In Touch: Tyra Banks and Others Honored by Urban League

Five outstanding individuals and an Urban League affiliate were honored last month by the National Urban League at its annual Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards, in Chicago, for their service to America and to the ideals of the Urban League movement.

This year's awardees were:  Chicago mayor, Richard M. Daley; former Illinois State Senator, Emil Jones; New Ventures CEO, Alexis Herman; TV producer and supermodel, Tyra Banks; long-time National Urban League Trustee, Robert J. Brown; and the Urban League of Philadelphia.

I presented the first annual "National Urban League President's Award" to Chicago Mayor, Richard M. Daley.  Since first taking office in 1989, Mayor Daley has been re-elected five times and has become one of the most powerful and caring big city mayors in America.  He has been a passionate voice for the people of America's urban cities and his efforts to improve public education are often cited as a model for the nation.

His former Education Superintendent, Arne Duncan, was tapped by President Obama to be Secretary of Education.

The Urban League of Philadelphia and its dynamic President and CEO, Patricia Coulter received the "Leadership Award" for their extraordinary efforts to eradicate racial inequality in the City of Brotherly Love.  

In recent years the Philadelphia affiliate has involved the City's citizens in a groundbreaking dialogue on race and has conducted "Empowerment Week" to shine a spotlight on issues of diversity and inclusion.

August 17, 2009
In Touch Magazine