIDENTS OF METRO NEW ORLEANS AND EAST BATON ROUGE, WHO ARE UNEMPLOYED AND UNDEREMPLOYED INCLUDING YOUNG ADULTS AGES 18 TO 24 AND ADULTS AGES 18 AND ABOVE. IN 2021, 243 INDIVIDUALS ENROLLED IN CPP. IN 2021, OWD SERVED 909 CAREER SEEKERS, CONNECTING OVER 153 ADULT PARTICIPANTS TO JOBS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WITH AVERAGE EARNINGS OF 17 P/HR. THE OWD ALSO PROVIDED OVER 11,400 HOURS OF PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT (LIFE SKILLS) TO PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS. ADDITIONALLY, IN 2021, OWD HOSTED 7 VIRTUAL JOB FAIRS WITH 62 ESSENTIAL EMPLOYER PARTNERS AND 422 JOB SEEKERS PARTICIPATING. "URBAN LEAGUE CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP AND INNOVATION THE URBAN LEAGUE OF LOUISIANA'S CENTER FOR ENTREPRENEURSHIP & INNOVATION (CEI) IS DEDICATED TO ENSURING THE SUCCESS OF SMALL BUSINESSES ACROSS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA WITH DEDICATED EFFORTS IN SUPPORTING MINORITY- AND WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS. THE WORK OF THE CENTER IS BUILT UPON THE DOCUMENTED NEED FOR INCREASED ACCESS TO CONTRACTING OPPORTUNITIES, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES, AND CAPACITY-BUILDING RESOURCES FOR THESE DIVERSE GROUPS. THE CEI PROVIDES BUSINESS EDUCATION WORKSHOPS, ONE-ON-ONE AND SMALL GROUP COUNSELING, HANDS-ON TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE, AND ACCESS TO RESOURCES RELEVANT TO ASPIRING AND EXISTING ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS VARIOUS INDUSTRIES. THE CEI INCLUDES: THE WOMEN'S BUSINESS RESOURCE CENTER, THE CONTRACTOR'S RESOURCE CENTER, AND THE LADOTD DBE SUPPORTIVE SERVICES PROGRAM - REGION B, BRIDGE CITY/NEW ORLEANS AND HAMMOND. IN 2021, 3,545 PARTICIPANTS ATTENDED CEI TRAININGS, AND 2,051 CLIENTS WERE SERVED VIA TRAININGS OR COUNSELING, WITH 1,429 COUNSELING SESSIONS CONDUCTED. CEI PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES RESULTED IN 206 NEW JOBS CREATED, 22 NEW BUSINESSES CREATED, SEVERAL INITIATIVES ADMINISTERED BY THE CEI IN 2021 INCLUDE: "FORD EMERGENCY CAPITAL ACCESS PROGRAM "RESILIENT RESTART EBR: SMALL BUSINESS MICRO-GRANTS PROGRAM "CHASE ADVANCING BLACK ENTREPRENEURS SERIES "BLACK BUSINESS WORKS FUND "GOOGLE STOREFRONT KITS FOR BLACK-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES "BLACK RESTAURANT ACCELERATOR PROGRAM

EDUCATION , YOUTH DEVELOPMENT & SOCIAL JUSTICE (REVENUE 3,427,309 & EXP 1,823,035) "URBAN LEAGUR CLARENCE L. BARNEY HEAD START CENTER (ULCLBHS) - THE URBAN LEAGUE OF LOUISIANA CLARENCE L. BARNEY HEAD START CENTER (ULCLBHS) CONTINUES TO SERVE AS A BEACON IN THE UPPER 9TH WARD DESIRE NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CENTER PROVIDES SERVICES TO 62 CHILDREN, FROM LOW INCOME FAMILIES, RANGING IN AGE FROM BIRTH TO FIVE YEARS OLD, 10% OF WHOM HAVE VERIFIED DISABILITIES. THIRTY FOUR PERCENT OF CHILDREN RESIDE IN THE DESIRE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT. IN 2021, 100% OF CHILDREN SERVED AT THE CENTER WERE ON TARGET FOR DEVELOPMENTAL MILESTONES. ULCLBHS ALSO SERVED 9,485 NUTRITIOUS MEALS. "URBAN LEAGUE PARENT INFORMATION CENTER (PIC) THE URBAN LEAGUE'S