Letter from The President

Dear ULGA Stakeholders, Partners, Clients and Friends:
Best wishes to you for a peaceful, safe and joyous Holiday Season and a Happy New Year. This is the time of year when we reflect on the past and look to the future with optimism and an eye toward making our impact greater in 2016 and beyond.
At year’s end, we take time to reflect on all of the many lives we have touched and positively impacted; the pride and joy from accomplishments in the faces of the youth and adults we have served who have made advances in their lives – whether it was increasing grade levels in reading or math, passing the GED, earning an occupational or technical skills credential, securing employment, buying a home for the first-time or starting a small business. Each of the people we serve made important strides toward empowering themselves and their families. This is the true meaning of the Season and the Urban League sincerely values all of our committed partners who help us do this work each and every day.
There are so many who partner with us each week – too many to name individually – but you know who you are and please know that “We Value and Appreciate Your Partnership!”
We also take this time to say a resounding “Thank YOU” to all of our funders! Whether your support is thousands of dollars or a small gift – we sincerely APPRECIATE every dollar of support and we promise to continue to be worthy of your trust in the future! We also take the time to Thank our staff, Young Professionals and Guild auxiliary volunteers and our Board of Directors for your support throughout the year!
In our December newsletter you will get a glimpse of the festivities from our major fundraiser of the year – the 54th Equal Opportunity Day Dinner where we honored individuals who are making positive impact on our communities through legislative and community advocacy, criminal and juvenile justice reform and volunteerism. Our theme: “Standing Up for Justice: Embracing Change…Restoring Hope” reflects the difficult times we are facing in such a volatile world. Our honorees have taken bold stands to positively impact the youth, adults and families we serve and we Thank each of them for their service.
You will also get a look at one of our signature youth development programs YouthBuild and the team member who runs it – Charles Walker. YouthBuild supports out of school “opportunity” youth to get on a pathway to a career by earning a GED and earn a credential to enter the Construction industry.
As we celebrate the season, let’s also remember that there are too many youth, adults and families in our region, our nation and the world who are struggling to make ends meet, keep a roof over their heads and earn sustainable incomes to support their families. This is why the work of the Urban League and our partnerships with each of you are so important now and for the future. So we ask you to recommit your partnership and support of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta in 2016 and beyond. Together we are making a difference in peoples’ lives and TOGETHER we will continue to “Empower Communities and Change Lives”! All the Best for the Holiday Season and 2016!

Yours in the Movement!
Nancy Flake Johnson