Dear Urban Beat Community,

As we move through this pivotal moment in our nation’s journey, I am reminded of a powerful truth: our greatest strength lies in our unity, resilience, and unwavering belief in a better tomorrow.

Across America and the region, we are witnessing a complex and often painful convergence of economic uncertainty and ongoing human rights challenges. Rising costs of living, housing instability, employment disparities, and systemic injustice continue to affect too many members of our community. But even in the face of these struggles, I see something more significant — I see hope. I see momentum. I see you.

Here at the Urban League of San Diego County, we are more committed than ever to turning these challenges into opportunities. We are expanding our workforce development programs, connecting families to housing and health resources, building bridges for young people through education and mentorship, and ensuring every voice is heard in the ongoing fight for justice and equity.

The road ahead won’t be easy, but it will be worth it. Because together, we are not just weathering storms — we are building the future. A future rooted in equity, dignity, economic empowerment, and equal opportunity for all.

Now is the time to lift as we climb. To push forward with courage. To remind ourselves — and the world — that progress may bend, but it never breaks. And as long as we stand together, uplift each other, and lead with love and purpose, there is nothing we cannot achieve.

Let’s rise to the moment. Empowering Communities. Changing Lives.

With pride and determination,

Sincerely,

Al Abdallah

President & CEO

Do you have a 3.5 GPA (CUM) or know of a student with a 3.5 GPA (CUM)?

We would like to ask for registration of student participants with a Cumulative GPA of 3.5 and above for this exceptional acknowledgment. We will honor the students on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at 2:00 p.m., at Grossmont College, at a ceremony similar to college graduation and includes a motivational keynote speaker, scholarship announcements, community resource informational booths, prizes, and student gifts. The deadline is April 30, 2025, 5:00 p.m. Also, please note that this program event is free and filled with great opportunities, such as resources and funds for college.

Strictly Enforced Application Registration Requirements Include the Following:

• High School Students, in grades 8^th, 9^th , 10^th, 11^th and 12^th
• Must have a Cumulative Grade Point Average of 3.5 or greater.
• Note: A Cumulative Grade Point Average calculates the average of a student's grades for all semesters and courses completed up to a given academic term, whereas the GPA may only refer to one term.

Keynote Speaker:

• Assemblymember LaShae Collins

Scholarship Presenters:

• Urban League of San Diego County
• Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc.
• Sigma Gamma Rho, Inc.
• Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.

A few notes to consider:

• We will have enough seats for the audience, unlike the previous year, but still encourage the family to bring their comfortable chairs
• We encourage elected officials and community leaders to help hand out medals, proclamations, scholarships, and certificates for opportunities but will limit talking opportunities so the program is not long.

Resource Booth

If you would like to host a booth to provide resources for the community at the Golden Pyramid Scholars Program, please use this link.

If you know of high school youth struggling with multiple barriers, especially some form of homelessness, unhoused, please reach out to the Urban League of San Diego County at 619.266.6265 or kea@sdul.org. We want to invite them to join our network of high school and college students aged 14-24, supporting college and career readiness. We aim to empower the next generation of young leaders to succeed in education, career paths, and local community civic engagement opportunities.

“Someone has to try and change things” - Sam Greenlee, The Spook Who Sat by the Door.

The novel "Spook" is often misinterpreted by mainstream media and film enthusiasts. It is important not to conflate Greenlee's motivation for writing the novel with the cult-classic film adaptation directed by Ivan Dixon.

In the novel, Dan Freeman, a Black CIA agent, turns his training into a weapon for Black liberation. After being subjected to racist treatment in the agency, he resigns and secretly uses his skills to train a Black street gang in Chicago as "Freedom Fighters," aiming to challenge systemic racism and oppression. 

Are you passionate about the health and wellness of our community? Do you work in the health wellness industry? Do you have a skill that can benefit the advancement of health and wellness equity in our community? If so, we need you! Our community needs you! Sign up today using the link below. If you have questions, please send an email to info@sdul.org.

We want to help you with tools to "Thrive in 2025"!

Do you have a business that provides health and wellness for individuals and families in the County of San Diego, Orange County, or the Inland Empire?

We are creating a Health & Wellness Directory housed on the Urban League of San Diego County website. This will include a behavioral health directory and a general health and wellness directory. According to the attendees of our Fireside Chats, areas in our communities lack health resources and need more urgent care facilities, especially ones open after 5 p.m. Our young families need a directory and a resource toolkit that includes accepted insurance information and medical professionals with cultural sensitivity training for diverse community members. This will be an online business list versus a case management site. Individuals will be directed to contact hotlines if they need to speak to a live person or need case management services.

This can be mental health, medical health, doula professional health, promotoras/ community health worker, physical health, fitness, or nutritional health businesses. This can be small, extensive, private practice, or consulting businesses.

Greetings!

My name is Ayeisha Gipson, and I serve as a Robinhood Partnership Coordinator and College Access Counselor in Harlem, NY. I am a proud alumnus of Grambling State University (Spring 21) and Teachers College, Columbia University (Spring 23).

Previously, I attended San Diego City College, where I was mentored by the Urban League of San Diego County and actively involved in Umoja. I was one of the first successful participants in the California Community Colleges to HBCU cohort. My story is found here: CCC to HBCU General Brochure 2017-Present

I recently opened the 2025 MaryAnn Jackson Memorial Scholarship. My mother, MaryAnn, was deeply committed to education and dedicated to giving back to those in need. In her honor and memory, I am giving five (5) HBCU transfer students $100 gift cards for dorming essentials. I have included the eligibility, application, and deadline information below.

