Spartanburg’s Urban League holds meeting in Cherokee Co.

Ledger Staff Writer

The Urban League of Upstate Spartanburg held an informational meeting Monday morning for local residents interested in how the organization could help Cherokee County.

Gaffney Mayor Henry Jolly, Nestle CEO Pat Emrich, Gene Brown of Brown Packing Co., Upstate Carolina Medical Center Administrator Joe Howell, Bethel Baptist Church Pastor Rev. J.W. Sanders Jr., and Cherokee County School Superintendent Dr. Bill James were among the persons in attendance.

The meeting was organized by Gaffney native and former S.C. Lt. Gov. Mike Daniel.

The Urban League works to help people become self-sufficient by providing economic services in education, job training, employment, housing, and health care.

James and the school district’s chief academic officer, Dr. Linda Sellars, became interested in the Urban League after hearing a presentation about the organization’s Teen Connection. The district has made the program’s interest in preventing school dropouts a major priority at Limestone Learning Center.

More than 200 area high school students participated in a senior signing day held by the Urban League last spring. The program recognized students for their academic achievements in the same way that high school athletes are recognized when making commitments to college athletic programs.

The school district is still evaluating the Urban League’s programs, James said. A presentation would be made to the school board if the district becomes interested in pursuing the issue further.

Community leaders made no decisions at the meeting about whether Cherokee will join Spartanburg and Union in working with the Urban League.

“There will need to be a lot more discussion. We will need to address issues like how to avoid overlapping services among community organizations,” Howell said. “The Urban League has merit in its ability to enhance the programs that are already available in our community.”

Spartanburg Mayor Bill Barnet helped initiate the Urban League in his community. In a city with a high poverty rate and large numbers of black Americans who don’t graduate from high school, Barnet said he believes the league has played a valuable role in improving the quality of life in Spartanburg.

“This is a valuable vehicle within our community to address economic issues, provide opportunities in our neighborhoods and address our youth’s future,” he said.