James H. Buford, president and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, recently installed the newly elected Executive Board of the regional Young Professionals. The 2010-2011 Executive Board includes the following individuals:
President, Kira Van Niel (Boeing); Vice President, Kiara Webber (graduate student at Missouri Baptist University); Treasurer, Catrina Chambers (St. Louis Regional Asthma Consortium); Secretary, Terrell Anderson (AT&T); Parliamentarian, Evan Krauss (United Way of Greater St. Louis).
Committee Chairs are: Membership Chair, Delicia T. Stephens (Rosewood Care Center of St. Louis); Community Service Chair, Yolanda DeGrange (Edward Jones); Professional Development Chair, Masherrl Conyers (Boeing); Resource Chair, Nichole Moton (Hotel Lumiere); and Public Relations Chair, Kenya M. Leonard (Rabbitt Pitzer & Snodgrass, PC).
Kira V. Neil, the new president of the regional Young Professionals, is from Washington, D.C., a graduate from North Carolina AT&T State University with a major in Civil Engineering. Neil moved to St. Louis to work for Boeing Company. Neil joined Urban League Young Professionals in 2008.
“Having people surround you who see that potential in you and are able to pull it out, that is what I look for in mentors. I refined myself as a leader,” Neil said of the program.
She said Young Professional teaches “what it means to function as an adult.”
Young Professionals focuses on individuals ages 21-40, providing opportunities for community service, presenting new roles and training to enhance skills and experience new leadership roles, and supporting the Urban League’s programs to help those living in poverty.
“The Young Professionals are committed to seeking innovative solutions to persistent social problems, such as economic empowerment, education, civil rights, civic engagement and financial management,” the regional Urban League said in a press release.
“Their goal is to form a cohesive group of young professional leaders who can leverage their collective experience, education, resources and talents towards improving the lives of those in need.”
Every month a meeting is held within the Young Professionals to brainstorm on how to serve the St. Louis metropolitan community. A professional comes to the meetings to advise the young adults and hold discussions on important issues.
“In St. Louis, it’s about who you know, and any time there is a need we try to offer support,” said Angelia Bills, vice president of Communications for the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis.
Bills believes the program provides opportunity for professionals to network and have a support system. Some of its members are honorarily called “the wise ones.” They provide knowledge, resources and help to lead the organization.
“It’s a big melting pot of learning who they are and building relationships,” Neil said. “This is something our culture needs.”
As of March 2010, Young Professionals has served 1,247 hours of time to community service and activities.
“When we give our time it is always in efficient ways to reaching an end goal,” Neil said.
Young professionals are focusing this year on the midterm elections and registering people to vote. All the 53 chapters of Young Professionals for 2010 had a goal of 25,000 new voters being registered.
The Young Professionals will be helping Habitat for Humanity build homes for two families the end of this month.
In December, Young Professionals and Urban League will adopt a family in the community and provide them with a Christmas celebration.
“We will always need for a helping hand,” Neil said.
“We should invest in our communities, help with change in the city and nationally.”
The Young Professionals host monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of every month at the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis, located at 3701 Grandel Square.
To join the Urban League Young Professionals or participate in their programming, contact Barbara Bowman at (314) 615-3635.
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