Joe Jones has high aspirations for Grand Rapids and believes changes in the city’s urban core can make a world of difference in growing a vibrant community. He knows all too well that we have a lot of work to do yet, but he’s ready for the challenge and has already made a strong start in the right direction.
Last year, Jones was tapped to be the Interim President and Chief Executive Officer of the Grand Rapids Urban League after Reverend Dr. Walter M. Brame retired. In July, he began going through the process to become National Urban League certified and make the position permanent. Once Jones completes training and passes an interview process, he hopes to finalize the transition by fall.
As an African American male who grew up in Detroit, Jones says he was fortunate to be surrounded by positive role models. In 2000, he started a strategic communication company called E.E. Milestone + Associates that provides assistance to organizations with a desire to communicate more effectively with communities of color. And now he’s ready to guide the Grand Rapids Urban League into its 70th year with the goal of empowering people in the city’s urban core.
The Urban League provides African Americans and other people living in the urban core employment opportunities, housing assistance, educational initiatives, youth mentoring and healthy lifestyle programs.
“People have historically come here for a myriad of needs,” says Jones. “We are the ‘go to’ agency for the urban core.”
In the past, the Urban League has focused on helping African Americans, but with the “roller coaster economy,” Jones sees people in his office from all ethnic backgrounds.
“We don’t turn anyone away,” he says.
The National Urban League in New York City -- “the mother ship” as Jones calls it -- has been operating for 102 years and has nearly 150 affiliate offices around the country.
Jones describes the Urban League as a “civil rights organization with the philosophy that anyone can experience civil rights and social justice by way of economic empowerment.”
One of the main ways to achieve economic empowerment is through employment. That’s why the Urban League focuses on providing comprehensive employment assessments, counseling, training and placement opportunities to its customers.
“We offer an employment training program on steroids,” says Jones.
The organization is working with some local employers now, but Jones hopes to “cast the net out further to attract more employers.” Specifically, the focus is on corporations that may be more receptive to hiring people with a criminal record.
“There are a number of applicants who have skill sets but because of the ‘Scarlett letter’ of a felony, the door is shut in their face for employment opportunities,” Jones says.
His goal is to walk alongside CEOs and HR personnel to help them understand the urban culture, offer solutions and provide value-added partnerships.
“Everyone knows the problems [of the urban population], but how many people are working diligently to address these problems?” asks Jones.
The Urban League is trying different ways to solve the problems within the urban core. They work with customers to assess their employability. They counsel them, and they expect them to be accountable. At the same time, they ask employers to provide a livable wage to employees.
Overall, the approach is a holistic one with the rationale that if people are working and making a decent wage, they are able to contribute to local businesses, ensuring a positive economic effect for the entire community. Jones believes that when the city’s core is healthy, this spreads to the outlying areas making the whole region attractive to new businesses and industries, which then in turn creates more jobs.
Jones admits his organization often doesn’t have all of the answers or understand everything, but listening is the first step. When people come into the Grand Rapids Urban League, they receive two things: a dose of hope, and dignity. That’s always the starting point.
“Everyone needs affirmation, no matter what stage of life,” Jones says.
Going forward, Jones and his staff at the Urban League know there is a lot of work to do when it comes to addressing the urban core problems, but they’re willing to make the effort. They hope to play an important part in transforming Grand Rapids into a thriving model city someday.
In order to grow economically as well as culturally, Jones also believes we have to get to a place in our community where we’re not afraid to have conversations about race and class. It may be difficult to make the necessary changes, but the Urban League is focused on finding solutions and being a part of the process.
“The most effective measure of growing in our community is when we step out of our comfort zones,” says Jones. “We’re not asking folks to step out of comfort zones by themselves -- we’ll step out with you.”
The goal of the Grand Rapids Urban League is to empower communities by changing lives. If you believe our city will become greater with a stronger urban core and want to get involved, here’s how you can:
- Visit the
Grand Rapids Urban League online to find out more about them.
- Become a
member or a volunteer.
-
Donate to the Urban League or become an investor.
- Become an ally of the Urban League and help them achieve a more vibrant and cohesive urban core.
- The Urban League is seeking companies willing to partner with them and provide employment opportunities. If you own a company,
contact them, or ask your employer to do so.
- Like the Grand Rapids Urban League on
Facebook.
Source: Joe Jones, Interim President and CEO of the Grand Rapids Urban League
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor
Photos provided by the Grand Rapids Urban League.