1965–2010 The Urban League of Rochester 2009–2010 Annual Report A Message from the President and Board Chair BOARD OF DIRECTORS Oscar Holloway, Jr. Dear Members, Friends and Supporters: Chairperson Jack Cannon First Vice Chairperson This year, the Urban League of Rochester is 45 years old. The issues that Richard L. Baum the League addressed in 1965 remain at the forefront of our efforts Second Vice Chairperson today: employment, education and youth development, housing, and Franklyn D. Reynolds economic development. Third Vice Chairperson Craig Stevens Treasurer Rochester would be a different place without the Urban League. The Thomas M. Bartlett League has helped thousands to achieve economic self-sufficiency Assistant Treasurer through education, employment and training opportunities. Countless Eleanor Whitte Recording Secretary business enterprises are thriving due to our entrepreneurial assistance Carolyn D. Lewis programs. Thousands of families have realized the dream of owning Corresponding Secretary their first home, and thousands of Black Scholars have gone on to Julia Day become leaders in every profession. Officer-At-Large Essie L. Calhoun Officer At-Large Consider what 45 years means in terms of the energy and resources of Genoa Finley the League’s staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters: thousands Officer At-Large upon thousands of hours of devoted service to the community; thousands Glen Jeter Officer At-Large of Rochesterians donating generously over the years; and thousands of hearts and minds focused on the ideal of equality for Rochester’s minority Charmaine Cohen-Johnson and disadvantaged communities. William J. Daniels Emerson U. Fullwood We have accomplished a great many things, but we still have much to Willie Gladney Amy Herlehy do. Our schools are increasingly segregated and less than half of high Ernest L. Hicks school students in the Rochester City Schools graduate in four years. Jennifer Hilliard Our community’s African Americans and Latinos continue to suffer Kenneth L. Hines disparities in employment, wealth accumulation and health. For all Eric G. Johnson Walter Larkin these reasons, the Urban League is here to serve, here to stay. LaRhonda Leonard Patrick M. Malgieri We look forward with eagerness to continuing to bring relevant, Charles D. Reaves effective services to the community. Thank you for helping us to realize Rhondalynn Richards our vision of equality and empowerment for all citizens of the greater ADVISORY COUNCIL Rochester area. Carmen C. Allen Juliet Anderson Yours in service, Gregory Byrd Charlotte Clarke Sharon Conheady Dwight Hubbard Mark Maxim Roger L. Miller Terry L. Richards Eric S. Rogers James Stanbrough Kathryn Terrell Gaynelle Wethers Allen K. Williams URBAN LEAGUE GUILD Leomia Linton, President Shirl Clark, Vice President William G. Clark Oscar Holloway Etta Cohen, Treasurer Annette Brown, Secretary President & CEO Chair, Board of Directors Aldrina Butler, Parliamentarian 2 THE URBAN LEAGUE OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, INC. The Forming of the Urban League of Rochester From the 1940s to the early ’60s Rochester was one of the most comfortable cities in the U.S. Prosperous industries provided abundant jobs for highly skilled workers, and as a result, the median income of the city’s residents was among the highest in the nation. However, not all residents, especially The frustration in the black those in the rapidly growing black “We saw the need to community reached a boiling point community, enjoyed the benefits of have an Urban League. on a hot Friday night in July, 1964. this prosperity. The numbers of We didn’t quite know Hundreds of individuals rioted in African Americans in Rochester rose what it was, but we the streets, looting and destroying from 7,845 in 1950 to almost 50,000 needed something a businesses and effectively shutting by the end of the ’60s, mainly as a little higher,” down the city for three days, until result of emigration from the south. Kathryn Terrell, one city officials called in the National Extremely high unemployment, of the Urban League’s Guard to restore order. poor housing conditions, and limited founding members, access to good jobs and high quality quoted in 2005. Following the riots, a citizen education plagued the black committee chaired by Dr. William community. Most black families Knox, an Eastman Kodak scientist lived in crowded, substandard housing in two city turned to the National Urban League for help to neighborhoods, the Third and Seventh Wards. improve conditions for Rochester’s African American Discrimination and lack of training and educational community. The League had been working for civil opportunities kept many African Americans from rights and equal opportunity for African Americans benefitting from the strong labor market. While since 1910 and had affiliates in 70 U.S. cities. On overall unemployment in Rochester hovered around March 12, 1965, less than a year after the riots, the 1.8% in the early ’60s, as many as 25% of black new Urban League of Rochester was incorporated. residents were out of work. ANNUAL REPORT 2009–2010 3 Serving