40th Anniversary Commencement Celebration
The week of July 26th was one of celebration for National Urban Fellows.
Amid much pomp and circumstance, the Class of 2010 prepared to end their days as
Fellows, but begin their new lives as Alumni.
The Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts, III, (pictured left) President of SUNY College at Old Westbury, and Pastor
of the nationally recognized Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, was the 40th Anniversary Commencement
speaker for the graduating class of 2010. Among the most resonating remarks made by Dr. Butts to the graduates,
was the reminder of the imminent “rising tide of color,” that challenges today’s change agents to lead with respect
and appreciation for diversity and inclusiveness, and that all people are created equal. Dr. Butts also described
his new acronym for the word “U R B A N,” describing it to mean “Using Real Brains to Advance the Nation.” To view video of
the Reverend Dr. Calvin O. Butts’ keynote commencement address to NUF graduates click here
NUF held its first annual Rite of Passage Pinning Ceremony on Wednesday, July 28. An important part of the National
Urban Fellows experience, the rite of passage is meant to instill in new Alumni, a sense of pride and accomplishment,
and re-enforce the life-long relationship between National Urban Fellows and its Alumni. Presiding over the pinning
ceremony were NUF Chair, Ben Reyes and President, Paula Gavin. Representing the four decades of NUF Alumni who shared
their experiences, as well as best wishes were speakers, Mary Wong Lee, Class of 1978, Member Board of Directors,
National Urban Fellows; Dr. Carolyn N. Graham, Class of 1986, Deputy Chief Administrator, Office for Human Services,
Richmond, VA; Dr. Debra J. Perez, Class of 1997, Senior Program Officer, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and
Gerick T. Smith, Class of 2003, Deputy Director, Construction Division, Department f Real Estate Services for the
District of Columbia.
NUF Announces Mentorships for Class of 2011
To see mentors listing click here...
