HONORING THE URBAN LEAGUE OF GREATER RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, FOR 95 YEARS OF EXEMPLARY COMMUNITY SERVICE

March 18, 2009

Mr. SCOTT of Virginia: Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor and pay tribute to the Urban League of Greater Richmond, which has served the communities of Richmond, Chesterfield, Henrico, Petersburg, Colonials Heights and Chester, Virginia for 95 years.

One of the oldest of 102 affiliates of the National Urban League, the Urban League of Greater Richmond has enabled many African-Americans and other minorities in the Commonwealth of Virginia to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights.

The Urban League of Greater Richmond has always been committed to assisting those it serves in their professional and personal lives, and to promoting lifelong learning and educational achievement at all levels of education. The Urban League of Greater Richmond provides vital services to the Richmond community. These services include providing access to housing counseling, employment services, a full computer center, credit services, and health services in partnership with the MCV/VCU Hospital Quality Care Unit program.

On Friday, March 20, 2009, the Urban League of Greater Richmond will celebrate its 95th anniversary with music legend Chuck Brown. This event will not only celebrate and honor 95 years of service to the Richmond community, but it will also raise money for college scholarships for underserved students.

I have had the opportunity to work alongside the Urban League of Greater Richmond to better the Richmond community for many years. Whether it's civil rights, crime policy, or welfare reform, the Urban League has always been out there leading the charge and making sure the urban agenda and those issues important to minority communities are a part of the local, state and national conversation.

While today I honor their first 95 years of service of the Urban League of Greater Richmond, I look forward to many, many more years of dedicated service, commitment and passion for the welfare of the people of Greater Richmond. I commend their many volunteers, their hard working staff, their board of directors and their President and CEO Thomas Victory, and I thank the Urban League of Greater Richmond for 95 years of outstanding leadership on issues that directly affect our urban community.