HBCU
Network:
Thank you so much for taking time out to talk with HBCU Network today.
I'd like to start by asking you to tell us about the mission of National Urban League
of Young Professionals (NULYP).
Ryan
Myers: ��
The NULYP are the ones who have benefited the most from the civil rights
movement. We're the ones the activists were fighting for. Our members usually only have
time to volunteer with 1 or 2 organizations - we'd like to be one of them. We want to
bridge the gap between the young professionals and the civil rights generation.
HBCU
Network:
Most people are familiar with the National Urban League.
What is the difference between that organization and the National Urban
League of Young Professionals?
Ryan
Myers:
The NULYP is a
volunteer fundraising and social organization. In addition, the NULYP supports
the National Urban League's three-pronged agenda by establishing programs that
fall under three categories:
- Financial Literacy
- Real World Education
- Political Participation
The NULYP is special, because its target is the young professional.
Young professionals are the ones to which all companies want to market.
We use that power to our advantage, and work with corporate sponsors to fund
the events we hold in the community, as well as provide a recruiting ground
for the companies. We have talent readily accessible to them.
HBCU
Network:
How did the NULYP begin,
and how did you first get involved?
Ryan
Myers: ��
The NULYP as it now exists was founded in 1998 as an auxiliary leg of the
National Urban League. However, over 10 years ago, several individuals and I
founded the Thursday Network in Washington DC, which was essentially an
organization designed to forum for the concerns of young black professionals,
and a recruiting device for the Greater Washington chapter of the Urban League.
The Thursday Network eventually became a part of the National Urban League under
the new name of NULYP.
When I rejoined the organization as a member of the NULYP, I became a charter
member of the Los Angeles chapter. I later became the organization's
Western Regional VP, and now I am the National President.
HBCU
Network:
What is considered "young" in the National Urban League
of Young Professionals?
Ryan
Myers:
Generally, we say 22-40, but really, it's anyone
who has the spirit and wants to follow our mission.
HBCU
Network:
Wow! Impressive. You've had a
lot of leadership positions within the organization. How large is the NULYP,
and how do you recruit?
Ryan
Myers:�
NULYP is still fairly new - founded in 1998, but we've grown rapidly.
Currently, we have 40 chapters across the country, and over 6,000 members.
In fact, we are in talks with Air Jamaica and the Jamaican government to
develop a chapter there. We're also working on hosting an awards banquet in
Jamaica - tentatively scheduled for Columbus Day 2003.
We recruit mainly by word of mouth. The young professionals are starving
for the opportunity to help the community, but didn't have the right
vehicle to do so. The NULYP provides that vehicle. And everything is
internet-based. That's our primary source of communication.
HBCU
Network:
Who are some of your major partners or sponsors?
Ryan
Myers:
Well, Well, there are several sponsors on a local level, but speaking
strictly national, Mercedes-Benz, Pitney Bowes and Phillip Morris are our
primary sponsors.
HBCU
Network:
The NULYP chapters are spread throughout the country. Does your organization ever
meet as a whole?
Ryan
Myers
Absolutely. The National Urban League's national conference will be
held in Los Angeles, CA this year from July 27-31. And the national conference
for the NULYP will be held at the same time. At the conferences, we provide a
training ground on political and social engagement with leaders from all over
the country. These leaders help us know where we are politically and where
we're going.
HBCU
Network:
If HBCU Network members
want to get involved, how can they?
Ryan
Myers:
They can contact their local Urban League. The Urban League may or may not
have a NULYP group. If there is not a chapter, the Urban League can help you
contact the regional vice-president for your area. The RVPs are also great
conduits for starting local chapters. I started 2 chapters, so you can start one.
It's up to you to get it started!
HBCU
Network:
Any parting words for the HBCU Network family?
Ryan
Myers:��
The NULYP offers a unique opportunity for "us" to push corporate America
to do what we want to do! Positioning ourselves appropriately will be crucial
for the distribution of wealth. The CEOs of today are different from the ones
of yesteryear. Today's CEOs don't have guilt regarding African Americans -
in fact many of them played with us as children. CEOs of these major
companies need to see an economic reason to support us - not payback for
wrongdoings.
As I said before, we are the benefactors of the Civil Rights Movement.
Now, we must blaze the trail for today's youth. We're moving from the
Civil Rights Movement to the Economic Movement.
HBCU
Network:
Ryan, thank you so much for speaking with us about the NULYP.
We wish you and your organization the best success!
Ryan
Myers:
My pleasure, and thank you!
Related Links for National Urban League Young Professionals
http://nulyp.org
http://cgi.nul.org/nulyp.html
http://www.laulyp.org/home.html
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