in the ’60s The League collaborated with other “We didn’t even have a community groups in 1970 and ’71 From its beginning, the Urban typewriter,” Anna Byrd to save 38 prime acres of Genesee League of Rochester focused on recalled about her first Valley Park. meeting the needs of the poor and day on the job as the minorities for equal access to jobs, League’s second employee The Urban League Guild of Rochester educational opportunities, housing in July, 1965. “I walked in was established on February 25, 1971. and the rights of citizenship. and found the Executive During the ’70s, the Guild operated The major programs were: Director, Robert Gudger, many activities for city youth and • Project Uplift – provided working on a card table. families and established a revolving summer community service There was no furniture.” scholarship fund for needy college jobs, recreation, exposure to students, a precursor to today’s different professions, and Black Scholars Endowment Fund. tutoring for over 400 poor 14 and 15-year-olds. • Operation Equality – promoted fair housing In 1973, William A. Johnson, Jr., Deputy Director of and fought against discriminatory zoning the Urban League of Flint, Michigan, came to town practices. to head the Urban League of Rochester. • On the Job Training – prepared and placed disadvantaged and minority individuals in jobs National Urban League President Vernon E. Jordan in local corporations. spoke to an audience of 750 at the League’s 1st Annual • Advancement for Clerical Training – taught Equal Opportunity Dinner in 1973. young adults, primarily women, how to type, use the latest in office equipment, follow office In 1973, the Urban League’s “Rap Around” radio etiquette, and dress for success. ACT served broadcast on community affairs first went on the air. over 3,000 students over a period of 24 years, The program continued on for nearly 10 years. 20 of which were under the management of Mrs. Anna Byrd. The program had an excellent The Soul Brothers Organization provided positive track record for placing its graduates in jobs. recreational and cultural activities for 500-700 inner city youth each year. Starting with just a handful of staff in 1965, the League had 38 employees by 1967. The Law Enforcement Minority Manpower Project was developed in 1976 out of the need to increase the number of minority police on Rochester’s force. Serving in the ’70s Working closely with the City of Rochester, the League’s staff provided classroom training to 120 men By 1970, the League’s budget had increased twenty- and women, resulting in the largest number of fold and it had 69 employees. The program areas minority individuals ever to pass the Civil Service Test. were Education & Youth, Economic Development & Employment, Housing & “Decent jobs, education and housing Urban Development, and for all people, regardless of race are Community Organizing & the basic goals which we are striving Development. The League to achieve. Frequently, systems and also began producing reports institutions which have served as on a wide range of issues impediments to social progress must such as racial isolation in be changed to accomplish these city schools, health disparities goals.” Fred L. Denson, Executive suffered by minority Director of the League wrote in the populations, and housing League’s first newsletter, May, 1971. discrimination in the Rochester area. 4 THE URBAN LEAGUE OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, INC. Serving in the ’80s The Reagan administration’s drastic cuts to federal job training programs hit the League’s training programs hard; however the agency was able to continue providing jobs programs for disadvantaged youth and adults throughout the 1980s. Throughout the decade, the League also continued producing research reports and policy statements on such topics as Affirmative Action and residential energy conservation. In 1980, the League produced the “HACIENDA Report” after a year-long study. This was the League’s first major initiative to address the needs of Rochester’s growing Latino population. The first Salute to Black Scholars event was held on A dozen board members and staff joined a National June 28, 1980. It was a Saturday luncheon recognizing Urban League march on the South African Embassy 56 students who were graduating from high school with in Washington, D.C. in 1958 to protest that country’s honors. The Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority presented policy of racial apartheid. scholarships to three young women. In subsequent years, the number of colleges, corporations, and civic In 1985, the Urban League of Rochester Economic groups providing scholarships for Black Scholars rose Development Corporation (ULREDC) was exponentially. established to oversee business and real estate development projects that would generate operating The League established a satellite office at 616 Jefferson revenue and minority employment. By fall of that Avenue in the early ’80s to provide homeownership year, ULREDC had completed construction of its first and neighborhood revitalization services for southwest single-family house at 184 N.