Memphis Urban League_Official

URBAN LEAGUE LEADERS CALL FOR FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS INVESTIGATION INTO FATAL SHOOTING BY SHERIFF’S DEPUTY IN ILLINOIS

NEW YORK and SPRINGFIELD, IL. (July 23, 2024) -- Citing concerns that law enforcement prioritized self-preservation over transparency and accountability, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and Springfield Urban League President and CEO Marcus Johnson have asked the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate the July 6 fatal shooting of Sonya Massey by Sangamon County Deputy Sheriff Sean Grayson earlier this month.

In a letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, the leaders asked that the Department investigate whether Grayson’s conduct violated federal civil rights laws, and whether the shooting is part of an agency-wide pattern or practice of constitutional violations.

They also requested a meeting with Garland to discuss the persistently high number of police-involved shootings across the country, especially in Black and brown communities.

“According to public reporting, Officer Grayson did not turn on his body worn camera until after he shot Ms. Massey, in violation of Department best practices,” the leaders wrote. “If it were not for Officer Grayson’s unnamed partner, who did have his body camera on, we would not have an accurate understanding of the events of July 6, 2024.”

The body camera footage was not made available to Massey’s family until two weeks after the shooting, raising further questions about the integrity of the investigation.

“Watching the video of Sonya Massey’s tragic end has only strengthened my resolve to ensure that justice is not only sought but achieved," Johnson said. "This moment must be more than a fleeting instance of grief; it must be a catalyst for enduring change. We cannot let this tragedy become just another statistic. It must galvanize us to action, to challenge and dismantle the systems of oppression that perpetuate such inhumanity."

This incident underscores the desperate need for national reform measures aimed at enhancing accountability, transparency, and oversight of law enforcement. The National Urban League urges Congress to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. This legislation represents a critical step towards rebuilding trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. We cannot sit by and continue to allow senseless killings of our community by police to continue. The time to act is now, to honor the memory of Sonya Massey and countless others.

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: "HEARTFELT GRATUDE AND ADMIRATION" FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN'S HISTORIC TERM, URGES NEXT PRESIDENT TO "PICK UP THE TORCH'

NEW YORK (July 21, 2024)-- TThe National Urban LeaguePresident and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s announcement that he will not seek reelection and will endorse Vice President Kamala Harris to ascend to the top of the Democratic presidential ticket:

“Joe Biden assumed the presidency during an unprecedented moment of racial reckoning and responded with a historic commitment to racial justice and equity, which included the appointment of the most diverse Cabinet in history and the selection of the first woman and first African American Vice President Kamala Harris. President Biden's commitment and the work of the Biden-Harris Administration has resulted in meaningful policy changes for Black Americans across economic opportunity, education, health care, criminal justice, housing, the environment, and civil rights protections.

“As we noted in the progress report we issued as part of National Urban League’s 2024 State of Black America, parts of the Biden-Harris equity agenda, parts of the Biden-Harris agenda have been blocked by Congress and an ultra-conservative Supreme Court. The next President will have an obligation to pick up the torch and continue the fight.

“For the time that remains in President Biden’s term, we recommit ourselves to that equity agenda, and offer our heartfelt gratitude and admiration for a truly extraordinary and transformative career in public service.

“As we enter the next phase of the presidential campaign, the National Urban League hopes that it will proceed in a spirit of civility and national unity, remaining focused on the unfinished work of creating an equitable and inclusive society that works for all Americans.”

Protecting and Advancing Voting Rights for all Eligible Voters

The The National Urban League’s Reclaim Your Vote campaign is a national effort to promote voter registration, voter education, and voter activation with the power of the Urban League Affiliate and Volunteer movement and our strategic partners.

We prioritize civic engagement and protecting voting rights because the people we elect matter. Our vote is our voice; it decides our future and shapes the world around us. In order to Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity, and Defeat poverty- we must vote.

The work is led by our Equitable Justice & Strategic Initiatives (EJSI) division which works to increase voter engagement and registration through grassroots initiatives and partners with our Washington Bureau and advocacy partners to protect the right to vote for all Americans regardless of their racial, gender, ethnic, or socioeconomic background.

