Her volunteer work with Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority led to The Garners involvement with the Partnership in Math and Science (PIMS) program, a national initiative of the sorority. He was also instrumental in developing a number of projects designed to raise the level of achievement among inner-city students. Posted by Editor | Jun 22, 2021 | Community | 0 |. In recognition of the extraordinary impact the Ubora and Ahadi awards have made for so many, the African Hall Subcommittee celebrates the one who lifted us all with her vision: our founder, Dr. Ruth Njiiri. He is the first and only African-American member of the DNC from Massachusetts. Johnson holds a bachelors degree in Biology from the historic Tuskegee University, a masters degree in Public Health from Southern Illinois University, and is a candidate for his Doctorate in Education from Creighton University. Clarence M. Pendleton, Jr., was, from 1975 to 1981, the head of the Urban League in San Diego, California. Young substantially expanded the League's fund-raising ability and made the League a full partner in the civil rights movement. He has been involved in youth programs throughout his professional career and demonstrates his concern for the well-being of children in his many volunteer activities as well. She went on to earn a Masters Degree in special education from American International College and a second Masters Degree in social work from Springfield College. Mr. Robinson was the first African American to serve at the superintendent level for the Springfield School System and became Deputy Superintendent in 1984. Who we Are Springfield Urban League "We Are the Movement" 1/1 Watch on Knox After graduating as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Tuskegee University in Alabama, he worked hard to achieve this dream of owning his own practice, mentoring, and encouraging students to explore STEM careers. Photo Gallery/ Dr. DeBerry was unanimously elected to serve as the first president. [2] It merged with the Committee for the Improvement of Industrial Conditions Among Negroes in New York (founded in New York in 1906) and the National League for the Protection of Colored Women (founded in 1905), and was renamed the National League on Urban Conditions Among Negroes. Springfield Urban League CEO Nina Harris President & Chief Executive Officer Phone Email See Profile Key Employees of Springfield Urban League Harold Pursey Early Head Start Executive Director Phone Email Cassondra Bacon Director, Finance & Human Resources Phone Email Todd Stuckey Director, Information Technology Phone Email Santita Nunn She was a member of the Womens Council of the City of Springfield, the Community Council of Greater Springfield, the Springfield Cultural Council, the Inner-City Council of the Boys Scouts of America, and the Board of the Urban League of Springfield. In addition, she volunteers at St. Johns Congregational Church and is a member of the media ministry. Contact Cumberland 2003 The Honorable Raymond A. Jordan, Jr. 2004 Jesse and Barbara Lanier He sponsored and had signed into law legislation that provided $5 million in aid to organizations and businesses in the minority community. At this time, with the widening of activities in the areas of job development and advocacy, an office was opened on 83 Hillman Street in the downtown business section of the city. He served as State Representative Ben Swans Chief of Staff and has been Chairman of the Springfield Democratic City Committee since 2001. Marion In 1961, Governor Volpe appointed him Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination. Johnson was recently featured on NPR Illinois Community Voices, where he shared the Urban Leagues mission and vision for an empowered and unified community.Shouldering the needs of the community as the President & CEO is an honor and challenge, I humbly accept, said Johnson. The idea being that there should be in the community a place where young Negro women could live, learn and work together in a wholesome and productive atmosphere. We provide programs to support and assist the community in emergency situations, including Emergency Food & Shelter programs. Programs / Mrs. Gouzounis was the first black student to graduate from MacDuffie School. As hundreds of thousands of new jobs opened up, shifting the economy from industrial manufacturing to a white-collar, service-oriented economy, the National Urban League turned its attention to placing HBCU graduates in professional positions.[9]. Wayne Two more were born during the five and a half years they spent here before Dr. Garner was transferred to Ohio. All Rights Reserved. Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce. Ben Mapp was executive director of the Springfield Urban League from 1946 through 1963; and from 1965 to 1966, he was responsible for the eastern region of the country in the field of equal employment opportunity. He has received many awards and recognitions including the 1990 Eye on the Prize Award., A resident of Springfield for 67 years, at 83 years of age Swan continues to dedicate his life to good work. Among his many civic activities, he has serves as Chairman of the McKnight Neighborhood Council, President of Harambee Holiday, Inc., and was a founding member of Five (5) A. Councilor Twiggs has received numerous awards for public service, including WGBYs coveted Eyes on The Prize Award for his work as a frontline civil rights organizer in the South and elsewhere. "use strict"; Throughout his career as an educator, Mr. Robinson worked to instill a sense of black history in students by integrating African studies into the curriculum. This historic event occurred in 1921, when the birth of the St. His list of affiliations, awards, and honors is truly impressive and reflects the extent of his community involvement and the high regard in which he is held by so many in the Springfield area. She is also the chairwoman of the Springfield Election Commission, and she served for two years a s moderator for the City of Hope: Empowering Parents Summit which featured Dr. Bill Cosby as the keynote speaker. Mrs. Bettye Webb imparted her love of reading to thousands of young people during her 35-year career with the Springfield Library System. Mrs. Troutman Simmons chaired the Mason Square community committee which resulted in the establishment of the W. W. Johnson Life Center, providing mental health services to a large area of the city. Macon St. Clair 2022 Dr. Gerald Bruce Cutting and Carol Moore Cutting, 2021 Sylvia Humphrey-Spann; Dr. Ruth Njiiri. Ms. Jordan is employed as a civil rights officer for the Executive Office of Health and Human Services serving Western Massachusetts. Phone: 413.739.7211. As chairman of the House Committee on Housing and Urban Development, he developed and filed legislation for a bond bill that provided affordable housing for families, the elderly and the disabled. 1st, Deadline to confirm attendance and pay deposit is 2/17/23. if ( number_hide_ads > 0 ) { He was born in Worcester, Massachusetts and lived in Springfield for 40 years until his death in 1979. He has two teenage sons. ProQuest. ", This page was last edited on 24 December 2022, at 03:00. DeWitt These objectives were to carry on constructive and preventative social work among Negroes for improving their social and economic condition in urban centers, to bring about coordination and cooperation between existing agencies where necessary, to secure and train Negro social workers and to make such studies in cities as may be required to carry out the objectives of the League.. GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders, Inc. Attorney Mr. Thomas is the recipient of a number of other notable awards, including the University of Massachusetts Distinguished Service Award, the Leadership Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the Distinguished Service Award from the National Urban Leagues Association of Executives. 2009 Mr. Ronald A. Copes Mrs. Allyson Gouzounis has dedicated her life to children. Historical Black College and University Tour, Springfield Urban League Robotics Program, Communities of Color Special At-Risk Population, Community Development Corporation Properties, Introduction to Medically Prescribed Formula, IWIC Competent Professional Authority Training, Thanksgiving Basket Initiative | Springfield Urban League, College Tour | Southern Illinois University Edwardsville (SIUe), Private Showing of Black Panther: Wakanda Forever, Tatyana Gardner | SUL's New Director of Health Initiatives. Urban League of Springfield celebrates 107th anniversary MassMutual $500,000 donation to Urban League of Springfield will help promote equality Massachusetts Business News on MassLive.com >>> Hancock President & CEO Early in her career, she supervised the successful Chapter I Toddler Home Program for ten years and then became a teacher and administrator in the Springfield Public School for over 30 years before retiring in 2004. The Springfield Urban League Inc. (SUL) announces that effective July 1, 2021, and following the impactful and transformative tenure of Nina M. Harris, Marcus Johnson will be leading the organization as the 7th President & Chief Executive Officer of the 95-year-old community- based human resources corporation. She has served as Model City director, acting administrator for the Department of Weights and Measures, project director for the Springfield Community Partnership and Prevention Alliance, and has been in her present position as Human Services Director since 1975. He was instrumental in the creation of the Historic