FOCUS
HARLEM COMMUNITY NEWSPAPERS
New York Urban League Holds Centennial Kick-Off Event at NewYork Historical Society; Debuts “100 Stories of Black New York”
T
Urban
League has played an important
League (NYUL) held their
role in the city’s history, and we
centennial kick-off event
salute all that they have done and
he
New
York
“100 Stories of Black New York”
continue to do to empower Afri-
on February 20, 2020 at The New-
can Americans in our communi-
York Historical Society, coinciding
ty.”
with a special installation titled
This year marks the centennial
“The New York Urban League at
of the New York Urban League, a
100” on exhibit now through May
local affiliate of the National Urban
17 , 2020.
League, whose mission is to en-
th
Open to the public, the sold-out
able African-Americans and other
program featured the stories of the
underserved ethnic communities
106th Mayor of New York City David N. Dinkins and Queens Public Library President & CEO Dennis
economic opportunity, and commu-
Walcott. A panel discussion was
nity engagement.
also held titled “The Importance
The New-York Historical Soci-
of Storytelling to the Civil Rights
ety program, Co-sponsored by Gale
Struggle Then and Now, ”where
Brewer, Manhattan Borough Presi-
participants included Marc Mori-
dent, was an opportunity for NYUL
al, National Urban League Presi-
to reflect on the New York Urban
dent, Arva Rice, President & CEO
League’s crucial work over the past
of New York Urban League, Wes
century, and explore the stories of
Moore, CEO of Robin Hood, and
those the League has personally
NBC Anchor & Host David Ush-
impacted.
ery as moderator.
Harlem Community Newspapers | March 5. 2020
Mayor Bill DeBlasio
Storytelling is central to the
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer
to secure a first-class education,
For over 100 years, the New
African-American experience. It
York Urban League has led the
was forbidden in policy and prac-
way in the education, employment,
tice for blacks to read or write. It
and empowerment of under-served
wasn’t just illegal, but could be
Event panelist and Moderator - Marc Morial, President and CEO National Urban League, Arva Rice, President and CEO, New York Urban League, David Ushery, Anchor, NBC4 New York, and Wes Moore, President Robin Hood
African Americans across the five
deadly for the slave, so they shared
long celebration, that they begin by
New York,’ our hope was that the
boroughs of New York City. During
their stories. Slaves knew that tell-
storytelling. On February 20, two of
audience would understand the
this time, the organization has in-
ing stories was the only way they
the 100 stories featured former New
power and promise of storytelling,
spired, influenced, and ignited over
could bear witness to what they’d
York City Mayor David Dinkins and
and why this medium was selected
one million Black people to achieve
been through. Stories were used to
Queens Public Library President &
for the NYUL Centennial,” said
their highest aspirations. NYUL re-
interpret the universe, resolve natu-
CEO Dennis Walcott. During 2020,
Arva Rice, President & CEO of the
mains a vital resource for the city’s
ral and physical phenomena, teach
NYUL will present 100 stories re-
New York Urban League. “And to
African-Americans and other un-
morals, maintain cultural values,
counting its 100-year history and its
get people excited about 100 stories
ety as they premiered the first of
economic self-reliance, and equal
derserved groups. The League helps
pass on methods of survival, and to
future promise through print, broad-
and hearing the next 98,” she added.
their ‘100 Stories of Black New
respect of their Civil Rights through
to transform the lives of over 8,000
praise God. So it is fitting that this
cast, and social media.
“We were honored to host
York’,” said Dr. Louise Mirrer,
programs, services, and advocacy.
families each year by providing
evening as an iconic Civil Rights
“By presenting ‘New York Ur-
the New York Urban League at
president and CEO of New-York
Among the objects on display in this
quality higher education options,
organization launches their year-
ban League: 100 Stories of Black
the New-York Historical Soci-
Historical. “The New York Urban
special installation is a school desk
New York Urban League Past and Present Presidents L to R - Dennis Walcott, Arva 16 Rice, Harriet Michel, Darwin Davis
NY Historical Society Display
from DeWitt Clinton High School and images depicting the NYUL Football Classic and the Whitney M. Young Scholars. Through events like the Football Classic, the Annual Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) College Fair, and the Young Men’s and Young Women’s
Empowerment
Days,
NYUL has helped challenge New
NYUL Staff - L to R - Jasmine Uribe, Kenneth NYUL Board - Bryant Fields, Shalima McCants, Johnson, Diana Coleman, Arva Rice, Lisa Boyd, Jan Fennel, Shalima McCants, Tammi Arva Rice, Maja Hazell and Ward Corbett Butler, Yvonne Smother, Uthman Olowa
Yorkers to find humanity, connect and help each other, and gain access to equal opportunity.
