Call to Action: A 40th Anniversary Update

In keeping with the National Urban Fellows core mission to develop accomplished leaders of color and women, the 40th Anniversary year celebration includes new initiatives, programs and opportunities to inspire leaders for a changing America.

America is changing. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one-third, or 34%, of the United States is comprised of people of color, who are expected to become the majority in 2042, with the nation projected to be 54 percent people of color in 2050. Additionally, the Office of Personnel Management asserts that in the next ten years, federal agencies will lose over 575,000 employees – more than a third of their current full-time, permanent workforce – with over 100,000 of those employees coming from supervisory ranks.

These startling statistics, along with the recent results of the National Urban Fellows 40th Anniversary Leadership Diversity Research Report, Changing the Face of Public Service Leadership, have prompted one of the most important and challenging 40th Anniversary initiatives, a Call to Action.

Beginning this month, National Urban Fellows will hold a series of Leadership Diversity Summits mobilizing the country's top public service organizations, that will join in promoting the best practices that will ensure the continued leadership development of people of color and women, who are ready to assume positions of power and who are the leaders for a changing America.

A national Summit will be held in Washington, DC on April, 21. Regional's will follow throughout the 40th Anniversary year in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and New York City.

The population shift and the public service leadership gap in America are real. The time is now to create the pipeline of leaders of color and women who are ready, willing and able to step up into roles of power, and to change the face of public sector leadership.