Urban League of Broward to host nat'l conference

2015 National Urban League Conference to be held in Fort Lauderdale

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The Urban League of Broward County will host the 2015 National Urban League Conference, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and Urban League of Broward County President and CEO Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh announced Thursday.

The conference will take place the last week of July 2015. 

"Dr. Smith-Baugh has been instrumental in establishing the Urban League of Broward County as the community's leading civic and social services organizations, and one of the most dynamic community outreach networks in the nation," said Morial. "I can think of no better setting for a conference that is focused on effecting community change."

"I'm proud and thrilled to welcome the National Urban League Conference to the Broward County for 2015," Smith-Baugh said. "Not only do Fort Lauderdale and Broward County represent an exciting cross-section of cultures, but we feel that our affiliate's thriving public and private partnerships throughout the region can be a model for the nation."

"It's about so much more than the $8 million economic impact that the National Urban League Conference brings to Broward County. It's about strengthening the community by becoming the destination of choice for the country's largest and most influential black professional organizations," said Nicki E. Grossman, president of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau.

In past years, Bill Gates and Bill Clinton have spoken at the conferences.

The conference in Broward County is expected to bring 5,000 attendees and nearly $9 million.

The National Urban League Annual Conference is a national forum for debate and discussion on policy issues and creating solutions to the challenges confronting African Americans and urban communities. The 2013 Conference is scheduled for July 24 – 27 in Philadelphia, followed by the 2014 Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio.