Soledad O'Brien Delivers Keynote Speech at ULEM Summer Event

BOSTON – 2010 marked the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the National Urban League (NUL).  The organization was founded in New York City with the goal of empowering people through economic development and raising the standard of living and quality of life for urban communities.  These noble goals were on display this past summer when the NUL held its annual convention in Boston.  The NUL has more than 100 local affiliates in 36 states and Washington, D.C.

The theme for this year’s NUL conference was “JOBS REBUILD AMERICA.”  It was first time in 35 years that the conference was held in Boston, a city of firsts.  Boston had the 1st public library, 1st public school, and the 1st public transportation system in the United States.
I was not able to attend the conference, however; I was able to attend an affiliated program called The State of Black Boston.  The program was held on July 25, 2011 at the Hynes Convention Center.  The event was sponsored by the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (ULEM), the Boston Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and the William Monroe Trotter Institute. 
The event brought together several leaders of the minority community within the Boston area and beyond.  CEO of the ULEM Darnell L. Williams, Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick, National Urban League President & CEO Marc H. Morial, and many other civic, community, and political leaders spoke at the event.  “There is a jobs crisis in America,” Morial said.  Other speakers commented eloquently about health care being a social justice issue.  “Too often, people of color… don’t have access [to quality health care],” said Andrew Dreyfus, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.   
In addition to the State of Black Boston event, the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts published a document called State of Boston.  The document is a comprehensive report pertaining to criminal justice, education, health care, housing, and other important social issues in Boston’s African American community.  In 2010, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 53% of Boston’s residents were black, Hispanic, or Asian.
The highlight of the State of Black Boston program was the keynote speech delivered by CNN news anchor Soledad O’Brien.  She spoke candidly for about 30 minutes about her mixed heritage, career as a CNN news personality, and the need for all American citizens, particularly people of color to remain committed to social justice issues.
“I loved being part of a team that could tell stories that could shape America,” O’Brien said regarding her work with various CNN documentaries such as Black in America, Gay in America, and Working in America.  O’Brien also spoke about changing global employment conditions.  She cited statistics that show that American students rank 17th in science/math for industrialized countries.  O’Brien explained that American workers cannot fill certain jobs and that there are very few Latino workers in Silicon Valley, California.  “Diversity adds value to a company,” she said.
O’Brien concluded her speech with a paraphrased quote from the Italian poet Dante Alighieri: “The hottest places in hell are reserved for those who in times of greatest moral dilemma stay neutral.”

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