PARENT INFORMATION CENTER (PIC) EMPOWERS PARENTS TO BECOME SUCCESSFUL AGENTS AND ADVOCATES FOR EXCELLENT SCHOOLS, EDUCATES PARENTS ABOUT SCHOOL CHOICE AND EQUIPS PARENTS TO BECOME LEADERS IN NEW ORLEANS. FROM HIGH VOLUME COMMUNITY EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES TO TAILORED TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS, PIC RESPONDS TO THE DISTINCT NEEDS OF PARENTS IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF ITS PROGRAMMATIC GOALS. PIC CONTINUES TO OFFER A RANGE OF RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND SCHOOLS INCLUDING THE ANNUAL SCHOOLS EXPO (VIRTUAL), NOLA SCHOOL SUPPLY GIVEAWAY, THE PRIDE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY FOR PARENTS, THE NEW ORLEANS GUIDE TO HIGH SCHOOLS AND BEYOND, THE NEW ORLEANS GUIDE TO EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, THE PARENT CHARTER BOARD MEMBER TRAINING. THROUGH THESE INITIATIVES, ULPIC ENHANCES THE LEARNING EXPERIENCE OF ALL PARENTS AND THE COMMUNITY. IN 2021, THE VIRTUAL SCHOOLS EXPO PROVIDED FAMILIES WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE PARTICIPATING EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND K-12 SCHOOLS, AS WELL AS THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENGAGE WITH THEIR REPRESENTATIVES. IN FEBRUARY, PRIDE MEMBERS PARTICIPATED IN THE LOUISIANA EARLY EDUCATION WEEK PARENT FORUM AND IN MARCH, THEY PARTICIPATED IN THE LA-CEAL COVID- 19 AWARENESS AND INFORMATION FORUM HOSTED BY THE LOUISIANA POLICY INSTITUTE FOR CHILDREN, PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING INSTITUTE, AND THE POWER COALITION FOR EQUITY AND JUSTICE. THE NEW ORLEANS GUIDE TO HIGH SCHOOL BEYOND WEBSITE (ULLARESOURCEGUIDES.COM) AIDS STUDENTS AND FAMILIES IN EXPLORING LOCAL EARLY EDUCATION CENTERS AND HIGH SCHOOLS. ULPIC SAW 1812 NEW VISITORS TO THE SITE. OUR OCTOBER DRIVE THROUGH SCHOOL SUPPLY AND HURRICANE IDA RELIEF GIVEAWAY AT CHAMPIONS SQUARE PROVIDED 521 STUDENTS WITH SCHOOL SUPPLY KITS, BACKPACKS, UNIFORM VOUCHERS AND COATS. ULPIC STAY CONNECTED NEW ORLEANS NEWSLETTER BLAST INFORMED FAMILIES ABOUT DISTANT LEARNING, BROADBAND, COVID-19, FOOD DISTRIBUTION SITES, RENTAL AND UTILITY ASSISTANCE, EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER RESOURCES. ALSO, BY THE NUMBERS, ULPIC NEW ORLEANS ENGAGED 5,525 COMMUNITY MEMBERS, AND 910 INDIVIDUALS PARTICIPATED IN ULPIC EVENTS/WORKSHOPS, AND COMMUNITY PARTNER EVENTS. 18 HOURS OF PRIDE PARENT LEADERSHIP TRAINING WAS COMPLETED BY PARENTS. THE URBAN LEAGUE OF LOUISIANA'S PARENT INFORMATION CENTER OF BATON ROUGE (PIC-BR) IN 2021, SERVED 792 STUDENTS/PARENTS, PROVIDED 270 FREE BACKPACKS AND SCHOOL SUPPLIES THAT WERE DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL FAMILIES. 