Annual awards ceremony will honor local leaders while raising funds for Urban League programs and initiatives to benefit residents in the Greater Charlotte Metropolitan Area
Urban League of Central Carolinas (ULCC) will host the 2021 Whitney M. Young Awards Gala on Wednesday, June 9 at 6:30 p.m. EST and will honor the accomplishments of local leaders and community champions while celebrating ULCC’s storied legacy of excellence and service to the Charlotte community and beyond. In accordance with statewide safety protocols, this year’s event will be held virtually.
This year’s gala theme is The Urban League Fights For You: Education, Wealth, Justice. Guests can expect a stimulating evening of thought-provoking discussion, uplighting messages, philanthropy, and entertainment. Radio personality and Praise 100.9 Host Melanie Pratt will serve as this year’s mistress of ceremonies. The funds raised from this event are essential to funding ULCC’s programming initiatives to help the underserved and underemployed.
“The focus of the Urban League of Central Carolinas in 2021 and beyond is to collaborate to close the racial wealth, economic and social justice gaps for African Americans by scaling our work to impact more lives, “ says Teddy McDaniel, President & CEO of the ULCC. “Our awardees have dedicated their lives and careers to intentional inclusion and accomplishment. With your support, we’ll continue to be a voice for the voiceless.”
Charlotte native and media personality, Eboni K. Williams will be the special guest speaker. Williams is the Host and Executive Producer of REVOLT Black News, which currently airs nationally on REVOLT TV. She is also the Host & Executive Producer of the iHeart Media podcast Holding Court with Eboni K. Williams and a cast member on Bravo TV’s highly popular show Real Housewives of New York City. Williams holds a B.A. in Communications and African-American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a J.D. from Loyola University New Orleans College of Law.
During the course of the evening, five awards will be presented; each awardee is being honored for their impactful work. Their efforts have resulted in new opportunities for community members who are traditionally underrepresented. Additionally, they are all champions for diversity, inclusion, and philanthropy – all equally important in today’s cultural landscape:
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award
- Cheri Beasley – Former Chief Justice of NC
- Eugene Woods – CEO, Atrium Health
Community Empowerment
- Jason Terrell – Executive Director, Profound Gentleman
Inaugural Vernon Jordan Young Visionary Award
- Carrie Cook Wilson – Executive Director, Greenlight Fund Charlotte
Corporation of the Year
- Atrium Health
For more information about the gala or to register, please visit urbanleaguecc.org. For all media inquiries or to schedule interviews, contact Jameka Whitten at 704.965.3297 or jameka@jswmediagroup.com.
About The Urban League of Central Carolinas
The Urban League of Central Carolinas is a multi-service, non-profit agency, organized in 1978. Its mission is to advocate for and equip African Americans and all underserved with the tools to achieve social and economic equality. Our range of programs can benefit anyone in need of education, skills training, career development, employment services, and youth programs. We serve persons from all economic backgrounds. The success of our Continuum of Opportunity Model is enhanced through investments by key community partnerships focused on social mobility and economic opportunity.
