The Urban League of Greater Madison is looking for young professionals who are interested in professional development and networking opportunities, but who also want to make a difference in their community.
“My goal is to really work to help grow this chapter of Young Professionals,” Melissa A. Herriges, president of the Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals (ULGMYP) tells Madison365. “We’ll be working a lot throughout this year with the community and with the Urban League as we reach out and let the community know that the Urban League Young Professionals are still here and we’re still very active in the social justice realm and that we’re looking for like-minded people who want to grow as professionals and get some experience being involved in social justice activities.”
The ULGMYP chapter officially launched in 2012 with the purpose of supporting the Urban League movement through volunteerism, philanthropy and membership development. ULGMYP is a volunteer auxiliary of community leaders ages 21-40 who work to empower communities and change lives through the Urban League movement.
Throughout the year, ULGMYP hosts interesting events with stimulating guests that serve as a great chance to network with other young professionals and to learn from a community member with expertise in a certain area. Tonight, the Young Professionals, along with the Urban League of Greater Madison, will host YP Empowerment Hour: Leading a Strategic & Purposeful Life. Daniel Sims of The Sims Group, LLC will share strategies on leading a strategic and purposeful life.
“He’s really going to help people to focus on setting goals and allocating time to things that are intentional and things that are helping to build up their skills … but also helping people to grow in their careers,” Herriges says.
During this workshop, attendees will be able to learn from Sims, a program analyst and grants specialist at Urban League of Greater Madison, about strategies that they will be able to apply to their personal and professional lives.
“Daniel Sims is rather new to Madison. Maybe he’s been here for six months. But he’s not new to non-profits and social justice work. He actually helped to build two young professional chapters in Arkansas before he came here,” Herriges says. “He has his own business in marketing and strategic planning for non-profits. Even though Daniel is only 32, he has a lot of experience already working in this space so we are very happy to have him on board with the young professionals.”
There are currently about 30 members of ULGMYP. Herriges says she would like to see that number increase. “We’re still growing and really looking to become even more active and present in the community,” she says.
“I think that here in Madison that ULGMYP is all about helping young, professional adults but it’s also about being a hub in the community for all minorities to be able to come together and be able to assemble in one place and feel like there is this network and there is a place for people who are under 40 in Madison,” Herriges adds.
Tonight’s event is a chance to connect with other young professionals and learn more about a growing young professionals organization.
“Even if people are not an Urban League Young Professional, they can still come,” Herriges says. “We leave it open that way because sometimes that’s how people hear about us.”
The Urban League of Greater Madison Young Professionals and Urban League of Greater Madison will host a YP Empowerment Hour on Tuesday, March 19, 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Urban League of Greater Madison, 2222 S Park St, Ste 200.