District in the McKnight neighborhood, and lobbied for the construction of a magnet school in the Mason Square area. As a community leader, Swan helped launch a number of community-based organizations such as Northern Education Service and the former Springfield Action Commission. News/ Among his commendations are the prestigious Order of William Pynchon and the WGBY/Channel 57 Eyes on the Prize Awards. In February 2018, the National Urban League launched a weekly podcast, For the Movement, which discusses persistent policy, social and civil rights issues affecting communities of color. He has served as Vice President of the NAACP, as a Springfield City Councilor, and as chairman of the Springfield Redevelopment Authority. However, her greatest passion is Olive Tree Book-n-Voices, a local community bookstore in Springfield that she co-owns with her daughter, Olivia, a recent graduate of Temple University. of Volunteers: His early career was in social work. As a tireless civil rights organizer during a turbulent period in our countrys history, he helped shape some momentous events. As an artist and the creator of the long-standing Black Love Experience radio program, Swan provides community updates in educational and cultural activities and shares inspirational Black classical music. Chief Legal Strategist Johns Camplater renamed Camp Atwater (1924). In 2018, Marcus received the National Urban Leagues Health Leadership Award and has been invited to speak and present annually at the National Urban League Whitney M. Young Leadership Conference. Ben Mapp died in 1987, but his legacy lives on. Hamilton setTimeout(function () { bsaProContainer.fadeOut(); }, number_hide_ads * 1000); 6 Feb. 2016. Monday: Closed, 413-263-6800 Henrys bride of 44 years is Devonia J. Thomas, who hails from Marshall, TX and recently retired as a Vice Principal in Springfield Public Schools. PO Box 4634, Springfield, MA 01101-4634 . He is vice chair of the Massachusetts Democratic State Committee and a member of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) since 1996. 100 North Eleventh Street Jerald Jay Griffin is one of sixteen children, nine boys and seven girls, born to Andrew and Geraldine Griffin. JOB DESCRIPTION. The main objectives of the corporation were to provide a house where at a minimum cost, girls and young women might have the advantages of a well-ordered home; improve their moral, social and industrial welfare, teaching them the various branches of domestic science and allied industries, and aiding worthy girls and women to obtain suitable employment. A resident of Springfield since 1978, Zees ultimate dream was to give back to the African-American community what she had gained as a young girl. [citation needed], Today, the National Urban League has 90 affiliates serving 300 communities, in 37 states and the District of Columbia. Partners / 6 Feb. 2016. He was award the Silver Star Medal, the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, and the Combat Infantrymens Badge for combat in Vietnam. Cutting serves on the Board of Directors and is the North Atlantic Regional Representative addressing` the specific concerns that face African American broadcasters. Click on the award winners name to read their biography. Jefferson He retired in September 1994. Programs / The idea being that there should be in the community a place where young Negro women could live, learn and work together in a wholesome and productive atmosphere. An avid lover of tennis, Cade taught youth tennis for decades and was instrumental in the establishment of Moving on Up with Tennis and Education in the City of Springfield. })(jQuery); The Springfield Urban League Inc. (SUL) announces that effective July 1, 2021, and following the impactful and transformative tenure of Nina M. Harris, Marcus Johnson willbe leading the organization as the 7th President & Chief Executive Officer of the 95-year-old community-based human resources corporation. Henry M. Thomas III. Morgan Web. Bureau In addition to continuing to teach part time at Kensington Avenue School, Mrs. Gouzounis works as a therapist at the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. He has been active in local and state politics, and serves on the boards of a number of human service agencies. [8], Jones played a significant role in President Franklin D. Roosevelt's administration, taking leave from the League to head the Department of Commerce unit for the study of "Negro problems", and serving as part of a group of African-American advisors known as the "Black Cabinet". Ronald E. Harrell has been honored with the 14th annual Ubora Award for his longstanding work with Boy Scout Troop 35, the only predominantly African-American troop in Massachusetts outside of Boston. 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