As part of its ongoing Black Community Commitment, NIKE Inc. has found a new partner in the National Urban League (NUL) — alongside Converse and Jordan Brand — where it will donate $1 million to help the organization further its mission to champion Black employment and home ownership, reports Afro-Tech.
According to a statement, the NUL has established a strong legacy of helping Black Americans and other underserved communities receive job training, education, workforce development, housing and community development and entrepreneurship to achieve economic independence.
“The National Urban League has been championing the elevation of Black lives and empowerment of Black communities for over 110 years,” Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of National Urban League, said in a statement. “With NIKE Inc.’s investment, we’ll be able to both get more people to work in living wage jobs soon after incarceration and expand homeownership opportunities for Black individuals and families across the United States.”
details of this newly-forged partnership include splitting the $1 million investment into two distinct areas: $500,000 will go toward funding the NUL Urban Reentry Jobs Program — which provides former incarcerated adults with the skills and training needed to successfully re-enter the job market and find a position that can support their livelihoods and ultimately lead to a long-lasting career. Another $500,000 will be allocated toward NUL’s “Home is Where the Wealth Is” — a campaign that helps Black Americans who are first time homebuyers purchase their dream homes through financial education and individualized coaching from certified housing counselors.
