URBAN LEAGUE LEADERS CONDEMN

RACIALLY-MOTIVATED MASS SHOOTING IN BUFFALO 

 NEW YORK and BUFFALO (May 14, 2022) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and Buffalo Urban League President Thomas Beauford, Jr., issued the following statement in response to the racially-motivated mass shooting at a Buffalo supermarket in the heart of its predominantly Black East Side community:

“Our hearts and deepest sympathies are with the families who have lost loved ones to another senseless act of racial violence.  

“As white supremacist hatred has raged out of control over the last few years, social media and gun merchants exploit it for profits, while atrocities and trauma continue to be inflicted on communities of color. 

“We call on state and federal law enforcement to pursue hate crimes charges against the shooter and to pursue policies to prevent arch tragedies in the future. 

“Until we as a nation begin to confront the twin threats of domestic extremism and reckless gun policies as the grave crises they are, innocent people will continue to pay the deadly price. 

National Urban League:
Few Artists Have Contributed More to the Civil Rights Movement than
Sidney Poitier

(Friday, January 7, 2022) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement on the death of actor and activist Sidney Poitier:

Few artists have contributed more to the Civil Rights Movement than Sidney Poitier. As an actor, he was determined not to be defined by his race, but he pointedly refused roles that perpetuated negative stereotypes. His charm and grace, both onscreen and off, helped to open hearts and minds as the nation challenged segregation and discrimination.

As the first Black man to win the Academy Award for acting, he blazed a trail for an entire generation of artists and set a standard for excellence that elevated the medium as a whole.

His early support of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating helped make the March on Washington possible and allowed the Freedom Summer volunteers to continue their work after the murders of  James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner. Though he and his close friend Harry Belafonte were chased and threatened by the Ku Klux Klan when they arrived in Mississippi to deliver the money they’d raised, the encounter only strengthened his commitment to racial justice.

Our hearts go out to his family, and we join his many friends and millions of fans around the world in grieving his passing.

New portal makes it easier for diverse vendors to engage with PS&E

KEY POINTS
• The PS&E Supplier Diversity portal is a streamlined way for XBE’s to learn about potential contract opportunities

• Increasing supplier diversity is a key objective that aligns with PS&E’s Social Justice Agenda and prioritizes a more intentional approach to cultivating relationships with a broader set of business owners

INDIANAPOLIS (August 30, 2021) – Diverse business owners now have a streamlined way to engage with Pacers Sports & Entertainment through a new supplier diversity portal that is part of the company’s push to create opportunities for traditionally disenfranchised vendors.

Minority-, women-, LGBTQIA+-, Veteran-, and Disability-owned businesses, known as XBEs, can register to learn about opportunities to contract with PS&E, stay up to date about vendor fairs and other programs, and engage with the organization’s procurement staff specifically focused on increasing supplier diversity. The effort is one of the strategic objectives laid out by PS&E’s Inclusive Excellence Action Committee (IEAC) last July, an employee-led working group that guides the company’s DEI initiatives, and aligns to the five-pillar Social Justice Agenda it established.

“Diversifying our vendor partnerships makes our company stronger and represents important investments in the businesses that support neighborhoods across our city and state,” said Rick Fuson, PS&E President and Chief Operating Officer. “This new portal gives us a more intentional way to ensure we are increasing our supplier diversity, a great step in our continual process of becoming a more equitable organization.”

The goal of developing a world-class supplier diversity program was one of the very first identified by the IEAC, which has included the hiring of purchasing staff with expertise in implementing such programs and new policies to ensure more diverse vendor participation across the organization. Daune Conwell, PS&E’s Senior Procurement Director, was brought in to lead the effort and help XBEs navigate how to do business with the company. She is the first in this newly-created role.

“For many XBEs, the process of competing for work with a company like PS&E can be daunting and difficult to navigate,” said Conwell. “Meeting meaningful supplier diversity goals requires cultivating relationships and communicating continually, and this new tool gives us a more effective way to engage with a broader group of business owners.”

In addition to supplier diversity, other PS&E objectives include committing more than half of all PS&E charitable resources to organizations striving for social justice and delivering diversity, equity, and inclusion training for all employees.

For a detailed look at PS&E’s social justice efforts and the work of the IEAC, please visit www.bankerslifefieldhouse.com/socialjustice.

Back 2 School Drive-Thru – Saturday, July 25^th

Volunteers are needed Saturday, July 25^th to help our students and families prepare to go back to school.

Students will receive back packs filled with school supplies and a pair of new socks and shoes (while supplies last).  Families will receive a ready-to-serve meal, food boxes, fresh fruit and vegetables, milk, and community resources.  The Indiana State Department of Health will be on-site providing free COVID-19 tests.

Help us continue serving our community, VOLUNTEER!

When:
Saturday, July 25
Indianapolis Urban League
777 Indiana Avenue, Indpls., IN 46202

Volunteer Experience Times:
Shift One: 7:00 am – 10:00 am
Shift Two: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm
Shift Three: 2:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Shift Four: 1:00 pm – 3 pm

Volunteer Duties:
All volunteer duties are completed with social distancing and no contact for the safety of all.

Volunteers will assist with a variety of duties including, but not limited to, set up of meal distribution site, bagging meals, organizing back packs and shoes, directing traffic, distribution of community resources, and loading items in cars.

Attire:
Company t-shirt if volunteering with a company or red t-shirt for individuals, jeans or shorts to your knees, and comfortable closed-toe shoes such as sneakers are acceptable.

Volunteer Requirements:
Masks, gloves, and individual bottles of hand sanitizer are provided. Volunteers are welcome to wear their own face mask.  Masks are required to be worn at all times. Temperature will be taken upon arrival.  Volunteers must be 15 years or older.

Parking and Building Entrance:
Free parking is available in the Indianapolis Urban League parking lot, 777 Indiana Avenue, 46202. Details will be shared in confirmation email.

Register today!  Email: kteague@indplsul.org (Kim Teague) by 12 noon, Friday, July 24th.  Include your name, phone number and volunteer shift.  You will receive a volunteer experience confirmation email.  Questions? Call (317) 693-7603