2. Hello National Urban League Young Professionals,
Thursday Network has been hard at work making this year our best year yet!
Last year we were honored to be recognized as the 2015 Hugh B. Price
National Chapter of Excellence and we have been working diligently to live up
to that honor. Our focus this year was to expand on our service to our affiliate
as well as grow our signature programming. We are pleased to present you
with our award submission for the 2015-2016 service year. We look forward to
telling you our story of continued chapter growth and demonstrating our
commitment Empowering Communities and Changing Lives.
For the last 24 years Thursday Network has been pleased to serve our affiliate
the Greater Washington Urban League in their efforts to empower our
community. Our affiliate has been one of the major superheroes in the
Washington DC area, when it comes to championing housing equality,
workforce development equality, and social justice. As the Young
Professionals’ Auxiliary, we have gallantly followed in our affiliate’s footsteps.
We have continued to strengthen our affiliate partnership and serve as the
extra “boots on the ground” to raise awareness about the resources they
provide in the metropolitan Washington DC area. Thursday Network comes
from a legacy of excellence and we strive to live up to that through everything
that we do. We are proud of our legacy, we are proud of our achievements,
but we are most proud of the lives we have been able to touch through our
service to the community.
We hope you enjoy our story and learn more about how Thursday Network is
#YPEmpowered!
A MESSAGE FROM TN & GWUL
Kendra Oates
President
Thursday Network
George H. Lambert Jr.
President & CEO
Greater Washington
Urban League
3. What is Thursday Network?
Invest in Minority Young Professionals
Why Invest In Thursday Network?
Our Vision
A Tradition of Community Impact
Leadership Development
Partnership Opportuntiies
Civic Engagement
Parntership Form
Contact Us
Additional Information
Thursday Network Executive Board
2
4
6
8
10
11
13
14
12
1
5
9
3
Kendra Oates
President
LaTricea Adams
Vice President
Krystina White
Treasurer
Christopher Austin
Parliamentarian
Sean Robinson
Civic Enagement
James Jeter
Community Service
Events
Nikia Coates
Community Service
Programs
Capree Bell
Fund Development
Brian Hence
Membership
Services
Ashley Garvin
Personal & Profesional
Development
Jennifer McDaniel-White
Public Relations
Kyle Williams
Social & Cultural
4. CONTINUING OUR LEGACY OF
EXCELLENCE
2015 Hugh B. Price National Chapter of Excellence
27%
Increase in Affiliate Give
19%
Increase in Membership
since May 2015
582%
Increase in Affiliate
Service Hours
27%
Increase in Number of
Community Service Events
99
Average Number of Service
Hours per Member Performed
by Chapter*
*Includes both Chapter Volunteer and Affiliate Service Hours
20
Thursday Network
Members at the 2015 NUL
Conference
5. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Elected Officials:
• Alonzo Washington, Maryland House of
Delegates, District 22
Leadership Highlights
• LaTricea Adams
• Founder of Black Millennials for Flint
• New Leaders for New Schools National
Policy Advisory Committee Member
• Pashara Black
• Community Economic Development
Volunteer for Peace Corps Columbia
• NC A&T State University Young Alumni
Council
• Kimberlin Butler
• Education Pioneers Board Member, DC
Area Alumni Board
• Michael Akin
• Chair, Greater Washington Urban
League Board of Directors
• Public Relations Society of America
Silver Anvil Award
• Chanon Bell
• Black Swan Academy Board Member
• Samantha Davis
• Founder of Black Swan Academy
• Advocacy Chair, Senior Advisory
Coalition
• Board Member, MLK Mural
• Charis Goff
• Greater Washington Urban League
Advisory Board Member
• 2015 Distinguished President of the
Year
• Angeline Jefferson
• Development Coordinator at Mary’s
House
• Jasmine Jones
• Miss Black DC USA 2016
• Miss Idaho United States
• Founder of BLOOM Athletics
• Kendra Oates
• Board of Directors, Greater Washington
Urban League
• Erica Southerland
• Howard University Faculty Senate
• National Urban League Emerging
Leaders Program
• LaRosha Paul
• Founder of Big Dreamz Inc.
