Urban League of Rochester, N.Y., Inc. Annual Report 2015
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URBAN LEAGUE OF ROCHESTER, N.Y., INC. ANNUAL REPORT 2015-2016 I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK WITH YOU ABOUT THE CHALLENGES WE FACED AT THE BEGINNING OF OUR 2015-2016 FISCAL YEAR , AND THE GREAT WORK OF OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS , S TAFF , AND VOLUNTEERS IN HELPING TO OVERCOME THESE DIFFICULT CHALLENGES . This past year was one of the most Obtaining funds is only one part of the equation. We need to have skilled, challenging periods I have faced in my professional staff members who are dedicated to working with our clients and 22 year tenure as CEO of the Urban providing quality services to our program participants. Without our dedicated League of Rochester. Why? We faced program staff, we would not be able to continue to provide the highly rated pro - the challenge of continuing our mission grams and quality services that Urban League offers to the Rochester community. of providing crucial programs and services For 51 years the Urban League of Rochester has been providing some of to our constituency during a period of the most impactful services in the Rochester community, but we realized that substantially reduced resources. One of few people outside of those who were actually enrolled or seeking enrollment in our major federal grants, YouthBuild, was our programs were aware of our success. Our board of director’s marketing and coming to the close of its three year fundraising committee took on the task of designing a comprehensive marketing funding cycle, which would have negatively campaign strategy to not only get the word out to the entire Rochester impacted the lives of the many young men community about the great programs we provide, but to lay the groundwork so and women enrolled in this program. that we can continue to raise the unrestricted dollars we need to supplement Our YouthBuild participants depend on the TASC education classes, the skill the public support on which we depend. building workshops, and the industry recognized credentials they attain; and Through the cooperation of our board of directors, our staff, Urban League they rely on the employment training and job placement services that Youth - members, and the many volunteers who support us, we have been able to realize Build provides in order to assist them in getting their lives back on track. Due increases in our unrestricted funding streams. Membership has increased, our to funding declines, the agency was facing a substantial fundraising gap. Annual Golf Tournament exceeded its fundraising goal, our Guild’s Distin - I am pleased to report that our board of directors, Urban League members, guished Male Cooks Event raised funds, and our Annual Luncheon brought staff, supporters and volunteers did not shrink from this significant challenge. recognition and revenue to the agency. They all “rolled up their sleeves,” went to work and tackled the task of closing In March we were honored to host our National Urban League President, the large budget gap. As a result of their hard work and dedication, we were Marc Morial, as our keynote speaker for our annual luncheon. Mr. Morial’s able to significantly reduce our funding gap without negatively impacting the presence capped a tremendous year for the Urban League of Rochester. We are quantity or quality of the services we offer to the community. starting 2016-2017 in a very strong position. The Urban League of Rochester’s A number of vital agency and community programs operated by the League future is bright! were renewed for our upcoming fiscal year, and we also received first time In closing, I thank you, our members, sponsors, donors, volunteers, funders, funding for several new initiatives. Thanks to the work of our planning division staff, and board members, for helping us achieve so much this year. I look staff, our Youth Build program was refunded for an additional three years. A forward to what we will accomplish together next year, and into the future! new multi-year federally funded reentry program, Face Forward-3, designed to provide a second chance to local residents reentering our community from the juvenile justice system, was funded and will provide additional support services to our clients for the next three years. We were also successful in securing funding for our AmeriCorps program, GEAR-UP, and our nationally recognized William G. Clark Project READY mentoring program. As a result of the renewed and new President & Chief Executive Officer programs, we enter this year in a much stronger position. Urban League of Rochester, NY, Inc. 2 l 2015 –2016 URBAN LEAGUE OF ROCHESTER ANNUAL REPORT IT IS WITH GREAT PRIDE THAT I SHARE WITH YOU MY THOUGHTS REGARDING THE URBAN LEAGUE , ITS STAFF , ITS BOARD , AND ITS GREAT FUTURE . Mr. Clark has illustrated the significant in 1985, there has been an increase in Black Scholars. We