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PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE AND WELCOME

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The Urban League throughout the year continues to shine as a ray of hope to individuals and families facing darkness in many of life's arenas. Our philosophy remains steadfast in providing resources for those who wish to better their circumstances and their communities.

We have discovered recently through statistical reports and information gathered from providing services that health and wellness, for all ages, have become a major crisis throughout our communities of Rhode Island. Hence we have joined the campaign with major health providers and most specifically the able leadership of the Department of Health to alleviate and educate our communities regarding prevalent health risk factors. Our goal of achieving a "Healthy Lifestyle" will be a prominent part of our continued mission.

In meeting the needs of our communities, we have refined some of our programs to more aggressively address two issues, which we see as the foundations to a prosperous community. These are education and housing. We maintain that access to quality education is fundamental to the wellbeing of our children. Therefore, we have stepped up provision of alternative schooling for teens experiencing difficulty in the public schools, scholarship support, adult learning, mentoring, tutoring, and are pursuing development of a charter school. Through these services we will continue to remind our community that knowledge is indeed a great power.

In achieving the goal of housing, the premise is laid out that individuals cannot subsist without the security of appropriate shelter. Too many individuals and families are accessing emergency shelters because of the lack of available and affordable housing. We, along with many other agencies, have advocated for resources to create and develop new housing stocks. Further, we actively encourage our constituents to "get a piece of the rock" by becoming homeowners. We achieve the access to housing by assisting families in exploring lending opportunities from various sources, thereby increasing their awareness of the market and reducing the risk of their becoming casualties of predatory practices. After evaluating the tax lien sales around the state and recognizing that poor and minority individuals are often the targets, we are presently working with community groups, legislators, mortgage companies and Rhode Island Housing to decrease property seizures and evictions that have contributed to the increasing homelessness in our state. The Urban League has dedicated itself to the creation and maintenance of affordable emergency and long-term housing throughout the providence area.

Empowerment remains the key to facing our challenges and is the path to a better future. The agency's success lies with the dedicated Board, staff, volunteer and Guild members who tirelessly work towards helping others. We are proud to stand together and carry the urban League mission further into the 21st Century and beyond.

"For what wonders lie in that undiscovered country?"