For Immediate Release
June 14, 2011
Contact Information

Angela Perry
National Urban Fellows
212.730.1700
aperry@nuf.org

or

Isha Lee
National Center for Civil and Human Rights
404.658.5904
ilee@cchrpartnership.org

(BPRW) Atlanta's National Center For Civil And Human Rights Forms Partnership With National Urban Fellows, Top Public Service Leadership Development Organization For People Of Color

- Center to be Local Host Residence for National Urban Fellows' Public Service Leadership Diversity Initiative -

(BLACK PR WIRE) – ATLANTA (June 14, 2011) – National Urban Fellows today announced the newly formed partnership with Atlanta’s National Center for Civil and Human Rights (Center) that will bring together two national organizations that share the common objectives of empowering communities, enriching lives and inspiring the leadership for future generations.

To kick off the partnership, the organizations will assemble renowned leaders on civil rights, social justice and leadership diversity at the first Public Service Leadership Diversity Initiative (PSLDI) Leadership Summit in Atlanta, June 14 and 15. At the Opening Luncheon, Ambassador Andrew Young and Mrs. Xernona Clayton will provide a historic perspective on civil rights and social justice. The summit will also showcase the new generation of leadership speakers, including Elder Bernice King, Georgia Senator Jason Carter, MSNBC’s Jeff Johnson and a cadre of national leaders from non-profit and government sectors.

“It is with pride that National Urban Fellows announces this new partnership with the National Center for Civil and Human Rights and to call the Center the host residence of the Public Service Leadership Diversity Initiative. Our partnership will support public service leadership diversity and our vision to inspire excellence and diversity in public service for the country,” said Paula Gavin, President of National Urban Fellows. “The Center’s mission and location here in Atlanta, the birthplace of some of the country’s most revered leaders of color make this partnership ideal and truly inspirational. Together, our organizations will support the pursuit of equality and justice for all Americans. I look forward to working together to promote our common objectives.”

As a facility for learning about the history of our nation’s past and engaging conversations about the future, the Center is a natural portal for exploration and will host all PSLDI summits, training sessions and activities.

“We are very proud to partner with National Urban Fellows and look forward to hosting future Public Service Leadership Diversity Initiative gatherings,” said Doug Shipman, the Center’s CEO. “This partnership is the first we have made of its kind and demonstrates our commitment to provide a platform for other organizations’ important work. The Center will be more than a place to visit, it will convene conversations that impact the future, like the ones National Urban Fellows inspires every day.”

The PSLDI is a movement led by a collaborative network that has produced a campaign action plan supporting the advancement of highly skilled leaders of color for public service. Through research, communications and stakeholder mobilization the PSLDI will develop a new, inclusive paradigm of public service leadership. To date, a collaborative network of more than 125 national government and non-profit organizations have joined the Initiative to implement the campaign action plan.

Among the PSLDI network at the Summit will be representatives from Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta, Fulton County Government, Girls Inc., NAACP of Atlanta, Partnership for Southern Equality, Chicago Community Trust, Michigan Non-Profit Association, Detroit Public Television and the University of Southern California. National organizations in attendance include the Brookings Institute, Federal Office of Personnel Management, Girl Scouts of the USA and United Way Worldwide.

About National Urban Fellows
Founded in 1969 to counter the underrepresentation of people of color and women in leadership positions, National Urban Fellows is a voice of authority on leadership diversity for public and nonprofit sectors. The organization’s range of mid-career leadership development programs include an a 14-month MPA Fellowship; America’s Leaders of Change, a career acceleration program for leaders on the rise in public service sectors; a life-long Alumni Leadership Network, and a collaborative, national network of public service organizations leading a campaign to advocate and inspire excellence and diversity in public service leadership. Visit www.nuf.org for more information.

About The Center
The National Center for Civil and Human Rights will display The Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection (King Papers), the award-winning Without Sanctuary lynching exhibit and serve as a hub for ongoing dialogue, attracting world-renowned speakers and artists who work on a variety of human rights topics. Located in Downtown Atlanta at Pemberton Place and equipped with broadcast and event space, the Center will host civil and human rights conversations among scholars, organizations and the public. For more information, visit www.cchrpartnership.org.