Northern Virginia Urban League Northern Virginia Urban ... · 25” Fundraising Campaign, and...

Northern Virginia Urban League Impact Report

A Standard f Excellence

2014-2015 Annual Impact Report

Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network



Table of Contents

Welcome and Introduction: President’s Message

Leadership: Executive Board

Affiliate Support: Building a Stronger Northern Virginia Urban League Together

Membership Engagement: Personal and Professional Development

Membership Engagement: Leadership Development

Community Impact: Civic Engagement and Participation

Community Impact: Education

Community Impact: Health and Housing

Community Impact: Jobs and Economic Development

Communications: Enhancing Our Impact

Fund Development: Leveraging Partnerships and Social Programs

Supporting our Sister Chapters

Honoring Our Legacy


President’s Message

Greetings Young Professionals,

It is my honor and privilege to submit to you the Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network 2014-2015 Annual Impact Report. This Report reflects the summation of the time, talent, and treasure we have invested in the Northern Virginia Community. Although, we are headquartered in Alexandria City—our footprint extends much further to Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties.

This year as we celebrated 15 years of Empowering Communities and Changing Lives across Northern Virginia, we focused on building stronger relationships in the community, more strategically supporting and engaging with our Affiliate, and providing services to Northern Virginia’s most vulnerable population. By setting a “Standard of Excellence” as our theme for the year, we

Increased our affiliate service by 59%

Increased active membership

Increased cross-committee collaboration and fundraising efforts

Increased our social media reach and followership

As we continue to set a standard of excellence over the next 15 years, we will continue to work to improve the lives of those most vulnerable and disadvantaged in the Northern Virginia community.

Yours in the movement,

Traci J. DeShazor, MA | President Ronald Hobson | Chairman Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network Northern Virginia Urban League Board of Directors


2014-2015

Executive Board

Traci DeShazor President

Angela C. Kasey Vice President

Garrett James Parliamentarian

Sabrina Pinnix Treasurer

Aminata Ly Secretary

Edith Tudae Historian

Michelle Hamilton Director of

Communications

Jenale Scarlett Director of

Community Service

Marcus Coleman Director of

Fund Development

Janea Raines Director of

Personal and Professional Development

Amber English Director of

Political Engagement

Shamika Lewis Director of

Social Programs


Affiliate Service

$12,363.04

2,519 Direct Service Hours Provided a $5, 000 Scholarship to Northern Virginia an area high school student attending the University of Virginia Maintained Affiliate Facebook Page—Increasing Followership by 37% to 274 Followers Maintained Affiliate CEO Facebook Page Filled-In as Affiliate Board Secretary (upon request) Engaged on Affiliate Revenue Generating and 25th Annual Dinner Committees Provided 15 Freedom House Museum Tours to more than 233 visitors Supported the Affiliate’s Resource Mothers and Grandfathers’ Group Programs through financial and volunteer support Provided graphic design support to help market Golf Tournament, “25 for 25” Fundraising Campaign, and Annual Dinner Supported the Affiliate Golf Tournament by providing financial and volunteer support Hosted a “Getting to Know the Leaders in the League” mixer with the Affiliate and the Guild Provided support for Affiliate Selma screening Provided volunteer support for the Affiliate’s Anniversary Mixer with U.S. Senator Mark Warner Supported Affiliate Board Chairman Hobson by attending his LA Fitness

Aerobics Class

Resource Mothers Program

The Resource Mothers Program provides a combination of social support, education and practical assistance to teens as they experience the crisis of a teen pregnancy and make the transition to parenthood. These programs have demonstrated

effectiveness in improving the birth outcomes for the high-risk pregnant teen and her family. This year the Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals provided Holiday Gift Cards for the mothers and Thanksgiving Food Baskets for the mothers and their families.