100 MASKS AND HAND SANITIZERS WERE DISTRIBUTED TO LOCAL TEACHERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, AND 100 PREK-12TH GRADE STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN THE DECEMBER STEM SATURDAY VIRTUAL EVENT. "URBAN LEAGUE PROJECT READY - PROJECT READY PROVIDES STUDENTS AT SCOTLANDVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL IN BATON ROUGE AND L.B. LANDRY COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATORY HIGH SCHOOL IN NEW ORLEANS WITH A CADRE OF ACADEMIC, LIFE SKILLS AND CAREER READINESS SUPPORT TO PREPARE THEM FOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION AND POST-SECONDARY SUCCESS DURING AND AFTER-SCHOOL. AT BOTH SITES, STUDENTS CAN ACCESS COLLEGE APPLICATION AND ELIGIBILITY SUPPORT, CAREER FUNDAMENTALS PRESENTATIONS, CAREER EXPOSURE AND ADVISING, AFTER- SCHOOL TUTORING, ACT PREP, GENDER-BASED MENTORING, COLLEGE TOURS, "BEHIND THE BUSINESS" TOURS, CAREER FAIRS, AND STEM/STEAM ENRICHMENT. THESE SCHOOL SITES SERVE AS KEY PARTNERS IN PREPARING STUDENTS FOR GRADUATION AND LIFE BEYOND HIGH SCHOOL. DURING THE 2020-21 SCHOOL YEAR, PROJECT READY SERVED 87 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THREE OF WHICH EARNED COLLEGE CREDIT THROUGH DUAL ENROLLMENT AT BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND NUNEZ. STUDENTS TOURED TWO COLLEGE CAMPUSES IN-PERSON AND ATTENDED 11 VIRTUAL PRESENTATIONS. SUMMER PROGRAMMING WAS DELIVERED THROUGH THREE PROGRAM OFFERINGS. SUMMER BRIDGE ACADEMY TO ACCLIMATE INCOMING FRESHMAN TO HIGH SCHOOL, ACT BOOT CAMP WITH SCOTLANDVILLE MAGNET HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL PROGRAM, AND TRADITIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL TO TACKLE LEARNING LOSS. 133 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN ACT BOOT CAMP AND THE SUMMER BRIDGE ACADEMY WHICH PROVIDED SUMMER LEARNING LOSS TUTORING FOR ALL GRADES. PROJECT READY ALSO HOSTED FUTURE READY: COLLEGE AND CAREER INDUSTRY CONFERENCE WHICH FEATURED PRESENTERS FROM BOTH THE BUSINESS AND EDUCATION SECTORS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE URBAN LEAGUE'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT, PROJECT READY CO-PRODUCED A CAREER FAIR TO INTRODUCE THE URBAN PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM SERVING STUDENTS AT BOTH SCOTLANDVILLE AND L. B. LANDRY HIGH SCHOOL. EDUCATION EQUITY PROGRAM (EEP) "THE EEP PROGRAM OPERATIONALIZES THE URBAN LEAGUE OF LOUISIANA'S EXPLICIT COMMITMENT TO AN EQUITABLE AND EXCELLENT EDUCATION FOR ALL CHILDREN, AND SEEKS TO HOLD STATES AND LOCAL DISTRICTS TO THIS PROMISE. AT THE CENTER OF THIS APPROACH ARE PRIORITIES THAT FOCUS ON THE FOLLOWING KEY AREAS: 1) EARLY LEARNING AND EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION, 2) EQUITABLE AND HIGH-QUALITY IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMON COLLEGE AND CAREER READY STANDARDS, 3) IMPROVED ACCESS TO HIGH-QUALITY CURRICULA AND EFFECTIVE TEACHERS, 4) COMPREHENSIVE, ALIGNED AND TRANSPARENT EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT DATA SYSTEMS, 5) EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE AT SCALE, 6) OUT OF SCHOOL TIME LEARNING (EMPHASIS ON EXPANDED DAY AND SUMMER LEARNING), AND 7) COLLEGE ACCESS, COMPLETION AND ATTAINMENT. KEY TO THE EEP AND THE ULLA POLICY AGENDA IS PRODUCTION OF THE URBAN LEAGUE'S ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUITY REPORTS, WHICH IDENTIFIES THE BARRIERS TO EDUCATIONAL EQUITY THAT PREVENT ALL STUDENTS FROM REACHING THEIR HIGHEST POTENTIAL. THE REPORTS EXAMINE PUBLIC SCHOOL PERFORMANCE THROUGH AN EQUITY LENS BY DISAGGREGATING KEY