The latest news from the Urban League of Palm Beach County

For all press inquiries contact Kate Alvarado, Vice President of Development & Communication at 561.833.1461 ext 3002.

 

Census numbers show poverty’s increasing hold on Palm Beach County

U.S. Census numbers released this week indicating that one in four children in Palm Beach County is poor “is just astounding” for Patrick Franklin, who heads the Urban League of Palm Beach County.

It could shock residents and community leaders, Franklin said, given the county’s image nationwide as a place of sparkling beaches, mega-mansions and Worth Avenue splendor.

“That’s great, but at the same time we have a large portion of our communities… that are living well below the poverty line,” Franklin said. “I don’t think people realize it doesn’t take you much to put you in that range.”

Tana Ebbole, chief executive officer of the Children’s Services Council of Palm Beach County, said news that poverty among children was so severe “is devastating.”

“This is especially alarming, because we know that children who grow up in poverty are at higher risk of a host of other issues, including lack of access to quality child care, poor school performance and health complications,” Ebbole added.

The census numbers were released just weeks before the presidential election where the economy is a key issue.

Besides child poverty rates, the census’ American Community Survey indicates that poverty is on the rise in Palm Beach County, with 15.9 percent of county residents of all ages living in poverty in 2011 compared with 14.2 percent in 2010 and 14.4 percent two years ago. Statewide, poverty also increased in 2011 to 17 percent, up from 16.5 percent in 2010 and 14.9 percent two years ago.

An older, less specific 2011 survey issued last week had previously shown the first decrease in poverty across Florida in the last six years, but Census officials said the American Community Survey includes more accurate statistics.

Julie Swindler, executive director of the nonprofit Families First of Palm Beach County, said the new figures accurately portray the struggles Palm Beach County’s poorest residents face every day.

“The need is more acute than ever before,” said Swindler, adding that she’s seen noticeable increases in residents seeking help from the agency’s emergency shelter and homeless prevention programs. Two factors — high cost of living and unemployment rates — make it difficult for county residents to avoid poverty, Swindler added.

“I know some people have moved out of the area because they can’t get jobs here,” she said. “It hasn’t stabilized like other parts of the country at this point.”

Minority communities were the most affected by a struggling economy, according to census figures, with 30.9 percent of the county’s black residents and 22.3 percent of Hispanics living in poverty.

Swindler has seen these statistics reflected at her organization. At Families First, the homeless assistance program serves 154 participants, and 129 of them are African-American.

Franklin, who works daily with struggling African-American communities, said minority communities have historically struggled more during hard times.

“This has been going on for a long time. The numbers have not improved, they have stayed the same or gotten worse,” he said.

Requests for food stamps has also increased countywide, with 9.1 percent of households receiving help to purchase food. That number is up from 7.4 percent in 2010 and 6.1 percent two years ago.

Department of Children and Families spokeswoman Erin Gillespie said food stamp requests have dramatically increased since the recession hit. “Since February 2007, it’s gone up every single month,” she said, adding that although some smaller counties have seen a slight decrease in food stamp recipients, larger counties like Palm Beach have yet to register decreases.

“We haven’t seen a decrease yet but we do see it on the horizon,” Gillespie added.

Despite some disappointing poverty numbers, the number of uninsured in Palm Beach County diminished slightly in 2011, according to census data. About 20.2 percent of county residents did not have health insurance last year, compared with 21 percent in 2010. The number of uninsured residents also decreased across the state and nationwide.

But Connie Berry, co-founder and board chairwoman at the Caridad Center in Boynton Beach, said census numbers are not reflected in the poor and uninsured who visit the health center in Boynton Beach for medical and dental care.

“We have not experienced any reduction in the number of under-served, uninsured children and adults coming to Caridad Center for help,” said Berry, adding that the medical, dental and vision clinics have seen patient increases over the past year.

Franklin, from the Urban League, said he hopes the latest census figures help paint a better picture of the reality of the county’s neediest residents.

“If we can put a frame around it and say, ‘this is what poverty looks like,’” he said, “and let the picture show a rainbow of people who live here, that will show a different face to residents who basically have their head stuck in the sand.”