Each year, we engage millions of voters across the country to increase voter turnout and empower our communities to make their voices heard to drive change where they live and across America.

Miska Clay Bibbs

The Tennessee Primary Election is happening, Thursday, August 1!

The deadline to request an absentee ballot is Thursday, July 25, but you should apply for your ballot as soon as possible to allow time for processing.

Request your absentee ballot!
https://www.rockthevote.org/how-to-vote/request-an-absentee-ballot/?source=email

You must mail your ballot in time for your county election commission to receive it no later than the close of polls on Election Day, August 1. You must return your ballot by mail (USPS, FedEx, UPS, etc.). Hand delivery or handing it to a poll worker during early voting or on Election Day is not permitted.

Stay tuned for more information from Rock the Vote about voting options in Tennessee. It's more important than ever that we make our voices heard and participate in every election. Remember that if you encounter any problems voting, call or text 866-OUR-VOTE.
Thank you for your commitment to our democracy.

Deirdre, Rock the Vote

Memphis Women's Expo

Memphis Urban League's Men Who Cook competition to make debut
FOX13 Memphis//News Staff //July 19, 2024

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Yes, chef!

It's likely that phrase will be used through this weekend's first-ever Men Who Cook competition in Memphis.

Hosted by the Memphis Urban League (MUL), the event takes place this Saturday, July 20 at First Baptist Church-Broad from 12 p.m.-3 p.m. The church is located at 2849 Broad Avenue.

About 20 cooks will be competing.

Chef Bevis Bell of Bells Catfish and Soul Food said the event is a way to bring the community together: "We come here to have a good time and donate our time to the community."

Organizers said that funds raised from the competition will be used to support Workforce and Economic Development and Education and Youth Development programs.

The competition is part of MUL's efforts to "expand economic opportunities and secure equality, power and civil rights" for African-Americans who are underserved and economically disadvantaged.

Memphis Urban League's Men Who Cook competition to make debut Hosted by the Memphis Urban League (MUL), the event takes place this Saturday at First Baptist Church on Broad Avenue from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

Tennessee won’t purge voter rolls of people who disregard a letter asking them to prove citizenship
JONATHAN MATTISE AND KIMBERLEE KRUESI//Associated Press//July 17, 2024

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee election officials who sent letters last month to 14,375 registered voters asking them for proof of citizenship now say the recipients won’t be kicked off voting rolls if they don’t respond. The state clarified the position in a follow-up letter to all those didn’t respond to the first correspondence. Nearly 3,200 have provided evidence of U.S. citizenship, and more than 300 have requested to be removed from the voter rolls, according to the state elections office. Those on the original mailing list were chosen based on data from the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security, which has information about whether residents were U.S. citizens when they first interacted with that department.

The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation informed the state late last month of plans to sue in response to the letters and argued that election officials had to tell voters they wouldn’t lose their voter registration by ignoring the request for proof of citizenship. On Tuesday, the state confirmed officials sent a follow up letter designed to clear up any confusion, and blamed any misunderstandings on outside groups like the ACLU.

“The June 13 letter gave people the option to update their records,” Elections Coordinator Mark Goins wrote. “It did not threaten to remove a person from the voter list if a person does not respond to the June 13 letter. No one will be removed from a voting list for not responding to the June 13 letter.”

Tennessee’s secretary of state office has declined to release the names of people who received the June 13 letters, citing privacy exemptions. However, the office did provide recipients’ zip codes.

More than 1,200 letters were sent to zip code 37013, an area that encompasses Antioch, a south Nashville neighborhood with strong Black and brown populations. No other zip code received as many letters. The second highest area was also in south Nashville, which received 645 of the letters.

Seven went to individuals out of state.

The ACLU has argued that Tennessee’s actions violated the National Voter Registration Act, the Voting Rights Act and the 14th and 15th amendments. The organization alleges election officials created a list that illegally targeted “naturalized citizens in a discriminatory manner.”

The ACLU, representing 11 advocacy organizations, argued the state’s letters amounted to voter intimidation.

The June 13 letter warned voters it is illegal in Tennessee for noncitizens to vote and provided instructions on how to update voter information. It also said illegal voting is a felony and carries penalties of up to two years in prison.