Eligibility:

✅ Must be African American 

✅ Must be a US Citizen 

✅ Must be transferring from a California Community College, Fall 2025

✅ Must be attending a HBCU, Fall 2025

✅ Upload Proof of Fall Enrollment

✅ Submit a 20-word response: How Will You Make An Impact At Your HBCU?

Deadline: July 13, 2025 

Please spread the word to colleagues and your transfer students from California!

Link: https://forms.gle/YheqG7nwFVfTfjVr7

The flyer is above.

If you have any questions, please contact me.

Enjoy your week,

Sincerely,

Ayeisha Gipson 

The UC San Diego Black Alumni Scholarship Fund offers eligible students a four-year $10,000 scholarship renewable at $2,500 annually. This scholarship program provides financial, academic, and personal support to over 200 students currently attending UCSD. Steps to follow to apply for the BASF Scholarship are: (1) apply to UCSD before the 11/30/25 deadline; (2) if you are offered admission to UCSD, you will receive a link to the application from BASF; (3) complete and submit the online application.

2025 FANCY Teen Girls Expo

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Time: 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Location: KIPP Adelante Preparatory Academy, 426 Euclid Ave, San Diego, CA 92114

The FANCY Teen Girls Expo is designed to empower young girls through interactive workshops, engaging panels, and hands-on activities in leadership, health, and career exploration. It’s an exciting day that genuinely showcases the potential of our future leaders! 

Looking to Level Up?

Join the San Diego Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. for Cupcakes and Conversations. In this empowering event, Black women come together to connect, share, and discuss what it takes to elevate to the next level.

Date: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Time: 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM

Location: Synergy Centre

6785 Imperial Ave.

San Diego, CA 92114

This event is free and open to the public — just be sure to register by clicking the link below, scanning the QR code, or using the link below.

During May, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority celebrates the importance of family by honoring mothers throughout San Diego County. Over the years, they have had the pleasure of honoring over three hundred women. This year, the organization honors eighteen outstanding mothers in the San Diego Community.

The San Diego Alumnae Chapter encourages the community to support these powerful women who are the real superheroes on Saturday, May 10, 2025.  

National Urban League Conference 2025

Wed, 16 Jul 2025 - 9:00 a.m.

Location: Huntington Convention Center

300 Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH

Data Remembers What We Often Forget.

We often think we remember what worked, but our memory isn’t always reliable. Tracking performance, even with simple tools, helps you make smarter decisions, saving both time and money.

Here’s a quick stat:

60% of marketers say relying on gut instinct leads to wasted spending.

(Source: BARC.com)

This session is for you if you're:

• Tired of doing the same things and expecting different results
• Unsure which metrics truly matter
• Ready to grow, but unsure what’s actually working

Join Kiana Moore of Moore Consulting on Wednesday, April 23, at 12 PM ET for Data-Driven Decision Making.

Learn how to turn insights into impact and instincts into informed action. 

 Watch any of our past DCSS sessions on YouTube right here!

Hosted by: Kenneth L. Johnson,

Diversity Recruiter, Google Learning Center Facilitator & the President of East Coast Executives

Interested in a new career?

Check out our job board for the latest innovative jobs!

The James Beard Foundation is excited to announce the opening of applications for the Fall 2025 Legacy Network program. This 12-week mentorship initiative will run from Sept. 8 to Dec. 9, 2025, virtually, to celebrate emerging People of Color leaders in the culinary industry with seasoned mentors for focused leadership coaching and connection. A total of 20 applicants (10 advisors and 10 advisees) will be selected for the fall program. While the program is open to all Culinary Professionals of Color (POC), priority will be given to Black/ African American and Indigenous applicants. Successful applicants will be notified by July 2025.  

Please see key details that include:

• Program Dates: September 8 to December 9, 2025
• Application Period: April 14 – May 11, 2025
• Info Webinar: Wednesday, April 23 at 12:00 P.M. ET. Register here - Informational Webinar: JBF Legacy Network Program and Application | James Beard Foundation

Access the application and program details here - Fall 2025 Legacy Network Program Application 

We encourage you to spread the word about this valuable program, and please share the registration link and application with interested candidates. Feel free to email impactforward@jamesbeard.org with any questions.

Thank you for your support in helping to shape the next generation of culinary leaders!

Please review a list of openings!

Please refer candidates to our website: https://jobs.citi.com/

Once you go to this site- you will see a search bar. You can then type in the position you are interested in and apply. You just need to create an online profile and attach a resume. 

San Diego Area

• 25823541- Part-Time Universal Banker- Poway Branch
• 25823546- Head Universal Banker- El Cajon
• 25829345- Part-Time Universal Banker- Chula Vista Branch

Do you have an upcoming event that should be shared with our community? Please use the link below, and we will review and add it to our website calendar.

The Urban League of San Diego County uses specific image sizes to maintain consistency across all viewing platforms. Any event submissions with images not properly cropped will result in immediate rejection.

Submitting your event does not guarantee that it will be posted on www.sdul.org.

Becoming a member of the Urban League of San Diego County does qualify your event to appear on the website. For more information about becoming a member of one of our auxilaries contact info@sdul.org or call 619.266.6265.