 

Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012

Teens delivered familiar message that education is the key to success

By Jason Schultz Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

WEST PALM BEACH — About 170 Palm Beach County teens filled a banquet hall and sat attentively and engaged Wednesday as MSNBC political analyst Michael Eric Dyson implored them to be “educated, intelligent, moral and just.”

Although the message was one many in attendance had heard before, Dyson, the keynote speaker at the Urban League of Palm Beach County’s annual Youth Empowerment Luncheon, sought to re-assure them that it was the way to seize the power to get a good job, wealth or anything else they want out of life.

“You can’t drive no Bentley, unless you been bending over your books and studying hard,” said Dyson, a Georgetown University professor.

The luncheon brought attention on the Urban League’s NULITES — National Urban League Incentive To Excel and Succeed — Program, which promotes education and leadership among urban youth through areas like community service, college tours and scholarships.

Luncheon emcee Tamron Hall, an MSNBC host who sometimes appears on NBC’s Today, detailed the awards the local chapter had won in recent years, and two local students who were a part of the program talked about their experiences.

Sherina Thorpe, a recent Wellington High School graduate, talked about emigrating from Jamaica as a child and getting involved with the Urban League, and how its officials pushed her to keep trying to go to college. Thorpe told the crowd, which also included adults, that she had been accepted to Northwood University but was unable to go because she needed another $8,000 on top of her scholarships. Hall personally donated $2,000, then went to community members in the audience soliciting donations until they had raised all the money Thorpe, 17, needed by the end of the luncheon.

Although his speech was lengthy and at times rambling, Dyson had the teens mostly laughing and even singing along with him. To make his points, he swung between quoting “old school” rappers and singing old R&B; songs, and commenting on everything from gay marriage to racial inequities in the justice system to funding differences between rich suburban schools and poor inner city schools.

Dyson said it was harder for children to grow up right today than it was in past generations because of what he called a constant bombardment of media images of violence and sexual temptation and problems such as online bullying.

“We didn’t have Facebook,” he said. “We were facing the book. We were reading.”

Dyson told the teens the key to empowerment and getting what they want in life is not only go to school and get educated, but to learn to be intelligent and think critically. He also told them to learn how to be moral, but not “moralistic” or intolerant of students who are gay, poor or otherwise different.

“Don’t dog them because they don’t fit into the narrow definition of what it means to be a human being,” he said, adding that adults need to “teach our young people to be just. … Why? Because we live in such an unjust society.”

 

Youth OK but need guidance, Dyson says

South Florida Times: Kyoto Walker

WEST PALM BEACH —Do not assume that today’s youth don’t have an understanding of the serious issues affecting them on a daily basis. They are, in fact, intelligent and politically aware but need guidance.

Georgetown University professor and MSNBC political analyst Michael Eric Dyson brought that advice to a West Palm Beach gathering as keynote speaker for the Urban League of Palm Beach County’s recent annual Youth Empowerment Luncheon.

The luncheon’s emcee, Tamron Hall, news anchor for MSNBC and host of NewsNation with Tamron Hall, could be an example of just how such guidance could be successful.

Hall said she grew up in a small town in Texas with her mother without much money in a single-parent home, with a background similar to that of many youths today.

About 600 people attended the luncheon at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in downtown West Palm Beach Sept. 26.

“We hear so many negative things about our youth everyday and to take time to celebrate some good things is a wonderful thing to do,” West Palm Beach Mayor Jeri Muoio said in an interview.

The luncheon highlighted the local arm of the National Urban League Incentive To Excel and Succeed or NULITES program which helps youths through community service and exposure to various professions, as well as teaching leadership skills.

NULITES co-chairpersons Tiareah Jakes and Jarrett Powell, both 17 and students at William T. Dwyer High School, 13601 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, said benefits of participating in the program include public speaking opportunities, meeting high profile people and travel.

“I’ve been to the National Urban League conference four times in Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago and New Orleans,” Jarrett told the South Florida Times.

“We have the opportunity to do some things that some (teens) can never get the chance to say they did,” Tiareah added.