Advocates have said the letters likely reached many immigrants who became naturalized citizens after they got their driver’s license or ID card through the state Department of Safety and Homeland Security. Tennessee driver’s licenses are renewed every eight years, potentially creating a long gap in time during which the state driver’s license agency may not be updated about a resident’s citizenship status.

The idea of widespread voting by noncitizens has spread through former President and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign rhetoric. The Republican-controlled U.S. House recently passed a proof-of-citizenship requirement for voter registration, despite research showing noncitizens illegally registering to vote or and casting ballots in federal elections is rare.

William Helou, an outside attorney representing the Tennessee secretary of state’s office, said the state’s original June 13 letters didn’t threaten to remove anyone from the voter rolls and didn’t violate federal law or constitutional rights. Rather, he called the letters “an appropriate action to fulfill (the election coordinator’s) obligations to ensure the integrity of elections in Tennessee.”

In the follow up letter to voters sent Tuesday, the state said naturalized citizens and other eligible voters are encouraged to vote.

Democrats have opposed the letters seeking proof of citizenship, noting that Tennessee remains among the lowest-ranked states in the U.S. for voter turnout.

The Associated Press sent an email to the ACLU Wednesday asking whether it may still file a legal challenge to the state’s correspondence.

(Photo: FILE - A “vote here” sign is seen at the Brainerd Youth and Family Development Center, Aug. 1, 2020, in Chattanooga, Tenn. Tennessee’s top election office sent letters to more than 14,000 registered voters asking them to prove their citizenship, a move that alarmed voting rights advocates as possible intimidation. (C.B. Schmelter/Chattanooga Times Free Press via AP, File)

Mayor Lee Harris Urban Fellowship Students Earning as They Learn

Mayor Lee Harris Urban Fellowship is
a partnership between the Mayor’s Office of Innovation and the Memphis Urban League.

Rising Shelby County high school juniors and seniors are in the program which combines job readiness skills training and professional development.

Fellows have the opportunity to earn
certifications in health coaching, with training from UTHSC professionals, Microsoft Office, and skills in
video editing.

Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris: “Memphis Urban League has a history of serving the urban core of Memphis and getting residents ready for their next stage in life. Shelby County Government is glad to join them in laser-focusing on equipping teens with job skills, certifications, and enthusiasm for a desired career, so they have a leg up as they enter adulthood. Providing youth, teens, and young adults with the focus to see their God-giving potential is a top priority across Shelby County Government."

The fellowship program runs from July 9- August 1.

Chefs Damien Thompson, Chef Magic Catering, and Merritt Bailey, Ball Hoggertz BBQ, appeared on Bluff City Live with Gina Ervin Neely.

They cooked up dishes that they may serve Saturday during the Memphis Urban League’s (MUL) first Men Who Cook competition on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at First Baptist Church Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue. It begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

Come on out to taste some good food and see who will walk away with the trophies.

Cooks/Chefs to date include:
Brian Harris
Bevis Bell
Harold Collins
Black Men in White Coats Team
Damien Thompson
Marco Navarro
Clay Perry
Tarus Anderson
Jade Christopher Robin Miller
Alvin Crook
Eric Dunn
Melvin Burgess
Merritt Bailey
Rep. G.A. Hardaway Sr.
Rep. Joe Towns
Rep. Jesse Chism
Roger R. Brown
Willie L Henry Jr

Judges for the MUL Men Who Cook Competition:
Judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse
Chef Erling Jensen
Chef Phillip Ashley Rix
Chef-Fran Mosley
Rep. Antonio Parkinson
MUL Board Chair Dr. Sidney P. Malone: Honorary Judge

Special Guests:
Mayor Paul Young
Chef Phillip Dewayne, Chef/Operator of Park + Cherry Cafe at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Owner of Chef Phillip Dewayne Private Chef & Catering Servicesn

Memphis Urban League Men Who Cook
Saturday, July 20, 2024 (12 Noon)
First Baptist Church Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue, Memphis

Tickets can be purchased at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/memphis-urban-leagues-men-who-cook-competition-tickets-944304960557?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tickets can also be picked up at the Memphis Urban League office, 413 N. Cleveland.

