Congressman Boyle presents Philly Urban League with $750K for expansion, fight on poverty

The Urban League of Greater Philadelphia received $750,000 in federal funding this week to help expand their services to new neighborhoods.

U.S. Rep. Brendan Boyle, D-2nd District, presented Urban League President/CEO Darrin Anderson Sr. with a check Tuesday in Center City. The organization plans to open two new satellite locations in Philadelphia to assist more residents and offer new services.

Anderson has previously mentioned the Urban League looks to expand their reach beyond the city’s borders, prompting the name change earlier this summer.

With this new funding, the Urban League plans to augment what’s offered out of their main headquarters across from City Hall with new offices in West and North Philadelphia.

Locations are being vetted but the organization is prioritizing accessibility to mass transit. Each site will offer the community access to additional resources, with specific plans still under consideration.

“Our mission is steadfast and focused on Black and brown communities, but those communities that have been underserved and do not have the resources that they need,” Anderson said. “Our goal is to make sure that those in the city are participating in what we call the ‘mainstream economy.’ All of the services and programs that we have is about empowering people that can empower themselves.”

Boyle called the Urban League “a steadfast presence in the city” for its century-plus of operation. He compared the organization’s community-centric mission with his constituent work in the northern neighborhoods of the city.

The secured Community Project Funding will help the Urban League solve more problems directly in communities.

“In both cases, we’re here to serve others by giving our neighbors the tools to support themselves, building a safer, stronger and healthier Philadelphia in the process,” Boyle said. “In the Urban League’s case, it’s connecting people with the resources they need to find a home, build a business or do many other worthwhile things. Our shared work builds up our neighbors so they can build up our neighborhoods.”

Katie Sykes is one resident who has taken advantage of the Urban League’s programs for financial literacy. She previously served as president of NExT Philadelphia, the Urban League’s Young Professional Group and went through the new homebuyer programs offered for six months.

“The counseling itself was very hands-on, flexible, customizable to my scenario and my life,” she said about the experience. “I was able to sit down with my housing counselor on the Urban League of Philadelphia’s team, create my affordability action plan that went beyond the closing costs and got into emergency cost situations, savings, and even month-over-month budgeting. It was really an incredible process.”

Anderson said the Urban League will engage in community feedback when seeking “mixed-use” properties for their expansion. He said he knows the organization will continue to be responsible for more than just opening offices and providing experts to help returning citizens, tenants facing eviction and others in need.

“The programs we provide, many times we have to alleviate and remove barriers, such as transportation to get to the location,” Anderson said. “We provide food, we provide meals. Many times, those that are participating in our programs many show up on an empty stomach. Our work is beyond just the programs and services.

“We have to meet those intangibles that’s going to allow our participants to participate in our programs comprehensively and wholeheartedly,” he said.

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