Greater Washington Urban League
Advisory Board Members:
• Capree Bell
• Charis Goff
• Jennifer McDaniel-White
• Shanelle Patterson
• Kyle Williams
NULYP Leadership
• Kimberlin Butler, Leadership &
Professional Training
• Charis Goff, Programs
6. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
EMPOWERING ENTREPRENEURS
This year Thursday Network was dedicated to providing additional personal
and professional development opportunities outside of our general body
meetings to allow a deeper dive into the topics that mattered to us the most.
This year we hosted:
• A three-part financial literacy series
• Corporate Fundraising training
• An on-going Lean-In Circle for a small group of members
Entrepreneurship is an important topic to our members and this year we
provided numerous opportunities to foster and expose the entrepreneurial
spirit of Thursday Network members. We collaborated with the Greater
Washington Urban League’s Entrepreneurship Center and other
organizations to provide dynamic programming.
PROVIDING YOUNG PROFESSIONALS
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT RESOURCES
7. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
GENERAL BODY MEETINGS
Thursday Network hosts monthly general body meetings that focus
on different personal and professional development topics.
Meeting Highlights Include:
• A Celebration of Whitney M. Young Jr. Through Film : February 2016 – 72 Attendees,
180 Affiliate Hours
• Awaken Your Entrepreneurial Spirit: March 2016 – 62 Attendees, 155 Affiliate Hours
• Thursday Network Travels Noir: July 2015 – 71 Attendees, 142 Affiliate Hours
• Annual Advocacy Planning Session: October 2015 – 50 Attendees, 125 Affiliate Hours
• Black Friday – The Buying Power of the Black Consumer : November 2015 – 49
Attendees, 122.5 Affiliate Hours
“I had a wonderful time talking to the Thursday Network GBM group about
entrepreneurship. The event was well-organized, and the participants were open and
eager to learn more about self-employment. As a presenter, it was inspiring to see so
many like-minded, socially conscious professionals in one room. They asked pertinent
questions, and seemed genuinely engaged in the topic. It was a pleasure speaking with
the group, and I look forward to an ongoing partnership with Thursday Network.” -
Andrena Sawyer | GBM Panelist | Founder and CEO | P.E.R.K Consulting
Other GBM Topics Include: Revitalizing Your Personal Brand, Staying Fit & Focused,
Homeownership “A Dream Deferred”, Make Your Next Move Your Best Move, & Our 1st Membership
Appreciation Celebration
8. COMMUNITY IMPACT
AFFILIATE SERVICE
The Greater Washington Urban League can always count on Thursday
Network to provide volunteer support for any community events they host
in the metropolitan DC area. This year we proudly served our affiliate by:
• Supporting Comcast Cares Day
• Supporting the GWUL Back to School Community Festival
• Supporting the Catalyst Network: Meeting of the Minds events
• Implementing the GWUL Food Pantry
• Serving on GWUL Events Committees
• Providing 5 Thursday Network GWUL Advisory Board Members
• Increasing Affiliate Give
• Supporting the Black Heritage Night Washington Nationals Baseball Game
• Scholarship Application Review
• Promotion of GWUL Services and Events to the Community
9,478.5 Affiliate Service Hours
*60.3 Affiliate Service Hours per Member*
9. COMMUNITY IMPACT
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
YOUNG BLACKS GIVE BACK 2016
Thursday Network continued its tradition of reinvigorating
our commitment to serving our community through our
annual Young Blacks Give Back month. Every May since
1994 we have hosted this month long service blitz to show
our community that Young Blacks DO Give Back!
The 2016 YBGB event line-up included:
Cinco de Mayo Happy Hour Fundraiser with
Black Millennials for Flint
• $275 raised for the “I EMPOWER”
Scholarship
• 50 attendees at a black owned restaurant
Mental Health Awareness Barbershop Crawl
11 Volunteers , 12 barbershops, 33 Service
Hours
Youth Healthy Eating Workshop
11 Volunteers, 11 Participants, 30
Service Hours
Healthy Food Drive & Distribution
18 Volunteers, 54 service hours, 40 bags
of food distributed to 7 families and 5
senior citizens
10. COMMUNITY IMPACT
SIGNATURE PROGRAMS
“I EMPOWER” Scholarship
Every year Thursday Network awards
college scholarships to deserving high
school seniors who demonstrate a
commitment to community service.
