No Books, No Jobs, Young People Dying: The National Urban League and You Can Stop the Carnage

How many more young men and women have to die before we say enough is enough? The statistics are staggering and the causes are clear.  What are we waiting for? In cities across the country, the National Urban League and its Affiliates are reaching out to young people to provide alternatives, but we need your support to serve more students and mobilize our political leaders to act.

Public schools across the country are floundering and in places like Memphis, the City Schools' graduation rate for 2009 dropped to 62.1 percent, an almost 5 percent decrease in just one year.  In many school districts fortunate enough to retain sports and band programs, parents are required to pay for their children to participate in these fundamental programs. 

The consequences of cities plagued by poverty and little educational resources are both heartbreaking and embarrassing for the greatest nation on earth:

·         An all time high unemployment rate of over 27% for teenage youth

·         African American high school graduation rate of 50%

·         1 in 3 African American youth are at risk of incarceration during their lifetime

·         A 43% college graduation rate for African American students

The National Urban League is working to make a difference in the lives of young people across the country.  Our Project Ready College Success programs currently serve over 600 students in 16 cities. Project Ready prepares high school age youth for the critical transition from high school to college and/or professional work. We are giving hope and providing a direct solution to the plague that is robbing the nation of its young talent. We would like to extend the program to all 100 Urban League Affiliates across the country, but need additional resources.

By making a donation this week, you can give hope to our nation's youth. Please support the National Urban League's efforts in stemming the tide of lost youth by making a donation of whatever amount you can afford. Even a donation of $5 or $10 can make a difference!   We thank you for your support. 

Please forward this message to as many of your friends as possible.

For more information about the National Urban League visit our website: www.nul.org

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