Grandfathers Group Mentoring Program

Premised on the fact that children in homes without a father present are twice as likely to drop out of school, this highly successful program of 10 years uses an intergenerational approach to mentoring young African American and Hispanic males. The program helps them to enhance and develop a sense of honesty, personal integrity, morality and self-esteem through examples set by senior African-American males mentors who volunteer their time to help promote positive behavior among young men of color. Our “Grandfather Mentors” offer their life experiences, knowledge, instincts and abilities to help shape the character of young men ages 9-12. The mentors maintain at least four (4) monthly contacts with their mentees including a minimum of two face to face contacts designed to facilitate bonding and positive social interaction. NVULYPN provided tutoring and mentorship---helping

facilitate and provide speakers for the Program.

$11, 693.44 Cash

$719.10 In-Kind


Membership Engagement

Personal and Professional Development

Professional Speaker Series During the 2014-2015 term, the Personal and Professional Development Team planned and executed 11 General Body Meetings as part of their Professional Speaker Series. Each General Body Meeting (GBM) provided a monthly forum for current and future members to develop themselves both personally and professionally through direct engagement with subject matter experts in the areas of:

Financial Literacy and Planning

Building and Developing Healthy Relationships

Vision and Goal Setting

Philanthropy

Leadership

Health and Wellness

Professional Branding

Book-N-Lunch: Book Club During the 2014-2015 term, the Personal and Professional Development Team re-launched NVULYPN’s Book Club: Book-N-Lunch (formerly known as “The Forum”) meeting for 3 discussions and reading:

Militant Mediator: Whitney M. Young, Jr.

The New Jim Crow

Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?


Membership Engagement

Leadership Development

Organizational and Community Leadership Traci DeShazor | President | NVULYPN Gubernatorial Appointee, Virginia Office of Intergovernmental Affairs Member, Northern Virginia Urban League Board of Directors

Chair, Diversity and Inclusion, National Capital Region Chapter, Virginia Tech Alumni Association Communications Lead, Northern Virginia Coalition Vice President of Research and Policy, Virginia Leadership Institute Angela C. Kasey | Vice President | NVULYPN Chair, Northern Virginia Association of Realtors-Young Professionals Network Member, Paws2Care Advisory Board John T. Chapman | Member | NVULYPN Gubernatorial Appointee, Alexandria City Councilman Raquel McLaughlin | Member | NVULYPN Member, DC Area USC Alumni Association Board of Directors Kezia Williams | Member | NVULYPN Founder and Chair, Capital Cause

Small Business Ownership Garrett James | Parliamentarian | NVULYPN Founder and Owner, Capitol Media, USA Tyra Beamon | Member | NVULYPN

Founder and Owner, Sincerely Ty Jenee Padmore | Member | NVULYPN Owner and Founder, Easy on the Eyez Event Décor Owner and Founder, Padmore Hospitality Pamela Perkins | Member | NVULYPN Founder, Leadership Matters, LLC Maurice Mbata | Member |NVULYPN Owner, MIM Insurance Solutions Howard A. Foard, III | Member | NVULYPN Omega Strategies, LLC Frank Brown | Member | NVULYPN CEO and Founder, Capital Visions Group Raquel McLaughlin | Member | NVULYPN RideSportation, LLC

Awards and Recognition Traci DeShazor | President | NVULYPN Women’s Empowerment Award for Philanthropy Young Women of Vision Nominee, Women’s Information Network

Marcus Coleman | Director of Fund Development | NVULYPN National Recognition for professional efforts around Disaster Preparedness with U.S. Department of Homeland Security (FEMA)

Salim Adofo | Member | NVULYPN Top 40 Under 40, Leadership Arlington

Leadership Development Traci DeShazor | President | NVULYPN

VCU, Grace E. Harris Minority Political Leadership Institute UVA, Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership Political Leaders Program

Marcus Coleman | Director of Fund Development | NVULYPN Harvard School of Public Health, National Preparedness Leadership Initiative Executive Program Latriece Prince-Wheeler | Member | NVULYPN Leadership Arlington Nicole Lewis | Member | NVULYPN Claudia L. McKoin Public Leadership Service Academy Leadership Arlington

“Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.”

