As of February 1, 2010, The Metropolitan Orlando Urban League has a new president/CEO. Allie L. Braswell Jr. took the helm of the 33-year-old struggling civil rights organization with numerous challenges and a major credibility issue.
For the past year and a half the organization has been limited in its impact in the community and many thought that their platform was no longer relevant. There has been a cut in its funding from corporate, federal, and public resources. As a result of the limited funding and the recession, the word on the street was that the Urban League was dying.
I had the opportunity to experience the new excitement and exuberance that the new CEO brings to his position. Quiet as it has been kept, the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League Guild has been rated as the #1 guild in the entire National Urban League organization. This is a tremendous accomplishment this year; because they were able to achieve this recognition without a president and leader.
As a result of Nouchelle “Shelly” Hastings, President of the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League Guild, and the rest of her team, the work has never stopped. Everyone who works with the guild understands it is a volunteer position; therefore this is more than a job, because they believe in their mission.
At this the first meeting of the guild with the new president, it appeared that everyone was on the same page, as Mr. Braswell laid out his vision and platform for the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League and the community. Mr. Braswell understands the peculiar idiosyncrasies of the local community, because he was raised in Central Florida. He knows how to connect to the community, because at one time he ran the same roads as a kid and teenager.
Mr. Braswell also has the corporate experience coming from Disney and he’s been a past chairman of the Urban League. In Disney, most recently he was manager of global strategies for diversity at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. He has held the position of past chairmen of the Leadership Orlando Alumni, a member of the board of governors for the Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce, and currently serves on the Quest Inc. board as chair of its resource development committee.
It appears that the new president is the right choice for the monumental challenges of the job. His vision is that through transparency, hard work, and accountability, the community can once again be proud of the organization in all three counties that it serves. The goal of the Urban League is to empower communities and change lives.
It is obvious to empower communities, the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League must first fix its infrastructure and solve its internal problems. The new president is very receptive to change and every organization must be able to make a transitional shift in this new informational age.
If the success of the guild is any indicator of the success of the affiliate, then Orlando better get ready for a new player in town. Look for a new face on the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League, as it builds a new image one supporter at a time. For more information contact at www.guildorlando.org.