Listening to children and what they have to say about their experiences can be enlightening, Dyson said in his address. Adults must discuss with them the complicated issues that they confront, “not condescendingly or assuming they don’t know what they’re talking about, but to offer them assistance by the examples of our lives and how we were able to overcome and how they can similarly do the same.”

Today’s youth may be dealing with homelessness, poverty or incarceration, which may lead to aimless lives, he said.

“Many are confronting extreme poverty and the extraordinary consequences of poverty,” Dyson said in an interview. “If you don’t eat well, you don’t do well in school. If you don’t do well in school, you don’t have a good job.

“If you don’t have a good job, you end up committing crimes or at least having a miserable existence.”

Dyson and Hall both said mentors are an invaluable resource and many helped to positively shape and impact their own lives.

“My church, my pastors, my teachers… these were very important figures,” Dyson said. “They gave me a sense of hope and what the future could be like.”

Hall said people with wisdom and common sense made a difference in her life.

“There are people that I grew up with who were not college educated (or) millionaires. They were people who barely got through the second grade,” she told the South Florida Times. “But they taught me life’s lessons. I would sit on the porch and talk to a woman whose name was Mama Susie. She taught me (things) I couldn’t learn in a book.”

Hall said young people see where she started and how far she has gone in her career.

“Particularly African-American kids see my life and when I tell them how I grew up, me and my mom riding around in a ripped up Gremlin,” she said.

 

Race-based student goals prompt controversy in South Florida

By Karen Yi, Sun Sentinel                  October 11, 2012

Florida's public school students will be judged in part by race and ethnicity, under new education benchmarks approved this week.

And that has created a firestorm in South Florida.

Opponents say setting higher goals for whites and Asians and lower goals for Latino and black groups is insulting and feeds racial stereotypes.

"All children should be held to high standards and for them to say that for African-Americans the goal is below other students is unacceptable," said Patrick Franklin, president and CEO of the Urban League of Palm Beach County.

The State Board of Education on Tuesday approved its strategic plan that in part sets different reading and math targets for students according to their heritages.

Cheryl Etters, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Education, said the disparate numbers are not meant to lower expectations but rather set "realistic and attainable" goals.

"Of course we want every student to be successful," Etters said. "But we do have to take into account their starting point."

According to the plan, by 2018, the state wants 90 percent of Asian students, 88 percent of white, 81 percent of Hispanics and 74 percent of blacks to be at or above reading grade level.

The state also wants 86 percent of white students, 92 percent of Asians, 80 percent of Hispanics and 74 percent of blacks to be at or above their math grade level.

But Broward Schools Superintendent Robert Runcie said setting loftier benchmarks for some students perpetuates an already dysfunctional system.

"Why do we want to perpetuate what's going on today?" he said. "The reality we have today is not the reality that we want to see tomorrow."

Broward school board member Donna Korn said expectations should be equal across the board.

"All of our students have to face the same careers and if we allow them to have different levels of success, then they will falter."

She was also concerned the strategic plan could affect the state's issuance of school grades. "We'll start looking at race when we're scoring our schools. That's not appropriate."

But state officials said the race-based goals would not factor into school grades; schools will only be evaluated for the performance of students as a whole.

Winnie Tang, president of the Asian American Federation of Florida, said the benchmarks are also hurtful to Asians.

"We still have a lot of students who are average and below average. Being [perceived as] a higher achiever really hurts a lot of students," she said.

The last strategic plan approved by the state in July did not differentiate between racial or ethnic groups.

Though now the goals for some groups are lower, state officials said those students still have expectations to meet and often an even bigger jump to make.

While 69 percent of white students are currently at reading level, only 38 percent of black students and 53 percent of Hispanic students meet the same standard.

The goals call for a 19 percent boost in reading levels for whites by 2018 but a 36 percent spike for blacks.

"There is an achievement gap and we're working really hard to close that," Etters said.

Jorge Avellana, executive director of the Hispanic Human Resources Council, Inc. in Palm Beach County, said setting a lower bar would not solve the problem of poor performance.

In 2011, 86.8 percent of white students graduated in Broward County compared to 65.5 percent of black students and 79.3 percent of Latinos.

