National Urban Fellows

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NUF Co-founder
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro
Celebrates Alumni

Hon Rosa L. DeLauro

On Thursday, April 11th, over fifty Washington, DC, area Alumni gathered for a networking reception and celebration sponsored by the American Express Foundation. Larry King, the evening's reception host, welcomed Alumni ranging from the Class of '70 to the Class of '07. Guests also included members of the class of '08 and the recently selected Class of '09, as well as Anna Flores, Vice President of American Express. Paula Gavin, President congratulated Alumni on being accomplished and courageous change agents and reminding the entire gathering of the National Urban Fellows mission.

Ben Reyes, Chair of the NUF Board of Directors enjoyed the pleasure of welcoming very special guest, a co-founder of National Urban Fellows, Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro. What follows are her stirring remarks:

Thank you Ben.

Paula Gavin, thank you for your warm and inspiring remarks. The National Urban Fellows is fortunate to have your leadership and experience. And with your vision and passion going forward there is no limit to what we can do.

Indeed that sentiment, that boundless potential is something we imagined and felt when the National Urban Fellows was nothing more than an idea nearly four decades ago, but to see it take life here today and in the work of Fellows all over the country, it is simply thrilling.

To David Chu and the entire National Urban Fellows staff, as well as the entire board and all of the current fellows, mentors and alumni, gathered and celebrating, please let me welcome and congratulate you. It is a great privilege for me to join all you here, to see so many friends and familiar faces, people dedicated to equity and social justice, and to think about that kernel of an idea that started it all in New Haven so long ago.

Let me say, I feel as if I have finally come home to an extended family. More than 1,000 alumni! A 39 year-track record! Upwards of 40 Fellows for the 2009 class. Simply Remarkable.

Transformational mentorships and high impact placements across the country are the heart and soul of National Urban Fellows. And year after year they are a powerful testament to the reach of this organization and the passion of the people who give it life.

Nearly 4 decades ago, I was working at a community organization, New Haven's Community Action Institute. Frank Logue who directed that effort would later become mayor of New Haven. At that time, the National League of Cities and the US Conference of Mayors were looking for a way to confront and address the problems of the late '60s – violence and social unrest. How could you bridge the gap between city governments and minority communities? There was a dearth of minorities and women in city and state government.

We saw an imperative for change, and the need for a new model of leadership — new leaders from minority communities because — because, frankly, the old model had left too many people out of the process — out of the board rooms — out of the city halls and the state legislatures — out of public agencies and non-profit organizations — out of positions of influence and power.

So, under the auspices of the National League of Cities and the US Conference of Mayors, with funding from the Ford Foundation, the National Urban Fellows got off the ground. We knew our success was dependent on getting a few key elements right.

We knew we had to recruit impressive fellows — courageous people with the capacity to learn and grow. We were offering an amazing opportunity – education and experience — but we were asking a lot as well. We were being ambitious — seeking not only to inspire great leaders but also to change the entire leadership structure, the very world our fellows were about to enter.

We also understood that good policy requires passionate policy makers. And that passion is instilled and inspired by the insight you make possible. So our Fellows had to have genuine leadership experience in changing cities — to make a real difference and see change happening in real time. We had Fellows all over the country, working with Walter Washington, the District's first mayor, Cleveland's Carl Stokes, the first African American mayor of a major city, and Tom Bradley in Los Angeles — the kind of experience that allows young leaders to build lasting networks — the kind of networks that stay with you for life.

I am proud of how far National Urban Fellows has come. And I am excited about where you are going, because I know we need the National Urban Fellows. One-third of the country is now made up of multiethnic, multicultural individuals, while only 15 % of the top elected government officials such as members of the U.S. Congress are African American, Latino, Asian American or Native American; and only 24% are women.

We must close this gap and that is why the National Urban Fellows is so critical. Many may think we have already won these battles especially in a year when we have an African American and a woman vying for the presidential nomination, but clearly — when 84% of the country's non-profit organizations leaders are white, with 42% of these organizations serving only white communities — we have long way to go.

Even in the Congress where I have seen remarkable progress in the last 18 years, there are less 20 percent of the Representatives and Senators are women.

With baby boomers soon to retire in vast numbers, there will be many vacancies in top posts, in every sector, creating greater opportunity for diverse leadership.

Now is the time to prepare a new generation of leaders of all ethic and racial backgrounds. National Urban Fellows mission is as relevant today as it was 40 years ago.

Shirley Chisholm said that — "Service is the rent that you pay for room on this earth." And I know that each of you embrace that sentiment every day in your work and in your lives, in your presence here today and in all that you do.

Thank you and congratulations!

Remarks of the Hon. Rosa DeLauro
National Urban Fellows Reception
Friday, April 11, 2008

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