Untitled Document

ULYP POLICY STATEMENT

There are two keys to being successfully involved in the political process: Money and Participation. Led by the National Urban League Young Professionals’ Five Point Strategy, we have chosen the latter as our vehicle to address the critical issues concerning young professionals. As we continue the movement set before us years ago with the establishment of the National Urban League, we will actively address the issues below through Community Forums, Volunteer Opportunities, and Advocacy Campaigns.

NATIONAL ISSUES OF CONCERN
Affirmative Action

Affirmative Action was established as a means to level the playing field after the enactment of civil rights legislation. Until African-Americans and other minorities can be judged by the content of our character, not the color of our skin, programs like these and others will continue to be needed. We dare not mention that our own current U.S. President was accepted to Yale University on the basis of Affirmative Action.

The Economy

Though retirement for our demographic is years away, the peaks and valleys in the Dow Jones Industrial Average have had a detrimental effect on our 401K/403B accounts. We cannot help but wonder what benefits, if any, will be available as we reach our mid to late sixties. Economic projections forecast that the social security system will have a $3 trillion shortfall by the year 2040. Ironically, many of us will reach retirement age at that time. If the economy continues its current downward spiral, we will find our children in the same ‘sandwich generation’ that our parents and we are in.

Federal Tax Cuts

The recent federal tax cut unfairly gives advantage to the rich. Comparatively speaking, a corporate executive earning more than $1 million saves approximately $93,000 – nearly one-tenth of his or her income. An entry-level clerical worker in the same company earning $20,000 to $30,000 saves only $189. Do the math. This disparity disproportionately affects many young professionals and Urban League constituents.

Higher Education

As we look to higher education opportunities for African Americans, we must stress the importance of saving our Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). HBCUs provide a unique environment that enables our students to succeed. State-by-state, budget cuts threaten to cut essential programs, close schools, shorten school years, and further increase the student/teacher ratio for our budding families.

These issues greatly diminish the capacity for growth of a strong, competent young professional class, especially in the African American community. Without such, the future of major firms, governmental entities, and community organizations will face deficits in leadership. We will work with our colleagues throughout the nation to effect change in these areas.

STATE AND LOCAL ISSUES OF CONCERN
State and Local Budget Cuts

Turning to state and local issues, budget cuts at each level will have a serious impact on the unemployment rate, education, and health care. Missouri school districts are facing the fall school year with severe decreases in state funding. Additionally, decreases in Medicaid funding effect the available sources of care from Federally Qualified Health Centers and non-profit hospital systems. If Medicaid becomes a less desirable payor, many providers may chose to opt out of participation, as already witnessed with dental providers in the State of Missouri.

Urban Revitalization

In St. Louis, a significant urban revitalization project has taken a hold of the former downtown warehouse district. Loft-style condominium projects are popping up in every other vacant building on Washington Avenue and its neighboring blocks with the average price tag of $200,000. According to “Where We Stand”, The Strategic Assessment of the St. Louis Region, published by the East West Gateway Council, African-Americans are six times as likely to borrow money in the sub-prime market and more than twice as likely to pay over 35 percent of our income on housing. Given this bleak picture, how many of us can really afford to live in the city in safe neighborhoods?

Young Leadership

The St. Louis Metropolitan area lost thousands of citizens between the ages of 20-35 between the 1990 and 2000 census. The average age of individuals in the Metropolitan area is 36. The economy is not growing and the population is declining due to our current cumbersome local government structure. Simply put, our city government does not deliver a continuum of strong services and opportunity. Rather than voicing their opinions, many young professionals have chosen to move to other, more progressive cities where chief city executives have the authority to address problems decisively and efficiently. We strongly encourage Advance St. Louis to include young professionals as key participants in the Stakeholder’s Assembly currently being formed to address changes to the city charter.

If not appropriately addressed, the issues presented above will continue to drive young professionals out of the metropolitan area to other, larger, more diverse cities with greater opportunities for advancement and economic growth.

In the Spirit of the Movement,

Urban League Young Professionals
St. Louis Chapter