The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is celebrating its team for its “tireless dedication and hard work,” which has enabled the organization to maintain its prestigious Five-Star Status for an incredible 20 years, says Michael P. McMillan, Urban League president and CEO.
This distinction, originally awarded under the leadership of Marc Morial, National Urban League president is measured by the National Urban League’s Standard for Excellence. This includes analysis of 128 key indicators of success that are judged in governance, finances and programs.
As the first affiliate to achieve this designation, the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis is also honored to be the longest-standing recipient of the recognition.
“Achieving and maintaining Five-Star Status requires rigorous and continuous evaluations in governance, financial accountability, and program execution, ensuring that the organization consistently meets the highest standards,” said McMillan.
“We are immensely grateful to our dedicated staff for their unwavering commitment to upholding our legacy of excellence. Their efforts allow us to make a meaningful and lasting impact on the communities we serve.
“With more collaborations and partnerships than at any point in its history, the Urban League continues to expand its reach and services, positively affecting the lives of thousands in the St. Louis region.”
The honor comes after a stellar summer for the Urban Lague in which it opened a senior apartment building and broke ground on a new Urban League Plaza in Dellwood.
In addition, St. Louis was again recognized as a National Urban League Affiliate of the Year and received the John W. Mack Medal of Honor.
The award recognizes high-performing affiliates across the nation and celebrates their “exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to supporting marginalized communities.”
Urban League affiliates that demonstrate outstanding performance in their respective market sizes—large, medium, and small – are honored with the award.
Boeing bound
The Urban League celebrated the commencement of a Save Our Sons class on October 14, with several gaining employment with Boeing.
“Congratulations to graduates of our Save Our Sons program, who are taking off into exciting new careers with Boeing,” said McMillan.
“Your dedication and resilience have brought you to this amazing achievement, and we couldn’t be prouder. This is just the beginning of your journey, and we look forward to seeing you make a lasting impact. Keep soaring.”
By offering employment and work ethic skills, the Save Our Sons (SOS) assists economically disadvantaged African American men living in the St. Louis region in finding jobs and possible future careers. For many, it is the first opportunity to earn livable wages.
The four-week program includes instructions on how to find a job; how to keep a job; how to receive a promotion; and how to remain marketable in the workplace.
Boeing was instrumental in the establishment of the Save Our Sons program with a $110,000 donation.
The donation was part of a $10.6 million donation to 20 nonprofits working to address racial equity and social justice in the United States.
“Boeing has played a critical role in supporting people getting jobs and economic opportunities to advance themselves and their families,” said McMillan.
The Urban League appreciates the multi-faceted relationship of our two organizations that involves board representation from the company, volunteerism from the employees and charitable support for empowerment programs. Our relationship is the ideal collaboration that fosters long term sustainable growth and upward mobility for our clients.”
David Calhoun, former Boeing president and CEO who retired in August, said the firm “acknowledges the toll that systemic racism and social injustice have had on people of color, particularly Black communities here in the United States.”
“As we work internally to confront these issues, we also remain focused on addressing the causes and impacts of racism and social inequality in the communities where our employees live and work.”
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