FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT Teresa Candori
212-558-5362 | tcandori@nul.org
NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE LAUNCHES EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE EDUCATION CAMPAIGN FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Times Square Electronic Billboard Highlights National Public Awareness Effort
NEW YORK (February 1, 2016) — In conjunction with Black History Month, the lights above Times Square in February will beam the National Urban League’s message that every child deserves an excellent and equitable education.
“A high-quality education is a civil and human right,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “In our continuing fight to prepare every American child for college, work and life, we’re giving special recognition during Black History Month to our Equity and Excellence Project.
In addition to the announcement in world-famous Times Square, we’ll be sharing our message
on radio and in magazines to encourage people across the nation to get involved.”
The National Urban League’s Equity and Excellence Project supports national and state advocacy, engagement and education reform efforts throughout the Urban League Affiliate Movement and with other civil rights organizations.
The Urban League’s Equity and Excellence message is being shown on an electronic billboard in Times Square, on 43rd Street and Broadway, until April 30. Messages can also be found in USA Today’s Black History Month Special issue, on the websites for News One and Hello Beautiful, and on the following radio programs through February : Tom Joyner Morning Show, Ed Lover Show, Yolanda Adams Show, Russ Parr Morning Show, Al Sharpton’s Keeping It Real, Nightly Spirit Show, and Willie Moore Show.
“The goal of the Equity and Excellence Project is to strengthen the ability of the civil rights community to effectively advocate for educational reform and accountability through engagement in local, state and national education reform efforts,” Morial said. “Ultimately, we want to see all students succeed.”
The program spotlights seven areas of focus related to the Urban League’s historic mission:
- Early Childhood Learning & Education
- Equitable Implementation of College and Career Ready Standards
- Improved access to high-quality curricula and effective teachers
- Comprehensive, aligned and transparent education and employment data systems
- Out-of-school time learning (emphasis on expanded day and summer learning)
- Equity and Excellence at scale
- College Completion & Attainment
“Black History Month is not only a time to celebrate the achievements of the past, but to inspire future achievements,” Morial said. “The next generation of leaders is our most precious resource, and we are determined to give them every opportunity to soar.”
The project supports the work of Urban League affiliates in the following cities:
- Austin
- Buffalo
- Chattanooga
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Houston
- Knoxville
- Lexington
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Memphis
- Miami
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Philadelphia
- Pittsburgh
- Portland, ME
- Rochester
- St. Louis
- Springfield
The National Urban League is a civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment in order to elevate the standard of living in historically underserved urban communities. Founded in 1910 and headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. Today, the National Urban League has 93 affiliates serving 300 communities, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than 2 million people nationwide. To learn more about the National Urban League, visit www.nul.org and follow us on Twitter @NatUrbanLeague.
