New York, NY, July 14, 2000 –The National Urban League is celebrating its 90^th anniversary this year in New York, the city of its birth, at its annual conference July 29 through August 2.

Meanwhile, members of the National Urban League Young Professionals group–NULYP, as it\\\'s called–will chart out their contributions to the future of the civil rights movement in a series of plenary sessions, workshops and networking events targeted to professionals ages 21 to 40.

"Our mission is to engage young professionals in the National Urban League movement towards the achievement of social and economic equality," Karla Ballard, president of the NULYP, said. "We are an auxiliary of the National Urban League, and serve as an umbrella organization to all of the Urban League Young Professionals chapters around the country."

NULYP\\\'s specific plans for the National Urban League 2000 Annual Conference include a power breakfast featuring Niki Butler Mitchell, author of "The New Color of Success;" a dialogue and reception, titled, "Engaging Young Professionals in Social Activism;" and three plenary sessions: "Investment Fever! Wealth Building Strategies;" "Opportunities: High Technology and the New Economy," and "Hip Hop Music: Help or Hype?"

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Ms. Ballard believes the conference will be a good starting point to engage many young professionals to be a part of the National Movement.

"We are in the business of working towards the elimination of our societal ills. Our membership is comprised of entrepreneurs, business and community leaders, computer scientists, educators and others who support corporate social and community activism, and our meetings consist of proactive resolutions."

Through the NULYP, local chapters share resources, professional development ideas, fund raising practices, and proven community service initiatives that further the goals of the Urban League movement: to raise academic achievement, increase economic self sufficiency and promote racial inclusion for African Americans.

The NULYP currently has more than 20 chapters nationwide, and approximately 1,200 members. Designed to draw more young people into the Urban League movement, the NULYP are training the next generation of African-American leaders, entrepreneurs, and civil servants. Founded in 1910, the National Urban League is a nonprofit organization whose 114 affiliates in 34 states and the District of Columbia provide direct services and function as advocates to generate policy reforms that empower African-Americans to achieve economic, academic and racial equality. The League’s headquarters is located at 120 Wall Street in New York City.