In Palm Beach, 89.8 percent of white students graduated while 66.5 percent black students and 75.2 percent of Latino students graduated.

"Why do we have to accept that?, asked Avellana, adding that changing expectations for some groups would create a second class group of citizens.

Runcie said the state's targets would have no impact on the district.

"We're going to set lofty goals for all of our students. We know students regardless of race can achieve."

 

Local teen wins National Urban League Youth of the Year Award

West Palm Beach, FL—Urban League of Palm Beach County’s local chapter of the National Urban League Incentive to Excel and Succeed (NULITES) program has once again received a national award. Tiffany Wright, a 2012 graduate of Suncoast High School and President of Urban League’s NULITES program was selected by the National Urban League at their annual conference in New Orleans, LA in July as their National Youth of the Year.

“Tiffany has demonstrated leadership, character, hard work and excellence as a member of our NULITES program and we are proud that she was recognized on a national level for her achievements,” said Patrick J. Franklin, President & CEO of the Urban League of Palm Beach County.

Wright has been a member of the NULITES program since she was 9 years old and credits it for giving her opportunities to prepare for college, serve her community and build friendships.

“NULITES has prepared me for college, work, and life. It has assisted me in the importance of serving my community and the characteristics of honesty, trustworthiness, and kindness that should be found in every young person,” said Wright. “I am honored to have been selected by the National Urban League and I hope to continue to serve as a leader in the movement.”

Wright graduated this spring from Suncoast High School’s competitive IB program and completed over 4,000 hours of community service while working with a variety of service organizations. She has done everything from collecting and packing items for the victims of the Haitian earthquake, painted homes for elderly members of the community and worked on the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. She served as the Vice President of Girl Scouts of America Troop #20187, as a Sunday school teacher at Bibleway Missionary Baptist Church, Vice President of (SECME) Science Engineering Communication Mathematics Excellence Club, Chairwomen of Student Advisory Council (SAC), President of Young Ladies of Power and a member of the Black Student Union at Suncoast.

The NULITES program works with over 120 youth in our community to prepare them for college, work and life by promoting and maintaining high standards of well-being, educational, character

and leadership qualities. NULITES is designed to reflect the positive aspects of youth in today's society while providing opportunities for personal and leadership development. The Urban League of Palm Beach County NULITES Chapter has been awarded Chapter of the Year 4 times in the last 8 year, 4 adults have been selected as Caring Adult of the Year in the last 6 years and 4 other local students have been selected as Youth of the Year over the last 10 years.

“We are proud of the students, parents and staff that have committed themselves to building leadership, life and work skills of youth in the NULITES program. They have continued to drive the program to reach new heights and set the pace on a national level,” said Franklin.

Wright is settling in to her new dorm at Spellman College where she is studying English and Communications with a minor in Spanish. She hopes to attend law school and become a civil rights lawyer.

“Being a minority, I see how my community is underserved in various areas, especially when it comes to our civil rights. As a Civil Rights Lawyer I will be in the position to advocate against injustice, giving me the opportunity to assist my community,” said Wright.

For more information about NULITES please visit www.ULPBC.org or contact Gloria Scott, Program Coordinator at 561-833-1461 ext 3012.

APRIL 11, 2012

Urban League of Palm Beach County Center of Excellence Competes at 27^th Annual Brain Bowl Competitions

The Urban League of Palm Beach County Center of Excellence participated in the 26^th Annual Brain Bowl Competitions and National Achievers Society (NAS) Summit in Orlando, Florida on Friday, March 23^rd through Saturday, March 24^th. This event was organized by the Florida Education Fund (FEF) and teams were invited from 10 Centers throughout the State of Florida to participate in Brain Bowl Competitions in History & Culture, Mathematics, Writing, and Word Definition. Teams compete for a variety of awards, such as scholarships to Florida colleges and universities, cash prizes, and bragging rights. The Urban League of Palm Beach County sponsored: three math teams – grades 6th-8th, 9th-10th and 11th – 12th; and a Black History and Culture team.