This year we awarded 2 scholarships
and increased the scholarship award
amounts by 40%. Our 2016 recipients
are Jarid Shields and Daynna Stewart.
Thursday Network is awarding $5,000
in scholarships which brings the total
disbursement of our scholarship
program to $158,000 since its inception
23 years ago.
Empowerment Academy
Annually, Thursday Network hosts the
Empowerment Academy life skills and
enrichment mentorship program for
youth in our service area. This year
the program was hosted for 6th – 8th
grade students at Jefferson Middle
School in Washington, D.C. This year
the Empowerment Academy grew
and more than doubled in duration
going from a 7 week program last
year to a 15 week program this year.
9 Volunteers; 30 Students;
506 Service Hours
11. COMMUNITY IMPACT
SERVICE & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT EVENT HIGHLIGHTS
11
Outside of our signature programs, Thursday Network also performs
various one-time service and civic engagement events throughout our
community. These events allow us to diversify the type of service
opportunities available to our Thursday Network members and friends.
• Habitat for Humanity: 10 Volunteers, 71.5 Service Hours
• Holiday Celebration with National Center for Children and Families: 16 Volunteers,
58 Attendees, 290 Service Hours
• Holiday Party and Luau Party at Victory Heights Senior Center, 39 Attendees, 44
Volunteers, 249 Service Hours
• Shaw Easter Community Festival: 45 Attendees, 10 Volunteers, 202.5 Service Hours
• Capital Area Food Bank: 16 Volunteers; 64 Service Hours
• NULYP Cares Flint Day of Service: 7 (TN) Volunteers; 133 Service Hours
Community Service Events
Civic Engagement Events
• Know Your Rights School Lunch Table: 358 Attendees, 716 Service Hours
• Maryland Voter Registration Drive: 30 Attendees; 90 Service Hours
• Community Policing in Ward 7 Discussion: 42 Attendees, 84 Service Hours
• Mayor Bowser Housing & Community Development Meeting for Ward 1: 30
Attendees; 60 Service Hours
• Justice or Else March: 17 Attendees; 102 Service Hours
• Created our first Community Microgrant Competition
12. COMMUNITY IMPACT
NULYP PROGRAMS & INITIATIVES
National Day of Empowerment – Black Business Empowerment Summit
Black Business Expo
• Over $600 spent with black-owned small
businesses on site
Entrepreneurship Workshop
• Workshop was lead by the Director of GWUL’s
Entrepreneurship Center Eldridge Allen
• Banker from the oldest Black-owned bank in DC
provided advice on how to secure capital
Speed Networking
• Allowed experienced entrepreneurs to share best
practices with new budding entrepreneurs.
• Provided information fro non-entrepreneurs on
how to be a better supporter of small businesses
39 Attendees, 243 Service Hours
National Day of Service – STEAM Career Fair & Awards Ceremony
128 Attendees; 320 Service Hours
Thursday Network partnered with Stuart Hobson Junior High School After School All-Stars
for our STEAM Career Fair & Awards Ceremony. Our Thursday Network members who
have careers in STEAM led interactive demonstrations in a career fair style format. Our
STEAM professionals included data analysts, statisticians, electrical engineers,
cartographers, geographers and more! We also took time to recognize students and
faculty at Stuart Hobson Junior High School who are already engaged in STEAM activities.
The attendance for our National Day of Service event grew by 750%!
Click here to see the STEAM video recap
13. MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
Last year Thursday Network revamped our New Member Orientation and Open
House for new and prospective members. This year we focused not only on
maintaining the progress we made with the growth of our membership, but also
improving our recruitment and retention efforts. This year we expanded our
recruiting and retention efforts by participating in/hosting the following events:
• Black Alumni Networking Expo
• Synergy Conference & Business Expo
• Celebration Of Black Entrepreneurs 2015 All Access Gala & Expo
• Member Appreciation Month
• Members Only: Member Appreciation Day Trip to Baltimore (co-hosted with GBLA)
• Young, Black, & Innovative Reception
• Member of the Month and Member of the Year Programs
• Much more!
