MADISON — Here's another reason to attend the Urban League of Greater Madison's One Madison Jazz Cabaret — They have announced the recipients of their prestigious Whitney M. Young, Jr. awards: Mercile Lee and 'Race to Equity'. The awards will be presented during our November 15th Jazz Cabaret event.
The Whitney M. Young Jr. award is given by Board of Directors of Urban League affiliates across the country, in memory of great the great civil rights leader and former head of the National Urban League.
Dr. Mercile J. Lee, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs Emerita at UW-Madison founded and directed the Chancellor's and Powers-Knapp Scholarship Programs. These scholarship programs, rooted in the philosophy of "excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service" – have helped create a diverse learning environment on campus for students, faculty, and staff. Scholars of these programs graduate from UW at rates that exceed that of the overall campus population and many have gone on to earn graduate and professional degrees. Dr. Lee has been an active Urban Leaguer for nearly 30 years, having served as board member, on various committees, helping raise funds for the League's capital campaign in 2009, and much more. She has encouraged countless Chancellor's and Powers-Knapp Scholars to volunteer their time with the Urban League as tutors and mentors to our youth and in many other supportive roles.
The Urban League board will also bestow the award on an organization: Race to Equity, a project of the Wisconsin Council on Children and Families'. Race to Equity is working to build a more fair, just and thriving community by narrowing the gaps in opportunities and outcomes between families of color and the larger community. Their baseline report – one of the most comprehensive analysis of racial disparities in Dane County – provides the data needed to initiate a sustained community-wide effort to address disparities that are the worst in the nation.
We hope you will join us on November 15th as we honor these outstanding advocates.
