Pictured from left to right are Jennifer Fuller, ULGC board vice chair, Chris McKee, president and COO of McKee Foods Corporation and Candy Johnson, ULGC president and CEO
The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (ULGC) celebrated its 42nd Annual Equal Opportunity Day (EOD): State of the Movement breakfast at The Chattanoogan Hotel on Thursday. The event brought together community leaders, stakeholders and advocates to highlight the organization’s impactful work and recognize outstanding contributions to advancing equity and empowerment.
The program was made possible by presenting sponsor BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, along with platinum co-sponsors EPB and TVA.
The morning featured reflections on ULGC’s achievements and its vision for the future, with highlights including:
- State of the Movement Address: Jennifer Fuller, ULGC board vice chair, outlined the organization’s progress over the past year, which included serving more than 10,700 residents, earning national recognition as a high-performing affiliate and implementing impactful programs to address racial and economic disparities.
- Youth Perspective Panel: Participants from ULGC’s Project Ready initiative, a leadership and academic development program for high school students, discussed their perspectives on the movement and its influence on the community.
- Special Award Presentations: The Urban League honored individuals and organizations for their commitment to equity and justice:
- Spirit of the Movement Award: Ron Harris, former ULGC board member and BlueCross BlueShield executive, was recognized for embodying the principles of equity and justice in his contributions to the Urban League movement.
- Community Impact Award: Chris McKee and McKee Foods Corporation were honored for their sustained efforts to improve the community’s quality of life and elevate the standard of living.
- Inclusion by Design Award: Tennessee American Water was recognized for its dedication to diversity, inclusion, and support of ULGC’s workforce development initiatives over the past three years.
- Whitney M. Young Jr. Award: Eric Atkins of the Unity Group received this honor for his outstanding leadership and advocacy for justice, social consciousness and civic engagement.
- Scholarship Awards: The ULGC celebrated the achievements of outstanding high school seniors with the Warren E. Logan Jr. National Achievers Scholarship. This year’s recipients included:
- JaMya Rogan: A senior at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, planning to major in biochemistry to pursue her passion for science, research and medicine.
- Timothy Rice III: A senior at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences, intending to pursue a degree in business.
- Meko Moss: A senior at Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences.
The event concluded with remarks from ULGC President and CEO Candy Johnson, who reflected on her tenure and shared her vision for the organization’s future.
“Together as a 'movement' for racial, social and economic justice, we have maintained forward progress in our collective efforts to advance the vision of empowering communities and changing lives," said Ms. Johnson. "I am deeply grateful for the unwavering support of our community, our investors, the leadership of our board of directors and the passion and commitment of our staff to ensure our success. More importantly, the inspiration we've all gained from the individuals we serve who benefit from our daily empowerment programs. They make this work worthwhile. Together, we’ve made meaningful strides toward empowering individuals and families, and I am excited for the opportunities ahead as we continue building a brighter, more inclusive city for all.”
Attendees were encouraged to deepen their support for ULGC’s mission by making donations during the event. These contributions directly fund programs that create equitable opportunities and improve the quality of life for all residents.