SPONSORS:
Memphis Tourism, Baptist Memorial Health Care, City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. the Antonio Parkinson Project Shelby County Comm. Mickell Lowery

Join us Saturday to see which men walk away with trophies.

Memphis Urban League_Official

Good morning. So, yesterday I visited Roger R. Brown’s restaurant, Meals For You, while he was on Live at 9 with Kontji Anthony.

He was on the show cooking a dish that he may serve Saturday at the Memphis Urban League’s Men Who Cook competition.

Before leaving, he gave me some peach cobbler and ice cream which by the way was delicious.

While giving it to me he informed me that Brian Harris, who will be cooking in Saturday’s competition, also cooks a good cobbler but of course not as good as Roger’s, according to Roger.

I’m dying to taste whatever Brian will be cooking Saturday because several of the chefs/cooks have called him out so evidently he must be the man to beat.

The Memphis Urban League (MUL) is having its first Men Who Cook competition on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at First Baptist Church Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue. It begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

Deadline to sign up as a chef/cook is Monday, July 15, 2024.

Cooks/Chefs to date include:
Brian Harris
Bevis Bell
Harold Collins
Black Men in White Coats Team
Damien Thompson
Marco Navarro
Clay Perry
Tarus Anderson
Jade Christopher Robin Miller
Alvin Crook
Eric Dunn
Melvin Burgess Jr.
Merritt Bailey
Rep. G.A. Hardaway
Rep. Joe Towns
Rep. Jesse Chism
Roger Brown
Willie Henry

Judges for the MUL Men Who Cook Competition:
Judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse
Chef Erling Jensen
Chef Phillip Ashley Rix
Chef-Fran Mosley
Rep. Antonio Parkinson
MUL Board Chair Dr. Sidney P. Malone: Honorary Judge

Special Guests:
Mayor Paul Young
Chef Phillip Dewayne, Chef/Operator of Park + Cherry Cafe at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Owner of Chef Phillip Dewayne Private Chef & Catering Services

Memphis Urban League Men Who Cook
Saturday, July 20, 2024 (12 Noon)
First Baptist Church Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue, Memphis

Tickets can be purchased at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/memphis-urban-leagues-men-who-cook-competition-tickets-944304960557?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tickets can also be picked up at the Memphis Urban League office, 413 N. Cleveland.

SPONSORS:
Memphis Tourism, Baptist Memorial Health Care, City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. the Antonio Parkinson Project Shelby County Comm. Mickell Lowery

Join us Saturday to see which men walk away with trophies.

Memphis Urban League_Official

Roger Brown, Meals For You, will be on Live at 9 with Kontji Anthony in a few minutes. He’s one of the chefs in the Memphis Urban League Men Who Cook competition.

The event is Saturday, July 20, 2024. It will be held at First Baptist Church-Broad, 2849 Broad, and it starts at 12 Noon.

Still taking cooks/chefs through today for Saturday’s Men Who Cook competition.

The Memphis Urban League (MUL) is having its first Men Who Cook competition on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at First Baptist Church – Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue. It begins at 12 Noon and ends at 3 p.m.

Deadline to sign up as a chef/cook is Monday, July 15, 2024.

Cooks/Chefs to date include:
Brian Harris
Bevis Bell
Harold Collins
Black Men in White Coats Team
Damien Thompson
Marco Navarro
Clay Perry
Tarus Anderson
Jade Christopher Robin Miller
Alvin Crook
Eric Dunn
Melvin Burgess Jr.
Merritt Bailey
Rep. G.A. Hardaway
Rep. Joe Towns
Rep. Jesse Chism
Roger Brown
Willie Henry

Judges for the MUL Men Who Cook Competition:
Judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse
Chef Erling Jensen
Chef Phillip Ashley Rix
Chef-Fran Mosley
Rep. Antonio Parkinson
MUL Board Chair Dr. Sidney P. Malone: Honorary Judge

Special Guests:
Mayor Paul Young
Chef Phillip Dewayne, Chef/Operator of Park + Cherry Cafe at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Owner of Chef Phillip Dewayne Private Chef & Catering Services

Memphis Urban League Men Who Cook
Saturday, July 20, 2024 (11 a.m.)
First Baptist Church Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue, Memphis

Tickets can be purchased at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/memphis-urban-leagues-men-who-cook-competition-tickets-944304960557?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tickets can also be picked up at the Memphis Urban League office, 413 N. Cleveland.

