March 28, 2017 – This week’s timely message about our community came from Otha Meadows, President and CEO of the Charleston Trident Urban League (CTUL). Meadows has a long history of serving his communities through the Urban League. He previously headed the Urban League of Indianapolis and the Urban League of Columbus, Ohio, where he steered a major building campaign to a successful conclusion. He was eager to provide us with insight into the dramatic impact the CTUL has in our region.
The CTUL is one of 90 affiliates of the National Urban League throughout the country and one of three in South Carolina, the other state affiliates being in Greenville and Columbia. While the name of his organization may suggest otherwise, Meadows pointed out that his organization assists those in rural areas as well, serving all three local counties – Berkeley, Charleston and Dorchester. The primary focus of the Urban League is to foster diversity and racial inclusion and helping minorities to reach economic self-sufficiency. Meadows was quick to point out, however, that not only minorities are assisted by the programs of the CTUL. Over 30% of Urban League clients in our region are not people of color.
The primary program areas for the CTUL are housing, asset building, workforce, education and youth development. In the area of housing Meadows noted that the Urban League investigates housing discrimination complaints on behalf of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development. The CTUL has a massive campaign to educate both landlords and tenants in the low country about fair housing. It is not just information which the Urban League provides in support of the housing needs of our community. As Meadows pointed out, many of our fellow citizens are just a paycheck away from homelessness and the CTUL’s emergency shelter grant program ensures that people are faced with the looming specter of homelessness can avoid that downward spiral. With grants capped at $500.00, the CTUL assists the these individuals in finding affordable housing, counseling them and their families to determine what other resources might be available to help them keep a roof over their heads
Often those most at risk for emergency housing assistance are those most in need for the CTUL’s programs geared toward helping minorities learn the importance of asset building. Meadows is particularly proud of the Urban League’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program. While there are online and other services which provide free tax filing for lower income individuals, Meadows explained that these programs do not often identify and assist individuals with obtaining tax credits to which they may be entitled. The Urban League’s goal of helping minorities build assets is also furthered by the CTUL’s first-time home buyers program. Meadows noted that, while 80% of the white residents in the low country own their own homes, only 40% of black families live in a home they own. The CTUL first-time home buyers program has helped hundreds of local residents buy a home and not a single one, Meadows proudly pointed out, has been lost through foreclosure.
In order to build assets and establish home ownership, however, more is needed, which is why Meadows drew attention to the Urban League’s workforce education program. Many of the poor in our community are not ready for the jobs of the twenty-first century. Our local schools can help with technical training, but It is soft skills such as getting to work on time, communication, teamwork and childcare, which the Urban League teaches its clients, which allow the poor to reach job security and job advancement. Meadows noted that the CTUL Youth Leadership Development Institute helps young people obtain the certifications needed to enhance their employability.
Meadows noted that perhaps the best way of gauging what the CTUL has done for our community is the story of the many clients the Urban League has helped. He relayed the story of one young lady in particular. This single mom was 36 years old caring for seven children and she had only a tenth-grade education when she called the CTUL in need of finding employment. At first Meadows thought this client’s needs were so great his agency might not be able to help, but today she has a job and her family has found the security which is the goal the Urban League has for every member of our community.
In closing Meadows promised that the Urban League will always be a leader in advocating for universal early childhood education, a federal living wage and summer youth employment as necessary factors to bring security and a better life to all those in our community. He recommended that we review the urban League’s report – The State of Black America – to see more of how the CTUL and all the other National Urban League affiliates across the country have enhanced our communities. And more close to home, the CTUL will have an opportunity to showcase one of its seminal efforts and enhancing our community as it hosts a Fair Housing Summit here in Charleston on April 13 – an event we are all encourage to attend.
— Alex Dallis, Keyway Committee