At ‘REBIRTH!’, N.Y. Urban League’s Young Professionals Raise Money for Education

Young professionals from all over the tri-state area on Saturday gathered at the Helen Mills Event Space in the Chelsea neighborhood of Manhattan to celebrate the “elegance, opulence and glamour of the Harlem Renaissance,” and to raise money for the Whitney M. Young Scholarship Fund for high-achieving high school seniors.

“REBIRTH!” the New York Urban League’s Young Professional’s signature yearly event, celebrated its tenth anniversary this year. President Jemar Ward said the event raised close to $5,000 in funding for scholarships. The event’s festivities were provided by Hennessy V.S.

The group’s mission, its president says, is to connect individuals with similar interests for the greater good of the community.

“The YPs are a collection of New York City area professionals that believe in improving the lives of others,” Ward said in a statement on the group’s website. “Our members are doctors, nurses, lawyers, teachers, students, public administrators, financiers, entrepreneurs and more! With this diverse collection of professionals, we provide a unique networking opportunity where one can associate with like-minded individuals who are interested in personal and professional development, community service, civil rights, access to employment opportunities, financial literacy workshops, education, equal employment, and fair housing.”

Ward was recently named president for 2012-2014. On Tuesday, April 30, the group will host “Building Wealth Creation: Finding Financial Freedom,” an interactive workshop to assist young professionals in making the next step to financial independence. It will be held at Morgan Stanley’s Manhattan offices.