Urban League sets high bar
Next year, the Houston Area Urban League will cross a major milestone: 50 years of helping African-Americans and other minorities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.
In anticipation of 2018’s half-century shindig, president and CEO Judson W. Robinson made a few ante-upping announcements. Mayor Sylvester Turner has signed on as honorary chair, and the organization aims to raise a recordbreaking $1 million.
Gala chairs Yolanda Green Barnes and Marina Angelica Coryat lassoed an impressive $600,000; that, in addition to filling a ballroom at Hilton Americas-Houston in the social off-season, is no easy feat.
An all-star roster of community leaders chipped in, too; Carolyn Farb and Rob
Paige served as honorary chairs, Melanie Lawson and Khambrel Marshall shared masters of ceremony duty, and Texas Southern University’s jazz ensemble performers delighted eventgoers at every turn.
Kelley Taylor of Taylor Construction Management, Cheryl D. Creuzot, Sallie Sargent, the Houston Astros Foundation, Phillips 66’s black employee network and Ray B. Shackelford were honored. “As our city grows and the population becomes more diverse, the league will play an important role,” Farb said.
And next summer, it will likely throw one heck of a party.