28%
72%
Gender Breakdown
MALE
FEMALE
0 5 10 15 20
Accounting/Finance
Legal
Technology
Non-profit
Marketing/Communications
Government
Education
Retail/Sales/Service
Insurance
Healthcare/Pharmacy/Biotech
Economics
Industries Represented
14. MEMBERSHIP DEVELOPMENT
JOIN WEEK 2016
Frederick
Douglass
Museum
Tour
16th Annual
MLK Blanket
& Toiletry
Drive
Join Week
Open House
Know Your
Rights
School
Lunch Table
TNN Digital
Magazine
Launch Party
Revitalize
Your
Personal
Brand GBM
Thursday
Network
Bowling
Challenge
Join Week
2016
37 New Members
15 Membership Renewals
Join Week
Events
This year we hosted our 16th Annual MLK Blanket & Toiletry Drive, which was our
largest and most successful blanket & toiletry drive to date! We were joined by
Melissa Rogers, Special Assistant to President Obama and Executive Director of
the Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. We partnered with New
Bethel Baptist Church and were joined by 521 Volunteers. Our event provided 400
Blanket & Toiletry care packages that were distributed in DC ,Prince George’s MD,
and Montgomery County MD.
Debuted the inaugural issue
of our digital magazine
*Click Here to see our MLK
Day of Service video recap
15. MEMBERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT
Thursday Network is proud to honor our members who go above
and beyond in service to the League! From exceptional volunteer
contributions to consistent committee and event attendance, our
Members of the Month exemplify commitment to the mission
and goals of Thursday Network and the Urban League
Movement!
Members of the Month
(Pictured from top to bottom)
• Lauryn King – May 2016
• Maurice Bland – April 2016
• Ciara Famble – March 2016
• Arnold Pierre – February 2016
• Jovan Hackley – January 2016
• Nancy Joseph – December 2015
• Nikia Coates – November 2015
• Stephanie Hargrove – October
2015
• Chris Austin* – TN Volunteer of
the Year – September 2015
• Brian Hence – August 2015
• Ramona Jones – July 2015
• Tori Wright – June 2015
Thursday Network Members
with 5 or more years of service
to NULYP
• Eliot Sutler – 2009
• Starr Webb – 2009
• Charis Goff – 2010
• Nancy Joseph – 2010
• Kendra Oates – 2010
• Wainie Youn – 2010
• LaTricea Adams – 2011
• Adrian White – 2011
• Kimberlin Butler – 2012
Social & Cultural Highlights
2nd Annual Black Jewish Unity Seder
Join Week Frederick Douglass Vacation Home Tour
2015 NULYP Candidates Meet & Greet
TN Summer Brunch Series: Building Black Wealth
Day Trip to the Great Blacks in Wax Museum with GBLA
#NoLeadZone Pajama Jam with Black Millennials for Flint
Church Service with Dr. Cornel West
Members Only Redskins vs. Bears Game Watch Party
Salsa Night
Members Only Cookout
Halloween Open House and more!
16. FUND DEVELOPMENT
AFFILIATE GIVE
$22,428.50
- Hosted Soiree Noir – the 2nd Annual Whitney M. Young Memorial Gala
After-party - $10,069
- Whitney M. Young Gala – Friends of the League Sponsor - $3,825
- Sponsored 3 Greater Washington Urban League Students to attend the
National Urban League Youth Summit - $1,500
- 2015 Golf Tournament Sponsor - $1,500
- GWUL Night at the Ballpark for Black Heritage Night - $185
- Giving Tuesday Fundraising Team & Holiday Party Fundraiser $2,114
- GWUL Back to School Community Festival - $235.5
- AvalonBay Corporate Sponsorship secured by Thursday Network - $1,000 *
*$1,000 of the $2,500 sponsorship was given directly to our affiliate
- 2nd Annual Spirit of Service Awards - $2,000
17. FUND DEVELOPMENT
THURSDAY NETWORK PROGRAMMING
• Raised $2,585 through targeted fundraisers for our “I EMPOWER”
Scholarship fund
• T-shirt sales: Released a new edition of our Thursday Network t-shirts with
our newly redesigned logo
• Secured a $2,500 corporate sponsorship from AvalonBay Communities
• Secured a $500 sponsorship from small business - AMW Site Designs
• Created a new Corporate Sponsorship package that resulted in $3,000 in
sponsorship
SPONSORS
This year Thursday Network put an
emphasis on securing new
corporate sponsorships while
strengthening existing
partnerships. We secured more
corporate sponsorship dollars this