-Warren Bennis


Community Impact

Civic Engagement and Participation

10th Annual Political Forum The Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network hosted the 10th Annual Political

Forum on October 6, 2014. The purpose of the Political Forum is to increase political awareness in

the Northern Virginia community, educate minority constituents on Candidates’ platforms, and

increase minority voter participation amongst young professionals ages 21-40 in the Northern

Virginia community. This year’s Forum focused on Candidates running for Virginia’s 8th

Congressional District. Democratic, Republican, Independent, and Green Party Candidates were

represented in the Forum which received media coverage from the Alexandria Patch local

publication. More than 50 area residents attended the Forum.

National Day of Empowerment On November 8, 2014, the Northern Virginia

Urban League Young Professionals Network

hosted a National Day of Empowerment Town

Hall focused on Student Loan Debt. The Town

Hall gave current and future members the

opportunity to interact with a panel of subject

matter experts including Shelia Islong, Public

Policy Manager for the “Higher Ed Not Debt

Campaign” for the Center for American

Progress, Jasmine Hicks, Director for the Higher

Education Campaign with the Young Invincibles,

and Dominique Broadway, Personal Finance

Coach and Founder of Finances Demystified.

Participants discussed ways to advocate around

student loan reform. According to CNN, more

than 40 million Americans have student loan

debt. NVULYPN continues to engage on this

important issue.

Rides to the Polls

On Tuesday, November 4, 2014, in collaboration with the NOVA Coalition,

Omicron Kappa Kappa Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc., and the

Nu Xi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. the Northern Virginia

Urban League Young Professionals Network provided rides to the polls to

more than 30 senior residents in the Elmwood and Lockwood House Senior

Living facilities in Arlington, Virginia for the 3rd consecutive year.

Program Description: NVULYPN partnered with the Omicron Kappa Kappa

chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity on 11/4/2014 to provide rides to

the polls for senior residents of the Elmwood House & Lakewood House

communities in Arlington, VA.

Photos:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152745044481422.107

3741901.144515841421&type=3


Community Impact

Civic Engagement and Participation

Interacting with Law Enforcement: Town Hall

On Monday, October 27, 2014 the Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network hosted Know YOUR Rights: Interacting with Law Enforcement---an engaging Town Hall style discussion designed to give Northern Virginia area Young Professionals the opportunity to dialogue around interacting with law enforcement, race relations, police misconduct, and recent occurrences of excessive use of force around the nation. The Town Hall featured LaDonna Saunders, President of the Alexandria NAACP, Salim Adofo, National Vice Chairperson for the National Black United Front, and Arthur Romano, Adjunct Professor at

George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution.

March Against Police Misconduct

A collaborative effort between the National Urban League and the National Action Network, the March on Washington called for the Department of Justice to make fundamental changes to the criminal justice system. NVULYPN was also joined by the Alexandria branch of the NAACP, Capital Cause, the League of United Latino Organizations (LULAC), the National Black United Front (NBUF), and the Women's

Information Network (WIN).

Engaging Alexandria City and Prince William Law Enforcement

The Political Engagement Committee under the leadership of Amber English joined with the Alexandria and Prince

Williams County Branches of the NAACP to engage Law Enforcement on how to

improve and promote positive community-police relations across

Northern Virginia.


Education

Community Impact

The LEAD Conference

Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals joined Young

Professionals from across the country to participate in a Green Grass

Generation community service project. The project gave the Young

Professionals the opportunity to teach elementary school students about

recycling, upcyling and conserving energy and water. Through using the Green

Grass Generation curriculum, an interactive 45-minute session, Young

Professionals helped students determine 'how to improve the future of our

planet through sustainable practices.” This was not only an opportunity for

NULYP leaders to reinforce the Urban League commitment to service and

sustainability but to also teach the next generation of leaders how to maintain

and preserve our planet.

College Survival 101

College Survival 101 is a one-day workshop geared toward high school students and their parents to prepare them for college success.

The interactive day is filled with informational sessions on financial literacy and budgeting, choosing a college major, navigating social

life, time management, and campus life. Students also enjoyed a mini-college fair

featuring a ½ dozen colleges and universities.

Several students received “survival kits” complete with Wal-Mart gift cards, supplies,

shower gear and more! One lucky student also walked away with a $500 book scholarship

for their 1st semester at college.