SPONSORS:
Memphis Tourism, Baptist Memorial Health Care, City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. the Antonio Parkinson Project Shelby County Comm. Mickell Lowery

Join us as a guest or as a cook competing with your best dish.

The Memphis Urban League (MUL) is having its first Men Who Cook competition on Saturday, July 20, 2024, at First Baptist Church – Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue. It begins at 11 a.m. and ends at 3 p.m.

Deadline to sign up as a chef/cook is Monday, July 15, 2024.

Cooks/Chefs to date include:
Brian Harris
Bevis Bell
Harold Collins
Black Men in White Coats Team
Damien Thompson
Clay Perry
Tarus Anderson
Jade Christopher Robin Miller
Dejuan Hendricks
Alvin Crook
Eric Dunn
Melvin Burgess Jr.
Merritt Bailey
Rep. G.A. Hardaway
Rep. Joe Towns
Rep. Jesse Chism
Roger Brown
Willie Henry

Judges for the MUL Men Who Cook Competition:
Judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse
Chef Erling Jensen
Chef Phillip Ashley Rix
Chef-Fran Mosley
Rep. Antonio Parkinson
MUL Board Chair Dr. Sidney P. Malone: Honorary Judge

Special Guests:
Mayor Paul Young
Chef Phillip Dewayne

Memphis Urban League Men Who Cook
Saturday, July 20, 2024 (11 a.m.)
First Baptist Church Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue, Memphis

Tickets can be purchased at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/memphis-urban-leagues-men-who-cook-competition-tickets-944304960557?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tickets can also be picked up at the Memphis Urban League office, 413 N. Cleveland.

SPONSORS:
Memphis Tourism, Baptist Memorial Health Care, City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. the Antonio Parkinson Project Shelby County Comm. Mickell Lowery

Join us as a guest or as a cook competing with your best dish.

Friday, July 12, 2024, the Memphis Urban League partnered with the Peer Power Foundation staff with the selection of interview ready attire for young men who are preparing for job interviews. These young men are completing a workforce development program.

Peer Power is a non-profit organization that recruits and trains high-performing college students, called Success Coaches, to tutor in public school classrooms and mentor high school students to encourage active learning, valuing education, and being personally accountable for their futures.

Peer Power’s mission is to provide youth with high-quality, life-enhancing tutoring and mentoring services that ensure personal, partner, and provider success.

Bernal E. Smith, II Empowerment Center
On Wednesday, February 28, 2018, the Memphis Urban League opened its Bernal E. Smith, II Empowerment Center in honor of the late publisher of the Tri-State Defender. The center is an extension of the MUL “Save Our Sons” initiative. The initiative is designed to advance the workforce readiness of African-American men ages 13-24 by providing workforce essential training and addressing the mental health and wellness of participants.

Smith was a member of the Memphis Urban League Board of Directors and a huge supporter of the Save Our Sons initiative.

Sidney P. Malone Earnestine Hunt Dorse Sherman D. Greer Joann Lewis-Massey Johnson Saulsberry Danielle Inez Cynthia Bradford Willie Brooks Bacarra Sanderson Mauldin

Early voting for Tennessee's Aug. 1 election starts Friday: What to know
Melissa Brown//Nashville Tennessean//July 10, 2024

Early voting in Tennessee's Aug. 1 primary election will begin on Friday, July 12.

Races ranging from the U.S. Senate to General Assembly seats will be on the ballot for contested Republican and Democratic primaries, where multiple candidates from the same party are vying for the nomination ahead of the November general election. A number of county general election races are also up for grabs.

Early voting ends Saturday, July 27. Here's what you need to know.

Is it too late to register to vote for the Aug. 1 primary?
Yes. The voter registration deadline for the Aug. 1 primary was July. 2. To check your registration status, visit govotetn.com.

Can I vote absentee?
If you are registered and plan to vote absentee, the last day to request an absentee ballot is July 25, though the Davidson County Election Commission advises voters request a ballot by July 18 to allow for mailing delays.

