FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2008

URBAN LEAGUE YOUNG PROFESSIONALS RECEIVE NATIONAL AWARD

It’s an understatement to say this group of young professionals is having a good year. Founded less than a year ago, the Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals chapter has grown to 85 members and was recently honored as New Outstanding Chapter of the Year by the National Urban League.

The chapter was chosen for the honor from among 53 Urban League groups from around the nation. Members were recognized in front of 5,000 people at the National Urban League conference in July in Orlando.

Young Professionals include: (left to right) Eric Stokes, Carole Cook, Clarence Vaughn(in back), Tierney Bates, Jamia Stokes, Quina Hardy, Yolanda Byrd, Keith Austin(in back), Susy Langley, Dr. Jennifer Rayner

“It was a great sight to see the incredible diversity of the audience,” said chapter president Tierney Bates. “To see other young people getting involved and focused on the movement was also an inspiration,” he said.

Phyllis Y. Nichols, president and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League said the award just reinforces the many good things that are happening with the Young Professionals. “It has truly been a pleasure watching this group grow and contribute to the community in the last year,” said Nichols. “We are here to help young professionals of all races to become leaders and to make a meaning impact in the community.”

Attendees at the national conference included: (left to right) Lonnie Jones, KAUL board member; Tierney Bates, chapter president; Carole Cook; Phyllis Y. Nichols, KAUL president and CEO; Quina Hardy; Yolanda Byrd and Keith Austin

The Knoxville Area Urban League Young Professionals meet the first Monday of every month at the Urban League offices on East Fifth Avenue in Knoxville. Membership is open to young professionals between the ages of 21 and 40. Members are encouraged to network and volunteer not only with the Urban League but throughout the community.

For more information on the Knoxville Area Urban League and its programs, call (865) 524-5511 or visit http://www.thekaul.org.

The Knoxville Area Urban League, a civil rights and social service organization was founded in 1968, at the height of the Civil Rights movement, to promote equal opportunities for African-Americans in Knoxville. Today, the Knoxville Area Urban League is a non-profit, non-partisan, interracial community-based organization.

The Knoxville Area Urban League is an affiliate of the National Urban League. Established in 1910, The Urban League is the nation’s oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are more than 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research.

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