What is the Minneapolis Urban League? The Minneapolis Urban League is a minority, community-based organization that has served the African American community since 1926. It is one of the top ten affiliates of the National Urban League based in New York, NY. Each year, over 20,000 people look to the Minneapolis Urban League for assistance in overcoming barriers that prevent them from accessing quality employment, housing, education, social services, and health care. Programs The Minneapolis Urban League offers a continuum of services to enable individuals and families to become self-sustaining. The 2008 annual budget of over $ million encompasses fourteen major programs that reach children, youth, adults and senior citizens each year. Programs operate three clusters - Social Wellness, Community Empowerment and Youth Achievement. Participants in one service area can be referred to any of the other programs within the Urban League. Education - Alternative Elementary School for at-risk children to prepare them to compete successfully in public school
- Alternative High School to graduate students who have not succeeded in traditional school settings
Employment - Job preparation and placement for people moving off welfare
- Youth career development
- Youth and Adult job placement
- Apprenticeship qualification and referral
- Employment for seniors in community organizations
- Skill building for individuals to achieve self-sufficiency
Individual & Family Assistance - Intervention on behalf of people in immediate need of food, housing, legal services, access to health care
- HIV/STD education, prevention, intervention and support
Youth Intervention - Teen prevention programs re: pregnancy, alcohol, tobacco and drug abuse
- Early intervention and diversion for juveniles at-risk for committing crime
- Residential facility for diversion of youth from the Juvenile Justice System
Advocacy - Public advocacy for change in systems which create barriers to success for people of color
- Community education on issues affecting the African American community and other people of color
Governance Responsibility for governance, policy development and financial oversight of the organization lies with a 20-member board of directors from the Minneapolis community. David Oguamanam Interim CEO of the Minneapolis Urban League, carries out the policies and direction of the Board. The Minneapolis Urban League employs 130 full or part-time paid staff, and utilizes 200 volunteers throughout its programs. Most of the staff live in the area they serve. Finances The Minneapolis Urban League is funded by government grants and contracts, the United Way, foundation and corporate grants and private contributions. We have been a recipient of government contracts since the 1960's and United Way funding since the 1950's. At the present time, the Urban League is managing 25 separate grants and contracts. We use FundWare software in our accounting department. Our CPA firm is Kern, DeWenter, Viere, Ltd. For a copy of our 2007 audit, call 612-302-3103. Long Range Planning The Minneapolis Urban League is implementing a Strategic Plan adopted by the Board of Directors in 2008.
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