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President Message:
As the Urban League of Greater Columbus reaches another milestone in its history, it has much for which to be thankful. Looking back, the League’s growth and transition from its humble beginnings in a trailer behind the Friendship Baptist Church on Fifth Avenue to its present location, the services it offers and the influence it brings for good in the community is something of which it can be proud.
Envisioning the future
Thirty two years ago, when the “Baker’s Dozen” orchestrated the birth of the Columbus affiliate, little did they know that they were creating an institution that would, by the year
2003, have over half-million dollar budget, ten full-time staffers, five distinct and viable program areas, and three supporting auxiliaries to assist with helping the disadvantaged and others in the Chattahoochee Valley.
Nor did they envision a
Technology Center with computers linked directly to the Internet where children and their parents could access the Web for homework, research, news, and more.
They probably didn’t imagine 30
CASAs (Court Appointed
Special Advocates) racing around the city researching home environments, schools, and neighborhoods to provide Juvenile Court judges with a different point of view for the benefit of abused or neglected children entangled in the juvenile justice and foster care systems.
Little would they have thought that the League touches nearly 3000 children and their parents through,
youth employment, block parties motivational programs, "Doing the Right Thing" rallies, and special
summer youth activities in the field of fine arts.
They could not have know that today, there will be those who are unemployed with challenges in their lives and backgrounds that deny them an opportunity to work – but we found them jobs; that there would be families who are about to lose their homes and we helped avoid foreclosures; that we provide advice and training about home ownership and “basic economics” to those about to become involved with owning their first home.
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