YPN-ULEM Programs
Black History Month
Civic Engagement Committee
Established in 2014, is part of the Volunteering Is Sexy® Signature Event Series. This program celebrates the importance of Black History month. YPN-ULEM will have an overall reflection on the history of the people of the African Diaspora and a discussion on the future. This event occurs in February.
Candid Conversations
Professional & Social Development Committee
Established in 2014, Candid Conversations is a speaker series that provides an opportunity for our organization’s members, friends and supporters to have intimate, candid conversations with civic, business and community leaders in our society on various topics important to YP’s today. “#mapoli Edition,” a special issue of this series, focuses on the various candidates for political office during election season, giving all candidates an opportunity to provide potential voters with information on their platform and a chance for participants to ask questions they may never get to ask in a more traditional forum setting. The event series is held at various points throughout the program year.
Get Out the Vote Community BBQ
Civic Engagement Committee
Established in 2012, is part of the Volunteering Is Sexy® Signature Event Series. This event encourages our members, friends, supporters and the greater Boston community to register to vote and share with their friends and networks the importance of voting. Participants check their voting status and are entertained by music and food. We invite community and civic leaders, in a non-partisan conversation, to stress the importance of voting regularly in all local, state and federal elections. Street teams also canvas the local neighborhoods to provide information about the coming election and invite them to the event to register to vote. This event occurs in September post primary elections.
Housing 101
Civic Engagement Committee
Established in 2014, the Housing 101 series focuses on the housing issues pertinent to the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts community. Discussions on topics such as real estate investments, financial pitfalls and benefits, available government programs for any level of life and how to maximize their use are explored and explained by experts in the industry. The event series is held at various points throughout the program year.
“Live S.M.A.R.T.”
Public Health Committee
Established in 2010, is part of the Volunteering Is Sexy® Signature Event Series is a program that highlights societal health issues. The Living S.M.A.R.T. Campaign is designed to help YP’s change our behaviors about our health. S.M.A.R.T. stands for:
SELECT healthy foods,
MAKE an appointment with your doctor,
ADOPT and exercise routine,
REDUCE your stress, and
TELL others about living S.M.A.R.T.! This event occurs in the late spring.
S.M.A.R.T. activities are designed for us to take small, but important steps in adapting a healthier lifestyle. This event occurs in the late spring.
MLK Jr. Community Service
Community Service Committee
Established in 2013, is part of the Volunteering Is Sexy® Signature Event Series. YPN-ULEM takes a moment during the week of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to perform a service activity with the purpose of honoring, performing and expressing the ideals and philosophy set by this and other great civil rights pioneers and leaders. This event occurs during Martin Luther King Jr. week in January.
New & Prospective Membership Orientation
Membership Services Committee
Young Professionals Network of ULEM consistently gains new members. This orientation provides a historical review of the National Urban League (NUL), National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP), Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM) and the Young Professionals Network of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (YPN-ULEM). Conducted similar to monthly general body meetings, new and prospective members learn more about the Movement and YPN-ULEM activities with an invitation to join a committee by committee chairs or join the organization. The event series is held at various points throughout the program year.
NULYP Join Week
Membership Services Committee
The National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) hosts its annual “Join Week” at chapters concurrently across the country. Chapters are slated to host service projects in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., networking mixers, a social media campaign and other events focused on engaging new members to grow this dynamic movement of volunteers and civil rights leaders. Each chapter hosts events with directed themes from NULYP and themes created internally. This is a week long event held in January.
Small Business/Entrepreneur Seminar
Fund Development Committee
Established in 2011, the Small Business/Entrepreneur Seminar informs YP’s and friends on the ins and outs of owning your own business or how to start one. Touching on various topics such as financing, permits, taxation and more this event empowers its participants to harness their economic independence. This event occurs in the early spring.
WINNER: 2013 Be A Better Bud Program Award
Soul Food Cinema Sundays
Professional & Social Development Committee
This bi-monthly pot-luck social event provides an opportunity for YPN-ULEM members and friends to fellowship while watching a film followed by discussion on the subject matter and how it relates to present day events. Films are chosen by suggestions from the membership body with the purpose providing insightful and meaningful discussion points. Previous films have included: D.L. Hughley’s The Endangered List and Mo’ Better Blues, to name a few. This event series is held at various points throughout the program year.
STEM Day!
Young Development & Education Committee
Established in 2011, is part of the Volunteering Is Sexy® Signature Event Series. Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) are the wave of the future, but are students of today equipped to and interested in pursuing these fields? STEM Day is a day-long free event, YPN-ULEM brings in professionals from these various fields of study to engage with middle school to high school students by interactive and educational experiments. Additionally, this event serves as a program for the National Urban League Young Professionals Day of Service, a nationwide service activity where young professionals give back to their global community. This event occurs during Boston public schools vacation week in April.
Taking it to the Streets
Community Service Committee
Established in 2010, this homelessness and hunger awareness campaign is part of the Volunteering Is Sexy® Signature Event Series. YPN-ULEM “Taking It to The Streets” provides YP’s an opportunity to give back on a large scale in a singular program to their local community. This is also an occasion to highlight the prevalent topic of homelessness in our city and its effects on society as a whole. Following a month long collection effort from YPN-ULEM members, friends and supporters, YP’s will come together to assemble care packages comprised of hats, gloves, socks, ULEM employment services among other items and mobilizes YP’s to distribute items to the homeless individuals in and around greater Boston in preparation for cold winter months in Boston. This event is held in November/December.
YP's Ski!
Public Health Committee
Established in 2011, YP’s Ski! is an annual event where YP’s and friends come together to learn the benefits of the physical activity of skiing. This event encourages participants to seek out and participate in unique activities to maintain a healthy lifestyle under the Public Health Committee’s motto: Live S.M.A.R.T. YP’s learn to ski, develop their skiing skills and socialize with other participants. This event occurs in January.
YPN-ULEM Holiday Party
Membership Services Committee
First celebrated in 2010, is part of the Volunteering Is Sexy® Signature Event Series which celebrates the winter holidays as only YP’s can! YPN-ULEM members, friends and supporter gather to reflect on the “reason for the season”. While enjoying light refreshments and entertainment attendees will also donate presents to children and families of a pre-selected charity agency. We follow this event with a wrapping party, where participants will gift wrap the very gifts donated! This event occurs in December in collaboration with the Community Service.