Urban League Twin Cities

THE ORGANIZATION IS AN UNAPOLOGETIC AND RELENTLESS ADVOCATE FOR THE EQUITY, JUSTICE, AND POWER FOR AFRICAN DESCENDANTS.

ULTC'S WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS OFFER JOB TRAINING, ASSESSMENT AND PLACEMENT FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE ENTERING THE WORKFORCE FOR THE FIRST TIME OR RE-ENTERING AFTER AN ABSENCE. WE FOCUS ON JOBS THAT OFFER FAMILY SUSTAINING WAGES IN HIGH GROWTH SECTORS INCLUDING BUILDING TRADES, IT, TRUCKING AND WAREHOUSE OPERATIONS. OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE PROVIDED TRAINING AND SUPPORT SERVICES TO 128 JOB SEEKERS. A TOTAL OF 78 RECEIVED SPECIALIZED TRAINING, AND 15 WERE PLACED IN FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT. OUR VIRTUAL JOB FAIRS HAVE ATTRACTED OVER 60 EMPLOYERS AND AVERAGE MORE THAN 50 JOB SEEKERS AND ATTENDEES PER FAIR.

ULTC HOUSING PROGRAMS SERVE THE FULL SPECTRUM OF CLIENTS FROM THE UNHOUSED TO RENTERS TO FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS. OUR HUD CERTIFIED HOUSING COUNSELLORS HELP CLIENTS TO CREATE A BUDGET AND SAVINGS PLAN TO HELP THEM CONTROL THEIR SPENDING, REDUCE DEBT, BUILD CREDIT AND SET A GOAL OF HOMEOWNERSHIP. OUR HOUSING PROGRAM HAS DISBURSED $42,776 ONE-TIME GRANTS TO 13 INDIVIDUALS TO REMOVE FINANCIAL BARRIERS TO THEIR ABILITY TO RENT HOUSING. BARRIERS SUCH AS SECURITY DEPOSITS, FIRST MONTH'S RENT, AND DEBTS TO PREVIOUS LANDLORDS. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH CITY OF LAKES COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, ULTC IS LAUNCHING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY LAND TRUST (AACLT) TWIN CITIES. THIS PROJECT WILL PROVIDE A MECHANISM FOR HOME OWNERSHIP AND EQUITY SHARING FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS AND PRESERVE AFFORDABILITY THROUGH SHARED EQUITY. A TWO-YEAR PILOT, THE AACLT WILL SUPPORT 20 NEW LAND TRUST HOMEOWNERS WITH DOWN PAYMENT AND REHAB ASSISTANCE

FACILITY LEASE AND RENTAL SERVICE - ULTC HAS BOTH MULTI-YEAR AND MONTHLY RENTAL TENANTS IN ITS HEADQUARTERS OFFICE LOCATED IN NORTH MINNEAPOLIS. TENANTS INCLUDE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, CHURCH OR RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, AND A SMALL BUSINESS. IN ADDITION, ULTC PROVIDES SHORT-TERM RENTALS OF ITS PUBLIC SPACES FOR MEETINGS AND EVENTS. EXAMPLES OF SHORT-TERM RENTALS INCLUDE BIRTHDAY AND GRADUATION CELEBRATIONS, COMMUNITY MEETINGS, PUBLIC HEARINGS AND LISTENING SESSIONS, CORPORATE VOLUNTEER EVENTS, USE AS AN ELECTION POLLING SITE, AND VENUE OF TAX PREPARATION SERVICES FOR LOW-INCOME PERSONS.

EDUCATION AND FAMILY SUPPORT BLACK GEMS HELPS PREPARE STUDENTS IN GRADES 9-12 FOR THE COLLEGE EXPERIENCE, INTEGRATING ACADEMIC SKILL BUILDING WITH LIFE-SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND COLLEGE CULTURE AWARENESS. SENIORS ARE PAIRED WITH A MENTOR WHO WILL HELP THEM THROUGH THEIR FRESHMAN YEAR OF COLLEGE. STUDENTS WHO COMPLETE THE SIX-MONTH CURRICULUM ARE ELIGIBLE TO ATTEND A TOUR OF HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES. ULTC CO-AUTHORED AND PUBLISHED THE MN EQUITY IN ACTION FRAMEWORK IN APRIL 2022 IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MN DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS. THE FRAMEWORK PROMOTES EQUITABLE POWER RELATIONSHIPS FOR SIX DRIVERS OF EDUCATION EXCELLENCE THAT INCREASE THE LIKELIHOOD OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR ALL STUDENTS. ULTC FORMED THE CENTER FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE BLACK FAMILY AS AN EFFORT TO BRING ATTENTION TO THE DISPARITY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN CHILDREN REMOVED FROM THEIR FAMILY FOR REASONS OF NEGLECT AND PROVIDE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS USING MN STATUTE 357(C). WE WILL HIRE A PROJECT DIRECTOR FOR THE CENTER'S "COMMUNITY CARING FOR ITS CHILDREN" INITIATIVE, ADVOCATING FOR A CHANGE IN THE LEGAL AND PRACTICAL STRUCTURES THAT GOVERN THE OUT-OF HOME PLACEMENT PROCESSES.