4,761 Service Hours


Community Impact

Education

5th Annual Backpack Drive

Across the country and specifically in Northern Virginia, teachers and

school officials have found that, in many instances, the first day of school

comes and their jobs of equipping the minds of our youth are difficult as

many young people do not have basic supplies. This is a situation that the

Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network (YPN) has

strategically worked to address. For the past 5 years, YPN has held an

annual Backpack Drive to ensure Northern Virginia’s most vulnerable

community was prepared for a successful year ahead. The Northern

Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network collected and stuffed

173 backpacks for 6 local shelters, community centers, and schools.

173 Backpacks

“150 for 15” Book Drive

In order to encourage summer reading and

promote literacy, the Northern Virginia Urban

League Young Professionals Network in

collaboration with the Virginia State Bar Young

Lawyers Conference donated 706 books to

Patrick Henry Elementary School. Students will be

allowed to check out books as they adjourn for

summer. The goal was to provide 150 books in

honor of NVULYPN’s 15th Anniversary. The goal

was exceeded by 371%!

706 books


Community Impact National Day of Service

Nine high school students from Alexandria, Virginia came

together for a Mobile Application Pitch Competition. Each

student had the support of young professionals well-versed

in business, marketing, and entrepreneurship to assist them

with a mobile application concept design. The purpose of

the event was to encourage the students to think of solutions

centering on problems in the areas of jobs and economic

development, health, housing, and education. Upon

completing their concepts, the students then “pitched” their

mobile application designs to a panel of judges. The

competition gave students the opportunity to develop

public speaking and marketing skills.

Health and Housing


Jobs and Economic Development

Community Impact

The Millennial Jobs Summit In collaboration with GenerationNext, the Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network held its first Millennial Jobs Summit. The event—geared toward innovators, thought leaders, career professionals, and students looking to find and create their next opportunity—featured:

Millennial Job Fair & Startup/Small Business Expo

Career Development Workshop

Women in Tech Panel

Entrepreneur Development Panel

Join Week Getting to the “C-Suite” with U.S. Black Chambers, Inc.

President and CEO Ron Busby, Sr.

Collaboration with strategic partners in the community not only allows us to engage a larger part of Northern Virginia, but also provide unique learning experiences. Our collaboration with the USBC is a great example of this. The USBC is an organization comprised of self-sustaining, viable Black Chambers and nationwide small business associations. During Join Week 2015, USBC President and CEO Ron Busby engaged NVULYPN current and future members in an intimate conversation sharing his personal story for triumph and what it takes to be a successful entrepreneur and business owner

today.


Communications 1, 491Page Likes

1,129 2013-2014 840 2012-2013

3,153 Followers 2,195 2013-2014 1098 2012-2013

128 Page Followers Created 2014-2015

162 Followers 31 2014

Communications

Increased our Social Media Presence and Engagement

Re-launched LinkedIn Page

Launched Instagram

Launched MailChimp as a form of CRM for weekly chapter updates

Expanded Communications Committee to 12 Members

Trained 2 New Committee Members to maintain recently updated website

Streamlined our communications to include transitioning from Constant Contact to MailChimp. This transition resulted in a $540 (12 months of service) cost savings.

Updated the format of our weekly digest to include direct links to the NULYP Annual Report and the 2015 NUL Save Our Cities Report

Launched “15 for 15” Campaign to commemorate NVULYPN’s 15th Anniversary and raise funds for the Scholarship Endowment Fund

Initiated “Why I Lead” Campaign to encourage membership and promote the Urban League mission

Leveraged Committee resources—resulting in $816.45 in cost savings

1, 703 subscribers Created 2014-2015

32%

44%

115%


Communications

The Blue Campaign

The Political Engagement Committee in

collaboration with the League of Women

Voters hosted Human Trafficking: Here and

Now to increase awareness around human

trafficking in Northern Virginia. The Committee

was supported by the U.S. Department of

Homeland Security’s Blue Campaign.

Additionally, the Committee’s efforts were

highlighted in a report to the White House.

