Local entrepreneurs earn $10,500 in Knoxville Area Urban League business pitch contest

Five winners of the Knoxville Area Urban League’s business pitch contest have received checks totaling $10,500 for enterprises ranging from health care to art classes. Mark Isom, the founder and president of Premiere Building Maintenance Corporation, presented the entrepreneurs with checks during Impact Week, a virtual fundraiser held in late 2020 for the Knoxville Area Urban League’s community initiatives, including … Read More

Here to serve

Our response to Coronavirus The Coronavirus is an unprecedented health crisis with significant economic and safety threats. We are confident, that together, we will get through it. We are committed to doing everything we can for everyone in our community. We are continuing to provide services and support.  It is why we exist and why we are committed to working … Read More

Mobile Unit will bring driver’s license and ID services on Tuesday, Aug. 20

The Knoxville Area Urban League will host a Tennessee Driver’s License Mobile Unit on Tuesday, Aug. 20, to provide licensing and state identification services to the community. The unit will be available from 1-4 p.m. at the Knoxville Area Urban League’s headquarters, located at 1514 E. 5th Ave. Services will include state ID cards, learner’s permits, new driver’s licenses, renewal … Read More

Annual Membership Lunch – How Can You Be A Part of the Urban League?

Thank you for your interest in the Knoxville Area Urban League. We are extremely grateful to our supporters whose ongoing commitment has allowed us to continue the work of empowering communities and changing lives for another year. Check out our 2016 Annual Report which is posted on our website for detailed program outcomes and fiscal information, and acknowledgements to all … Read More

What do business leaders need to understand about diversity?

If our collective desire is to make the greater Knoxville area a destination of choice for investment, for talented individuals and their families, and for the leading businesses of tomorrow, then diversity and inclusion must have intentional focus. Business leaders send a powerful message when they demonstrate a commitment to diversity and inclusion that goes beyond mere talk. Companies and … Read More

Talk about a Return on Investment!

We often say that time marches on. I recently had an experience that reminded me that, indeed, time passes quickly. It also reminded me why I am passionate about the Urban League and why our work is so important. I met Brandon Hardin when he was a sophomore at Austin-East. Brandon was engaged in the Black Achievers Program where I … Read More

Diversity Summit helps Knoxville Start an Important Conversation

Scripps Networks is a market leader in demonstrating how diversity and inclusion make for a successful business. At last week’s Diversity Summit – hosted by Scripps in partnership with the Urban League and Knoxville Chamber – Scripps provided the opportunity to explore the dimension of diversity as an economic driver for community and business development. The Summit was stimulating and … Read More

Sitting around the table with Bill Gates

You may have noticed that it’s been a while since I last wrote a blog entry. I assure you that my absence from the blogosphere has nothing to do with lack of material. The past month has been a blur of activity, and I’ve been involved in some very interesting things. At the end of July, I attended the annual … Read More