Los Angeles Partners With National Urban Fellows, Country's Top Leadership Development Organization in a United 'Call to Action,' to Change the Face of Public Service Leadership

National Urban Fellows Leadership Diversity Research Study Results Reveal Impending Demand for Leaders of Color and Women in Public Sector

NEW YORK, June 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- National Urban Fellows (NUF) recently announced a Call to Action, which challenges national and community organizations and leaders across the country to take a leadership stand to help create a pipeline of leaders of color who are ready to step into positions of power.  The Call to Action was prompted by the findings in the organization's recently released leadership diversity research study, Changing the Face of Public Service Leadership.

Among the mounting number of Los Angeles organizations that will heed the Call to Action on Thursday, June 17, 2010, is sponsoring partner, the Southern California Leadership Network.  Also participating are: The Asian Professional Exchange, City of Beverly Hills, City of Carson, Community Building Initiative, Draper Consulting Group, Korean Churches for Community Development, Los Angeles County Workforce Investment Board, Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center, Mattel Inc., Nestle, USA Inc., Pat Brown Institute of Public Affairs, Sempra Energy, Strategic Clients, Public Sector, and USC.

"Inspired by the forty-year vision of the National Urban Fellows, our goal is to travel the nation enlisting organizations and leaders, to create a dynamic network of participating partners committed to shifting the current, national leadership paradigm, and who will help to inspire excellence and diversity in public service leadership for America," Paula Gavin, NUF President said.

Gavin also added, "To date, our Call to Action has resulted in a National Public Service Leadership Diversity Summit in Washington, DC. Our regional summits were launched in Atlanta, and Chicago, others will be held in Philadelphia, Seattle and New York City. In this, our 40th Anniversary year, we and our growing cadre of participating partners are committed to furthering the impact of diversity leadership in the nation."

In celebrating its 40th Anniversary, NUF conducted the leadership diversity research study that examines the leadership development of people of color, with insights from National Urban Fellows over its 40-year history.  The research, whose findings were published in April 2010, identifies the factors that contribute to the successful leadership of people of color and women in government and non-profit sectors.

The National Urban Fellows Call to Action initiative was prompted by both the findings of the National Urban Fellows 40th Anniversary Leadership Diversity Research Report, Changing the Face of Public Service Leadership and staggering current government statistical data.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-third, or 34%, of the United States is comprised of people of color, who are expected to become the majority in 2042, with the nation projected to be 54 percent people of color in 2050. Additionally, the Office of Personnel Management asserts that in the next ten years, federal agencies will lose over 575,000 employees – more than a third of their current full-time, permanent workforce – with over 100,000 of those employees coming from supervisory ranks.

Los Angeles Summit partner, and Executive Director of Southern California Leadership Network, Kevin Cottrell says, "Change in America, demands the representation of people of color and women who will understand and address the country's mounting challenges and who are prepared to create a solutions through the formation of sound, equitable public policy.  This is no better time than now, or way to ensure this opportunity, than to work together to change the face of public service leadership."  

About National Urban Fellows

National Urban Fellows, founded in 1969, to address one the most important and challenging issues faced by America today – the under-representation of people of color and women in leadership, is one of the oldest and finest leadership development organizations in the U.S.  NUF is the only program in the country where individuals receive both an advanced degree and essential leadership experience.  The program culminates with a Master of Public Administration Degree (MPA) from Bernard M. Baruch College, School of Public Affairs, of the City University of New York.  After graduation Alumni work in public service, government and non-profit leadership. Today, 40 years later, National Urban Fellows has graduated over 1100 men and women of color who hold policymaking positions as mayors, city and county managers, commissioners and officers of major nonprofit and philanthropic organizations in urban areas across the country. For more information visit www.nuf.org

SOURCE National Urban Fellows