Enhancing Our Impact

The Communications Committee in collaboration with

the Social Programs, Political Engagement, and Fund

Development Committees enhanced our reach and

followership by developing and fostering

relationships with a variety of organizations across

Northern Virginia.


Fund Development

Black Opal: The Gatsby Edition

On Saturday, May 16, 2015, the Northern Virginia

Urban League Young Professionals Network hosted

the 6th Annual Black Opal Fundraising Gala. The

event, hosted by Rev. Lennox Yearwood, President

and CEO of the Hip Hop Caucus, honored Young

Philanthropists across Northern Virginia as well as the

founders of NVULYPN; Paula Fisher, Marvin Reese,

Danyelle-Taylor, Michael Diggins, Kevin Taylor, and

Alicia Smith. Proceeds from Black Opal support our

Scholarship Endowment Fund and Programs.

Leveraging Partnerships and Social Programs


Fund Development

Fundraisers

H & R Block Referral Program

Black Opal: Black Out Happy Hour

6th Annual Black Opal Fundraising and Awards Gala

Giving Tuesday

Black Philanthropy Month

NVULYPN Merchandise Sale: T-Shirts, wristbands, and backpacks

Small Business Spotlight Campaign

Amazon Prime

“$15, $150, $1,500 for 15 Campaign”

Donor Mixer

Ways to Give

Mobile Text: Text “YPN” to 41444 to donate

Razoo: http://www.razoo.com/story/nvulypn

Paypal

www.nvulypn.org

Amazon Prime

OUR Dollars at Work

Gift Giving Circle: Scholarship Endowment Fund

This year the Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network provides a $5,000 to Yafiet Gojela.

Yafiet will attend University of Virginia in the fall.

Corporate Sponsors: Booz Allen Hamilton American Institutes for Research

Safeway

http://www.razoo.com/story/nvulypn

http://www.razoo.com/story/nvulypn

http://www.nvulypn.org/


Honoring Our Legacy

Sister Chapter Support

Supporting Our Sister Chapters

Attended 13 events in support of our Sister Chapters

Collaborated with Thursday Network to host Legislative

Policy Conference late night social at the Huxley Lounge in

Washington DC

Worked with Thursday Network to support the March on

Washington Against Police Misconduct

Provided financial support to the Urban League of Greater

Richmond Young Professionals Network scholarship fund

Supported the Buffalo Urban League Young Professionals

Annual Soiree Fundraiser

Supported the Greater Baltimore Urban League Leadership

Association Annual Masquerade Ball

Our Sister Chapters Supporting Us

During the 2015 Legislative Policy Conference, more

than 10 Chapters supported the Northern Virginia Urban

League Young Professionals for our 2nd Annual Wine and

Cheese Reception at our historic Freedom House Museum

Young Professionals from the Buffalo, Washington DC,

New York, and Baltimore joined NVULYPN for our 6th

Annual Black Opal Fundraising Gala

$320 in financial

support


Honoring Our Legacy

Health

The Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network (YPN), celebrated our 15th birthday in

style by honoring our founders, past leaders, and by charging current members to always remember the

purpose and continue the movement. Whitney M. Young once said, “It is better to be prepared for an

opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.” Young, a former

Executive Director of the National Urban League, knew the importance of taking advantage of every

opportunity as he spawned unprecedented growth for the organization during one of the most challenging

periods in American History, the Civil Rights Era.

Fast forward to 2014, YPN, in celebrating our 15th year anniversary, are both prepared and clearly

seeing the opportunities that lay ahead for us. Many of these opportunities will be in the areas of growth,

collaboration across silos, and in continuing the dedication to the mission of creating positive change in

Northern Virginia. What began as a call to action, by then Northern Virginia Urban League President,

George Lambert, to six young professionals: Michael Diggins, Paula Fisher, Marvin Reese, Alicia Smith,

Danyelle Taylor and Kevin Taylor, has grown into the powerful organization seen today. YPN is truly a

training ground for new leaders. In the 15 years since its founding, YPN has donated thousands of hours

moving the Urban League’s mission forward and has collaborated with many community partners to

promote community empowerment, professional development and overall community building among

Northern Virginia residents.

“Celebrating 15 years of Service”

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