COMMUNITY LEADERS MEET WITH GOVERNOR SCOTT
The Central Florida Urban League (CFUL) recently led a delegation of prominent African American community, city and business leaders in a meeting with the Governor of Florida, Rick Scott.
Spearheaded by Glenton Gilzean Jr., President and C.E.O. of the CFUL, the delegation included: Wesley Harris, Chairman, CFUL Board of Directors; Terry Prather, CEO, Seaworld (Retired); Larry Mills, Past President, African–American Christian Clergy Coalition; Kevin Edmunds;, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer, City of Orlando and Leonard Spencer.
“We truly appreciated the warm reception from Governor Scott, who demonstrated his concern for the issues affecting Central Floridians,” said Glenton Gilzean Jr. “Our discussion was focused on economic development and implementing concrete solutions to help low income individuals obtain jobs."
The priority for both Governor Scott and the CFUL is to ensure low income individuals have a pathway to escape poverty via employment. Both parties plan to work together to tackle this issue by providing job training for individuals to meet the advanced needs of today’s employers.
February 09, 2017
PUBLIC INVITED TO AWARD WINNING JOURNALIST ROLAND MARTIN’S COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
ORLANDO, FEBRUARY 2, 2017 – Roland Martin, along with elected officials and business leaders, will kickoff the 2017 Central Florida Urban League’s Empowerment Weekend with a community conversation at St. Marks AME Church (1968 Bruton Blvd) on February 23 at 6 pm.
The event is free of charge and the public is invited to register for tickets by clicking here.
Martin’s discussion, which will be simulcast live on television, will focus on the issues facing the country today and the importance of being an active, engaged member of your community. Furthermore, he will host two panel discussions that will delve into Criminal Justice and Economic Empowerment & Jobs:
Criminal Justice: Chief Judge Frederick J. Lauten; and Gerard Robinson, Resident Fellow, Education Policy Studies, American Enterprise Institute.
Economic Empowerment and Jobs: Darrick McGhee, Sr. Vice President Government Relations, Johnson & Blanton, LLC; John F. Davis, President, African American Chamber of Commerce of Central Florida; and Alvin Cowans, President and CEO, McCoy Federal Credit Union.
“Our community faces some tough challenges and this conversation is going to serve as the foundation for both the community and experts to bring forward opinions and solutions,” said Glenton Gilzean, Jr., President and C.E.O of the Central Florida Urban League. “We are excited that Roland Martin will help lead these important discussions, which in turn, will help us continue to fulfill our mandate of empowerment by bringing the community together and improving the lives of Central Floridians.”
February 03, 2017
CFUL MOURNS THE TRAGIC MURDER OF MASTER SGT. DEBRA CLAYTON
The 
ORLANDO, JANUARY 9, 2017 – The Central Florida Urban League is heartbroken as, along with our entire community, we mourn the tragic and horrific murder of Master Sgt. Debra Clayton.
"Master Sgt. Debra Clayton was a caring mother, wife, friend and mentor, said Glenton Gilzean Jr., President and CEO of the CFUL. "We had the incredible honor of recognizing her profound impact in our community through our Honoring Our Heroes ceremony last June. Master Sgt. Clayton always had the time to give back to her community, whether it was by mentoring at-risk youth or serving on our law enforcement task force. She worked tirelessly alongside the CFUL in bridging the gap between law enforcement and the community. She is - and will always be - a hero."
January 09, 2017
CFUL RECEIVES FUNDING FROM VOLUNTEER FLORIDA
ORLANDO, NOVEMBER 11, 2016 - The Central Florida Urban League is proud to announce that it has received $30,000 in AmeriCorps funding from Volunteer Florida in order to properly lay the foundation to bring the My Brother’s Keeper initiative to our community.
As one of 36 AmeriCorps programs across the state to be funded, the award will allow the CFUL to play a significant role in increasing student achievement, boosting high school graduation rates, and providing career readiness and teacher training.
“The My Brother’s Keeper initiative is directly in line with the core values and mission of the Central Florida Urban League,” said Glenton Gilzean Jr., President and CEO. “We are very grateful to be one of only 36 organizations to receive funding this cycle; this money will ensure that we can effectively bring this important initiative to the youth of Central Florida in 2017.
Volunteer Florida will administer the funding, which includes $12,071,622 in federal grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and includes matching funds representing our community’s local investment in the Central Florida Urban League.
AmeriCorps members dedicate a year of their lives to service, gaining valuable job skills and learning to succeed in the most challenging environments. This funding will eventually allow the CFUL to put AmeriCorps members to work in our community.
AmeriCorps members dedicate a year of their life to service to local organizations such as the CFUL and gain invaluable job skills in preparation to enter the workforce. Many AmeriCorps members attend college in the area in which they serve, providing a direct investment in Florida’s colleges and universities.
November 15, 2016
CFUL Announces New Small Business Initiative
November 02, 2016
Central Florida, Jacksonville, and Pinellas County Urban Leagues Endorse Florida Amendment 1
ORLANDO, OCTOBER 4, 2016 - The Central Florida Urban League, the Jacksonville Urban League, and the Pinellas County Urban League issued the following joint statement:
Breaking down the barriers that keep communities of color from participating in the emerging renewable energy markets as consumers and producers will result in access to affordable energy and an increase in entrepreneurial and career opportunities. The Central Florida Urban League, the Jacksonville Urban League, and the Pinellas County Urban League believe that Florida Amendment 1 provides an effective hammer for breaking down these barriers while providing regulators with the tools to protect low income consumers who still rely entirely on the electric grid from carrying a disproportionate share of the grid’s fixed costs.
Florida Amendment 1 provides consumers with the constitutional right to install rooftop solar to provide for their energy needs. Owing largely to its cost, low-income consumers and communities of color are seldom able to use rooftop solar and must rely on the grid for their energy needs. As more affluent consumers deploy rooftop solar, fewer non-solar consumers are left to carry the costs of maintaining the grid. This creates a scenario where the costs for maintain the grid shift to low income consumers and communities of color, leaving disadvantaged ratepayers subsidizing affluent solar panel owners. Amendment 1 provides a guarantee that regulators and elected officials can mitigate the effects of regressive cost shifting.
The Central Florida Urban League, the Jacksonville Urban League, and the Pinellas County Urban League urge our members to vote YES on Florida Amendment 1 on November 8, 2016.
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October 31, 2016