EDUCATIONAL METRICS. THE REPORT DOCUMENTS EXISTING INEQUITIES AND SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPED AND SUPPORTED PROGRAMMING DESIGNED TO CLOSE ACHIEVEMENT GAPS. IN 2021 URBAN LEAGUE BEGAN RESEARCH ON A COVID-19 EDUCATION EQUITY REPORT LOOKING AT THE IMPACT OF THE PANDEMIC ON STUDENT OUTCOMES. POLICY & SOCIAL JUSTICE CENTER FOR POLICY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE ENGAGES IN CROSS-SECTOR EFFORTS TO IMPACT SELF-RELIANCE, PARITY, AND POWER THROUGH POLICY INITIATIVES FOCUSED ON AREAS IMPORTANT TO AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITIES ACROSS LOUISIANA SUCH AS EDUCATION, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AND EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION, VOTER AWARENESS. THROUGH THE WORK OF THIS CENTER, THE URBAN LEAGUE OF LOUISIANA LEADS A SERIES OF ANNUAL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES TO ENSURE THAT COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE ARE INFORMING THE DIRECTION OF A STATEWIDE POLICY AGENDA. IT INCLUDES A STATEWIDE LISTENING AND LEARNING TOUR, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS, IN SEVEN MAJOR CITIES ACROSS LOUISIANA TO HEAR DIRECTLY FROM COMMUNITY MEMBERS ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCES AND VISIONS FOR EQUITY AND INCLUSION; AN ANNUAL EMPOWERMENT AND POLICY CONFERENCE; POLICY WORK GROUPS; AND ADVOCACY AND MOBILIZATION AROUND THE RESULTING POLICY AGENDA. IN 2021, THIS CENTER ALSO LAUNCHED THE SEE CHANGE COLLECTIVE IN PARTNERSHIP WITH A REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE AND NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE. THE URBAN LEAGUE OF LOUISIANA'S SEE CHANGE COLLECTIVE IS CATALYST FOR CLOSING THE WEALTH GAP FOR BLACKS, HISPANICS AND LATINOS IN THE GREATER NEW ORLEANS REGION BY FOCUSING ON THREE PATHWAYS TO WEALTH-BUILDING-HOMEOWNERSHIP, BUSINESS OWNERSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND INCOME AND WAGES. WAKE UP GEAUX VOTE IS THE URBAN LEAGUE OF LOUISIANA'S NON-PARTISAN STATEWIDE VOTER EDUCATION AND MOBILIZATION EFFORT THAT IS ACTIVATED EVERY ELECTION CYCLE TO REGISTER NEW VOTERS, TO PROVIDE RELEVANT ELECTION UPDATES AND INFORMATION ABOUT REAL-TIME BALLOT INITIATIVES AND CANDIDATES, AND TO GET PEOPLE TO THE POLLS. THE URBAN LEAGUE ALSO LAUNCHED THE RACIAL EQUITY PROCESS, A SIX-MODULE PROCESS DESIGNED TO HELP STRENGTHEN AN ORGANIZATION'S CURRENT EFFORTS AND BUILD PERMANENT INFRASTRUCTURE TO PRACTICE RACIAL EQUITY ALL THE TIME. THIS PROCESS IS A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO EXPLORE AND ADOPT A NEW SET OF TOOLS THAT YOUR ORGANIZATION CAN RELY ON EVERYDAY TO CREATE EQUITABLE OUTCOMES. THE CENTER FOR POLICY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE EFFORTS FOR 2021 INCLUDED: "500+ PEOPLE ENGAGED IN POLICY & SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVITIES IN 2021 "120+ SPEAKERS AT THE 2021 EMPOWERMENT & POLICY CONFERENCE "700+ PEOPLE ATTENDED 2021 VIRTUAL EMPOWERMENT & POLICY CONFERENCE "450+ PEOPLE PARTICIPATED IN 2021 STATEWIDE LISTEN & LEARN TOUR "617 PEOPLE VIEWED THE 2021 ELECTION CANDIDATE FORUMS "202 PEOPLE ENGAGE IN EDUCATION EQUITY VIRTUAL WEBI