Absentee voters must submit a request to their local county election commission office, which can be found here, via mail, fax or email. Voters can use this absentee request form.

In Davidson County, voters can provide this form to the Davidson County Election Commission. The commission's mailing address is PO Box 650, Nashville, TN 37202, and their email address is [email protected].

Not everyone is eligible for an absentee ballot, however. Per the Tennessee Secretary of State's office, you are eligible to vote absentee if:

You are sixty (60) years of age or older.
You will be outside the county where you are registered during the early voting period and all day on Election Day.
You are hospitalized, ill or physically disabled and unable to appear at your polling place to vote. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
You are the caretaker of a person who is hospitalized, ill, or disabled. A physician’s statement is not required to check this box.
You or your spouse are a full-time student in an accredited college or university outside the county where you are registered.
You reside in a nursing home, assisted living facility or home for the aged outside your county of residence.
You are a candidate for office in the election.
You are observing a religious holiday that prevents you from voting in person during the early voting period and on Election Day.
You serve as an Election Day official or as a member or employee of the election commission.
You will be unable to vote in-person due to jury duty.
You have a physical disability and an inaccessible polling place.
You or your spouse possess a valid commercial drivers license (CDL) or Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card and you will be working outside the state or county of registration during the open hours of early voting and Election Day and have no specific out-of-county or out-of-state address to which mail may be sent or received during such time.
You are a member of the military or are an overseas citizen.
You are on the permanent absentee list.

What's on the ballot?
The Republican and Democratic primaries in Tennessee will take place on Aug. 1. Top races that will appear on the ballot include one U.S. Senate, U.S. House races and General Assembly races. Here's a look at the Nashville-area races.

Meet the Judges for the Memphis Urban League's (MUL) Men Who Cook Competition
Judge Earnestine Hunt Dorse
Chef Erling Jensen
Chef Phillip Ashley Rix
Chef-Fran Mosley
Rep. Antonio Parkinson
MUL Board Chair Dr. Sidney P. Malone: Honorary Judge

Special Guests
Mayor Paul Young
Chef Phillip Dewayne, Chef/Operator of Park + Cherry Cafe at the Dixon Gallery & Gardens and Owner of Chef Phillip Dewayne Private Chef & Catering Services

Memphis Urban League Men Who Cook
Saturday, July 20, 2024 (12 Noon)
First Baptist Church-Broad, 2835 Broad Avenue, Memphis

Tickets can be purchased in person at the event or online at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/memphis-urban-leagues-men-who-cook-competition-tickets-944304960557?aff=oddtdtcreator

Tickets can also be picked up at the Memphis Urban League office, 413 N. Cleveland.

SPONSORS:
Memphis Tourism, Baptist Memorial Health Care, City Councilman JB Smiley Jr. the Antonio Parkinson Project Shelby County Comm. Mickell Lowery

Sidney P. Malone Johnson Saulsberry Ronald Kent Brian Harris Bryan Carson Stoney Butler Jr. Al Hudson Memphis Urban League Young Professionals

Soooo proud. Providing services for the youth, seniors and those in underprivileged areas.

Senior citizens in one room at the Memphis Urban League learning basic computer skills and next door to them are rising juniors and seniors learning job readiness skills training and professional development thanks to the Shelby County Mayor Lee Harris Urban Fellowship program. Fellows in this program have the opportunity to earn certifications in health coaching, with training from UTHSC professionals, Microsoft Office, and skills in
video editing.

Mayor Harris: “Memphis Urban League has a history of serving the urban core of Memphis and getting residents ready for their next stage in life. Shelby County Government is glad to join
them in laser-focusing on equipping teens with job skills, certifications, and enthusiasm for a desired career,
so they have a leg up as they enter adulthood. Providing youth, teens, and young adults with the focus to see their God-giving potential is a top priority across Shelby County Government."

Memphis Urban League offers a Seniors Exploring Technology Course (SET) which is a 4-week basic computer training class.

We provide a basic overview of computer use for seniors. Seniors learn the parts of the computer system, how to operate the computer, how to access and navigate the desktop, internet and email.

Seniors Exploring Technology is made possible through Internet Essentials by Comcast.