Winston-Salem Urban League plans expansion into Raleigh

The Winston-Salem Urban League wants to bring its community outreach programs to Raleigh.

The group is looking at a couple of different sites downtown for its office and is holding a three-day training conference and job fair here next week as a way of introducing itself to the community.

The Claim Your Career Conference and Career Fair takes place Wednesday-Friday in the Raleigh Convention Center.

In a statement Alvin Borders, vice president, Urban League Workforce Development and Employment Services said, 'the conference reinforces the National Urban League's 'I Am Empowered' campaign which focuses on ensuring that every American has access to jobs with living wages and benefits. But, the conference focus goes beyond getting jobs to establishing careers.'

The Urban League is celebrating its 60th anniversary in Winston-Salem this year. In a phone interview last week, Borders said the idea of coming into Raleigh first came up about a year ago. Borders and the League CEO Keith Grandberry have visited the area several times since then.

Borders said the timing was right for the group's expansion. 'We have done an excellent job training people in Winston-Salem in this bad economy. We do well at outreach and helping people reintegrate . And even though Raleigh does not have high unemployment we do a good job of reaching the underserved.'

The office, which Borders said could open in three or four months, will initially have about six employees, and will focus on employment. The office would expand with people and programs as needed, said Patricia Sadler, a spokeswoman for the League.

Borders said that once here the League would work with existing programs and organizations to provide services to the community. 'The Urban League believes in everybody working together,' he said.

The conference next week is sponsored by the League in partnership with the UPS, the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development, the Capital Area Workforce Development Board, AARP, the Raleigh Black Chamber of Commerce, Genworth Mortgage Insurance and the office of Lt. Gov. Walter Dalton.

Presenters will conduct interactive sessions covering resume readiness, financial literacy, job search, computer literacy, proper business attire and interview skills. The conference is free and open to the public, and culminates with a career fair.

For more information and register in advance go to the N.C. Institute of Minority Economic Development website www.ncimed.com.