About Us

History

The Urban League of Greater Atlanta Young Professionals (ULGA-YP) officially launched in October 2001 as the Atlanta Urban League Young Professionals (AULYP), established under the guidance of then-President/CEO of the Atlanta affiliate, Dr. Clinton E. Dye, Jr. The original AULYP board and founding members—Gary Richie, Angelita Bush, Neal Newman, Asha Jackson, Aba Yankah, April Crosse, Tameka Wren, Ebony Howell, Renee Morrow, Thomas Morse, and Sabine Desamour—were instrumental in maintaining this initial momentum. Under the leadership of its first president, Angelita Bush, this dedicated group worked tirelessly to expand membership beyond expectations and develop effective programmatic agendas.

In August 2003, AULYP faced a period of transition as several founding members departed. A special election was called, ushering in a new, energized leadership with Ebony Howell elected as the second president. This new leadership team steered the chapter onto a sustainable path by integrating innovation into a robust framework. Key initiatives during this period included the launch of the Strategic Planning Committee and the execution of the first Dream Catchers Awards & Scholarship Gala. AULYP’s expanded programmatic scope during Ebony Howell’s tenure led to significant recognition, including the 2005 Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award from the Rollins School of Public Health and the Goizueta Business School of Emory University.

November 2004 marked another significant leadership change with the election of William Bryant as the third president. Under his administration, AULYP achieved national recognition, receiving the National Urban League Young Professionals Chapter of Excellence Award at the National Urban League’s National Conference on July 30, 2005. This award underscored AULYP’s remarkable growth and leadership. Additionally, founding member Thomas Morse was honored as National Member of the Year, and Ebony Howell was elected Southern Regional Vice President of NULYP. Andrew Siwo also won the first Heineken USA Essay Contest. The conference served to showcase to the nation what Atlanta’s young professionals already knew: AULYP was a preeminent organization for young professionals in the United States.

Since inception, the chapter has then gone on to win the following NULYP awards:

• Hugh B. Price National Chapter of Excellence (2005, 2020)
• Sylvia K. Brooks Southern Region Chapter of Excellence Award (2006, 2007, 2008, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023)
• Southern Region Member of the Year Award (2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2017, 2020)
• National Day of Empowerment Award (2018, 2020, 2021)
• Affiliate Services Award (2020)
• National Male President of the Year (2020)
• Southern Region National Pivot Award (2021)

The Atlanta Urban League, founded in 1920 as an affiliate of the National Urban League, was created to support African American families migrating from rural Georgia to industrialized Atlanta. In a segregated city at the dawn of the industrial revolution, the Atlanta Urban League provided crucial assistance with employment, job training, housing, healthcare, and education. To better reflect the region it serves, the Atlanta Urban League changed its name to the Urban League of Greater Atlanta in January 2011, continuing its mission to “Empower Communities and Change Lives!” And over 115 years later, even amidst significant economic challenges, the organization remains highly relevant.