year and have laid the foundation
to exceed our corporate fundraising
goals next year
18. COMMUNCIATIONS
MEDIA OUTLETS
TNN
Digital Magazine
1,955
SOCIAL MEDIA FOLLOWERS
1,034
1,972
2,000
Weekly
Newsletter
18
New TN Logo
TV Appearance on
Good Morning
Washington
Thursday Network has continued to be
extremely active on all social media
outlets. Our goal is to reach the masses to
spread the word of how Thursday Network
and the Greater Washington Urban
League are Empowering Communities and
Changing Lives
361 39%
29%
56%
11.5%
• Unveiled New Thursday Network Logo
• Debuted a digital magazine that reached 460
people
• Social Media is updated daily
• Introduced a new series of videos of TN service
events and the “I AM THURSDAY NETWORK”
campaign
• Members Only Google Group
• Feature on the White House Blog for MLK Day of
Service
• 1 Article in the Washington Informer
• Multiple “On Track” Radio Tapings
• We Act Radio Taping
• WPGC 95.5 highlight for our MLK Day of Service
• Good Morning Washington and NBC4 Viewpoint
television appearances
*Click here to see our digital magazine
19. James Jeter is currently serving his
second term as Community Service Events
Chair. As the co-chair of one of our most
vital committees James has immensely
grown one of our largest signature
community service events. James is always
willing to get the work of the Community
Service Committee done and support all
of our other Thursday Network
programming. James has been extremely
dedicated in his role as Community
Service Events chair and is always looking
for ways to make Thursday Network’s
service events the best service
opportunities in the metro DC area.
2016 EASTERN REGION MEMBER OF
THE YEAR NOMINATION
Highlights of James’ work include:
• Growing our signature Martin Luther King Jr. Blanket & Toiletry Drive
community service event by 560% increasing the number of volunteers
from 92 in 2014 to 521 in 2016
• Expanding the reach of our Martin Luther King Jr. Blanket & Toiletry
Drive from just the District of Columbia to our other service areas in
Prince George’s County, MD and Montgomery County, MD.
• Honored as GWUL/TN 2016 Volunteer of the Year
• Creating and executing innovative service events like our Luau Party at
Victory Heights Senior Center and our Black History Month Book Drive
• Volunteering to do photography and videography of Thursday Network
events
• Increased National Day of Service Attendance by 750% going from 17
participants in 2015 to 128 participants in 2016
* 423 Affiliate Service Hours * 60.5 Chapter Service Hours *
*2016 LPC Attendee * 100% Board Meeting Attendance * 87%
Chapter Event Attendance * $652.76 in financial support for
Thursday Network *
20. YP Chapter Name: Thursday Network – GWUL Young Professionals
YP Chapter President: Kendra Oates Phone: 302-530-9844
Email: President@thursdaynetwork.org
Year Chapter Founded: 1992
Affiliate CEO Name: George H. Lambert Jr. Phone: 202-265-8200
(As of May 31, 2016) 2014-2015 2015-2016
Number of Members 132 157
Number of Chapter Volunteer Hours 5,647.5 6,061.5
Number of Affiliate Service Hours 1,628.5 9,478.5
Total Affiliate Dollars Given $17,721.68 $22,438.50
Number of Corporate Sponsors 5 7
Number of Community Service Events 37 47
Number of Community Partners 96 111
Number of Sister Chapters Supported 7 6
NULYP CHAPTER AWARDS SUBMISSION
NATIONAL AWARDS
National YP Chapter of Excellence
National Day of Service
National Day of Empowerment
Affiliate Service Chapter Award
REGIONAL YP CHAPTER
Eastern Region
Chapter of Excellence
REGIONAL CHAPTER MEMBER
Eastern Region
Outstanding YP Member
Signature:
Name: Kendra Oates
YP Chapter President
Signature:
Name: George H. Lambert Jr.
Affiliate CEO & President
21. SISTER CHAPTER SUPPORT
Thursday Network Members attended the following signature events during 2015-
2016:
• Urban League of Hampton Roads Young Professionals’ Day Party
• Greater Baltimore Leadership Association’s Masquerade Ball
• Memphis Urban League Young Professionals’ Empowerment Conference
• Northern Virginia Urban League Young Professionals Network’s Black Opal Gala
