Selected as one of two grant recipients in South Florida
FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. Oct 19, 2021 – The Urban League of Broward County is pleased to announce a $165,500 grant from Verizon to build its capacity to work with internal and external stakeholders to lead conversations about racial equity in the workplace, business, and community. The contribution will be leveraged to develop programming within the Urban League that will focus on racial equity, diversity and inclusion (REDI) leadership training, civic engagement, and advocacy. The grant is part of Verizon’s commitment to uplift underserved communities while strengthening local leadership to drive impactful change.
The new funding significantly boosts the Urban League’s ongoing efforts to address historic inequities that exist across its six service verticals of Education, Entrepreneurship, Jobs, Justice, Housing, and Health. “We are thankful to Verizon for this visionary investment,” said Urban League of Broward County President and CEO, Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh. “By making this responsive and timely contribution to the Urban League, they send a powerful message about our shared commitment to advance this critical movement-building work.”
In addition to providing financial support, Verizon will help bolster and amplify the Urban League’s REDI Initiative to advance racial equity for business leaders in the areas of Diverse Talent & Pipeline Development, Workplace Culture, Community Investment, and Supplier Diversity.
“Verizon is committed not only to a brand purpose of moving the world forward but also to helping ensure we move it forward for everyone,” said Merdochey LaFrance, Verizon’s Director of Local Engagement in South Florida. “Through our investment in the Urban League of Broward County’s REDI work, we commit to being a force for change and live up to the highest ideals of equality and justice. A better, more just future is within our reach if we can come together and amplify the voices that need to be heard.”
The Urban League’s partnership with Verizon began last year when Verizon contributed $50,000 to the Urban League to launch the Advocacy in Motion (AiM) Initiative which empowered residents of Broward County to take an active role in shaping the policies that impact their communities through activism, engagement, and service. The Urban League also produced a Virtual Leadership Chat Series, Morning Tea with Dr. G; a five-part virtual series that featured Broward leaders in business, health, education and community justice.
For more information on how to support this initiative and other community programs, please contact the Urban League of Broward County at (954) 584-0777 or visit ulbroward.org