The Urban League’s Center of Excellence high school math teams attend Suncoast Community High School and the middle school math team students attend Roosevelt Middle School. Math team for grades 11^th – 12^th, and 9^th – 10^th placed 2nd and 6^th – 8^th placed 3^rd. President/CEO, Patrick Franklin, stated “the Center of Excellence is a critical piece to closing the achievement gap for minority students and continues to increase the pool of students who are prepared, motivated and qualified to enter higher education.”

The Center of Excellence was established to provide academic skill development, cultural enrichment, career awareness and increased exposure to higher education. To nominate a youth, please email the director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

March 2012

Roosevelt Middle School Students Excel at State Math and Word Wizard Events

Prowess in math earned another Math trophy for Roosevelt Middle School! Placing 3^rd in the 27^th Annual Math Brain Bowl state competition for grades 6-8, Apoorva Ravichandran (captain), Shivang Jadvani, Alison Austria, and Marcus Sutton were excited that their teamwork in answering the problems resulted in a win! Ms. Caelethia Clemons, 2011 Math Teacher of the Year, was their math coach for the event. Mrs. Crystal Varnadore, 2011 Dywer Award winner and math department chair, accompanied the students to the competition in Orlando, FL.   This is the third year in a row that a Roosevelt Middle team has placed in the top three! Last year’s team placed 2^nd in the math competition with Marcus Sutton winning an individual 3^rd place award in the Word Wizard event.

 

Roosevelt Middle School is a Math, Science, and Technology school with magnet programs in Pre Medical, Pre Engineering, Environmental Science, and Technology. It is an A rated school and made AYP in 2010.

A business partner with Roosevelt Middle for many years, the Urban League of Palm Beach County Center of Excellence sponsored the RMS PI-ERS team on this all-expense paid trip to participate in Brain Bowl Competitions and National Achievers Society (NAS) Summit in Orlando, FL on Friday, March 23 through Saturday, March 24. Organized by the Florida Education Fund (FEF), teams were invited from 10 centers throughout the State of Florida to participate in History & Culture, Mathematics, Writing, and Word Definition competitions. Awards included scholarships to Florida colleges, cash prizes, and bragging rights.

The Urban League’s Center of Excellence high school math teams also included the 11^th -12^th grade CHARGERS and the 9^th -10^th grade CHARGERS II. All of the team members attend Suncoast Community High School. Both teams placed 2nd. Patrick Franklin, President & CEO, stated “the Center of Excellence is a critical piece to closing the achievement gap for minority students and continues to increase the pool of students who are prepared, motivated and qualified to enter higher education.”

The Urban League of Palm Beach County has been at the forefront of youth education, community and health empowerment for the past 38 years and is the leading provider of comprehensive family services helping more than 16,000 people annually in the achievement of social and economic equality. www.ULPBC.org

March 10, 2012

THIRD FEDERAL BECOMES CORPORATE PARTNER OF URBAN LEAGUE OF PALM BEACH COUNTY

 

CLEVELAND – April 25, 2012 – Third Federal Savings and Loan has joined the Urban League of Palm Beach County, Florida, as a corporate partner. The affiliation between the two organizations will further assist the ULPBC in its goal of empowering communities and changing lives and continues to expand Third Federal’s mission providing value to the communities it serves.

Third Federal expanded from Ohio into Florida in 2000. The savings and loan has four full-service branches in Palm Beach County, along with another 13 along both the east and west coasts of Florida. Its mission is to help people achieve the dream of homeownership while creating value for its customers and the communities it serves.

“The Urban League (of Palm Beach County) and its goal of helping those in need achieve social and economic equality is vital to a growing, stable community. We support and applaud their efforts and are proud to partner with them in further expanding their work,” said Third Federal Chairman and CEO Marc A. Stefanski.

Third Federal Savings and Loan is a leading provider of savings and mortgage products. Founded in Cleveland in 1938 as a mutual association by Ben and Gerome Stefanski, Third Federal became a public company in 2007. The Association is dedicated to serving consumers with competitive rates and outstanding service. Third Federal, an equal housing lender, has 22 full service branches in Northeast Ohio, eight lending offices in Central and Southern Ohio, and 17 full service branches throughout Florida. As of December 31, 2011, Third Federal assets totaled id="mce_marker"0.9 billion.

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