Black communities are in crisis from failing educational systems to escalating violence to high unemployment. ESSENCE CARES! A Call to Action to Secure Our Youth is an unprecedented youth-outreach initiative that aims to mobilize the collective Black community to become mentors, volunteers and advocates for young people in association with national and community organizations. We can and must address the critical issues that prevent our youth from reaching full potential.

The National Urban League is a proud participant of ESSENCE CARES!

Now is the time to step up and take a stand for our communities!

Please support the National Urban Leagues many youth and economic empowerment programs.

Featured NUL Program

Economic Empowerment in our commmunities is the civil rights agenda in the 21st century and the National Urban League is helping African Americans close the economic gap through programs that foster home ownership, jobs, entrepenuership and financial literacy. The League's Urban Youth Empowerment Program is just one example of how Urban League affiliates across the nation are helping our most disadvantaged young men and women help themselves.

The National Urban League's (NUL) Urban Youth Empowerment Program (UYEP) is a youth career preparation initiative that was designed for at-risk, out-of-school, and adjudicated youth and young adults between the ages of 18 and 24. The goals of the UYEP are to deliver the educational assistance, job training and employment and personal development acumen that are prerequisites to launching successful careers.

Just One of the Many things We Do:

UYEP operates in 27 Urban League affiliate sites across the country and is implemented in partnership with community and faith-based organizations. Each site offers comprehensive services for young men and women to enter full-time, private sector employment. Equally important, it prepares individuals for entry into the world of employment through:

• Mentorship
• Internships in the private sector
• Occupational skills training
• Personal development
• Unsubsidized employment

Summer 2006 will signify the inauguration of the UYEP special Gulf Coast Employment Initiative to serve youth and young adults displaced by Hurricane Katrina and other recent natural disasters. The program plans to serve 3,000 additional individuals over the next two years. Individuals can sign up as potential mentors and corporations have the opportunity to provide internships and employment opportunities for UYEP participants.

Things You Can Do To Help the Urban League in Your Community:

There are over 100 Urban League affiliates across the country. Individuals that are interested in helping out may volunteer in your local Urban League in your community through by serving as mentors, teachers, helping with community programs or assisting the League's fundraising efforts through one of the Urban League auxillary volunteer groups including National Urban League Young Professionals, Black Executive Exchange Program (BEEP).