hope this trend financial challenges the Urban League of continues. One of our goals for next year is to reach out to all of our former Rochester has faced. It is because of the Black Scholars and ask for their help in reaching back and giving a hand to our work of Mr. Clark and his team of young students today. dedicated staff that we have made great A subsidiary corporation" of the Urban League that many don’t know strides in putting the Urban League on a about is our Economic Development Corporation (EDC). Its mission is to more solid financial footing. build and provide high-quality low to middle income housing that people can Our organization is served by a be proud to live in and help first time home buyers achieve that dream they strong and loyal Board of Directors, who didn’t think was possible. A great side benefit of EDC programming is that historically have placed the Urban we provide many good paying construction jobs to minority workers, many of League’s mission close to their hearts, but whom come through Urban League job training programs. no more so than this past year. Our As I finish my term as Board Chairman for the Urban League, I want to Board finds the resources, both human thank Mr. Clark, his terrific staff, the many outstanding, dedicated volunteers and financial, to help the Urban League succeed in its mission every day. I for welcoming and embracing me. Over my thirteen years as a board member, want to take a moment and thank each of them for their service. I have made many friendships that I know will last a lifetime. And, as I hand Our membership campaign made significant progress this year, as more over the Chairman’s gavel to Mr. Glen Jeter, I am fully confident that the people in our community recognized the importance of the Urban League. Urban League of Rochester and the tremendous impact that its programs have Many don’t know that our membership campaign is made possible because of on our community will continue well into the future. the work of our volunteer solicitors. These volunteers make presentations to their fellow parishioners and co-workers, explaining why Urban League programming is so important. Thank you for these efforts now and in the future. Our Black Scholars Program is certainly our most visible and well-known program. For thirty-seven years now, the Urban League has helped develop Richard L. Baum African American high school students across Monroe County and beyond for Chairperson, Board of Directors post-secondary success. Ever since the Early Recognition Program launched Urban League of Rochester, NY, Inc. 2015 –2016 URBAN LEAGUE OF ROCHESTER ANNUAL REPORT l 3 The mission of the Urban League of Rochester, NY is to enable African-Americans, Latinos, the poor and other disadvantaged to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power and civil rights. Business Development Our three-pronged strategy for pursuing the mission is: Services 6 BUSINESSES EXPANDED • Ensuring that our children are well Urban League Business Development Programs helped EMPLOYMENT BY educated and equipped for economic six businesses expand their employment by 45 employees. self-reliance in the 21st century; 15 Businesses supported by Urban League programming • Helping adults attain economic self- 45 increased their sales by over $4.5 Million. EMPLOYEES. sufficiency through good jobs, home ownership, entrepreneurship and wealth accumulation; and • Ensuring our civil rights by eradicat - ing all barriers to equal participation in the economic and social main - stream of America. 265 N. Clinton Ave. 15 Rochester, NY 14605 BUSINESSES INCREASED www.ulrochester.org SALES BY OVER $ (585) 325-6530 4,500,000 @UrbanLeagueRoch 4 l 2015 –2016 URBAN LEAGUE OF ROCHESTER ANNUAL REPORT 45 FAMILIES RECEIVED 1852 Developmental Disabilities HOURS OF Division RESPITE CARE. Urban League Day Habilitation programming helped 15 individuals engage in activities that helped to develop their daily living, communication and interpersonal skills. 45 families of individuals with developmental disabilities received a total of 1852 hours of respite care. 98% OF PROJECT READY Project Ready STEM STUDENTS WERE PROMOTED TO THE STEM NEXT GRADE During the 2015-2016 school year, more than 95% of the Project Ready STEM students achieved a school attendance of 93% or better and 98% percent of students were promoted to the next grade level. 2015 –2016 URBAN LEAGUE OF ROCHESTER ANNUAL REPORT l 5 ULREDC NOW OWNS AND MANAGES OVER 300 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING Home Store Program To help individuals and families achieve their dream of owning a home, 241 individuals attended Urban League Pre-Purchase and/or Post-Purchase education classes. To help families stay in their homes, the Urban League of Rochester Urban League provided Economic Development Foreclosure Prevention or Foreclosure Corporation Advocacy services In August, the ULREDC completed its $18 million M+M Rochester project to 15 clients.