President & Chief Executive Officer
James E. Willingham

On February 8, 1999, James E. Willingham, Sr., was appointed President and Chief Executive Officer of the Urban League of Greater Hartford, Inc.  Jim, who is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, began his career as a professional with the Philadelphia Council Boy Scouts of America in 1971.  He served twelve years on the New York City staff, five years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and six years on the Hartford, Connecticut staff as a Scout Executive and Chief Executive Officer.  He retired on December 31, 1998 after twenty-seven years of professional service with the Boy Scouts of America.

For over twenty-five years, Jim has been involved in various youth and community development activities.  Since coming to Hartford his involvements include; Past President of the Board of Directors for Community Health Services, Inc., Board of Directors Greek Letter Organization of Hartford, Inc., Regional Advisory Board Member Capital Community College, member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board.  Board of Directors of Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center, the American Red Cross, the Greater Hartford Convention & Visitors Bureau, Inc., and the Connecticut Fair Housing Center.  Board and Executive Committee Member of the Workforce Development Board and admission as a senior fellow of the American Leadership Forum.  Jim served as a member of the State of Connecticut Task Force on Individual Development Accounts, former member of the Connecticut State Child Day Care Council; which he was appointed by Governor John Rowland.  Jim serves on The Hartford Job Corps Center Community Relations Council, Metro Hartford Regional Economic Alliance Board, and was appointed by Governor John Rowland to serve as one of the Hartford School Board 2001-2003 Trustees.  He also serves on the Hate Crimes Advisory Committee for the Chief State’s Attorney Office, the Long Island Sound Fund Advisory Committee for the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection, Sovereign Bank of New England Community Advisory Board and Steering Committee, member of the Hartford Weed and Seed’s program, and the Board of Directors of the Channel 3 Kids Camp. 

Jim earned his Associate Degree in Political Science from Philadelphia Community College and a Bachelor of Professional Studies degree from Empire State College, and studied Urban Affairs at Temple University.  His education continues by attending conferences and a variety of seminars.

He is a member of that Ancient and Honorable Fraternity of Free Masons.  He is a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Alpha Psi Boule, and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Hartford Alumni Chapter when he serves on the Board. 

Mr. Willingham has received many honors; among them are the Outstanding Man of the Year Award presented by former Congressman, William H. Gray of Philadelphia, the “Service to Youth Award” presented by the Board of Governors Jewish Event Purim Committee.  “Community Service to Youth Award” presented by the New York Urban League.  He has been recognized as “Who’s who among Outstanding Business Executives”, “Who’s Who of African Americans”, “International Who’s Who of Professionals”, as well as “Universal Who’s Who of Business Executives”.  Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. “1999 Achievement Award”, National Urban League’s NULITES President of the Decade and “1999 Community Man of the Year” presented by The Shiloh Baptist Church of Hartford, CT.  “The SANKOFA Award” presented by Allstate Insurance Company 2003, and WKND Radio Black History Celebration Award.

Former Board Member if the Connecticut Housing Center, Regional Advisory Board Member Capital Community College, Board and Executive Committee member of Workforce Partners, Connecticut State Child Day Care Council. Board of Director for the Greater Hartford Metro Alliance.

The Northeastern Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity 2003 Alumni Achievement Award

The Four Chaplains Legion of Honor Award was presented to Mr. Willingham in recognition of outstanding services to all people regardless of race or faith.  This award symbolizes for all Americans and for all time the unity of this nation, founded upon the fatherland of our God.

Recently elected to the Board of Director Riverfront Recapture, Corporate for Hartford Hospital, Chairman of the Mayor’s Taskforce for Economic Development, and Committee member for Metro Hartford Diversity Task Force.  In July 2004 Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez appointed Mr. Willingham as the commissioner of the Hartford Economic Development Commission. 

Jim credits God, his wife, Dawn, and their children for all the support he has in making achievements and contributing to the community and youth.

Senior Vice President of Operations and Programs
Richard Brown

Richard Brown is the Senior Vice President of Operations and Programs at the Urban League.  He previously headed up the Human Resources organization where he was responsible for all of the Urban League’s Human Resource activities and initiatives.  Richard has also played a pivotal role in helping the League secure funding for some of their fee-for-service initiatives including the Urban League Career Center.  This online site helps companies gain direct access to diverse job seekers in their local area. 

Prior to joining the Urban League of Greater Hartford, Richard’s background was in human resources.  He’s worked with large and small organizations and helped them to maximize their organizational capacity. 

Richard believes strongly in the power of volunteerism.  He currently serves on the board of directors for the Governors Partnership Prevention, Connecticut Council for the Advancement of Diversity and Greater Hartford Legal Aid.  He is the advisor for the Urban League Young Professionals, and previously participated as an Adult Achiever in the Minority Achievement Program administered by the YMCA of Greater Hartford. 

Richard attended the University of Connecticut and majored in sociology.   He currently resides in Tolland County with his wife Erika and son Tyler.

Finance Manager
Michael Wagner

Executive Assitant
Jackie Oglesby

Fiscal Specialist
Charese Bozeman

Accounts Payable/Payroll Clerk
Terry McLean

Development Assistant
Mary Judkins

Director of IT
Jason Perez

Since August 2006 Jason Perez hs been the Information Technology Manager at the Urban League. This position was started in 2006 by a HFPG grant. This allowed the ULGH to hire a full time IT employee to help the IT needs of the League.

Mr. Perez has been working in the IT industry since 1999 and brings a fresh look on the usually stereo typed IT department. He has attained many Certifications in the IT world and continues to expand his Network experience by taking on new technology to help further the goals of the Urban League of Greater Hartford.

Director of Career Training (Phoenix Academy)
Diane Augustine

Career Training Assitant (Phoenix Academy)
Elizabeth Burke

Phoenix Academy Employment Specialist
Marlyn Daily

Career Training Instructor
Annta

Urban Youth Empowerment Progrm Counselor
Yvonne Matthews

Director of Employment
George Surhterland

Employment- Retention Specialist
Diane Lewis

Employment- HCJI
John Harris

Director of Housing
Lois Stevenson

Intake
Marie Fort

Housing Counselor
Val Gripes

Housing Counselor
Dawn Davis

Housing Counselor
Tymina Follins

Housing Counselor Assistant
Jenna Bruke-Lewis

HERS- LCSW/ Clinical Supervisor
Karen Tocher

Director Education & Youth
Kathy Reilly

College Transition Coodinator
Priscilla Machado

Priscilla F. Machado is the College Transition Coordinator with a Master’s of Education from Springfield College, MA. “I believe in the power of an education and for you to become a master at anything one must build and perfect their gift or skill”.

Education -Program Assistant
Sharon Palmer

Education- Lead Teacher
Karen Davenport

Graduated with a BS from Bryant University, an MS from CCSU and a 6th year Professional Educators Degree in Educational Administration from UConn.  Taught  Business Education at a public school for over 30 years, and also served as Department Chair.  Subsequently, I worked for UConn as a Field Experience Supervisor (this means I observed student teachers for assessment and evaluation).  While at the Urban League, I have worked as a GED instructor and now as CWP Program Manager and Lead Teacher.  Education, obviously, is extremely important to me.  It is the gift that you give to yourself, and it can given and renewed for a lifetime.

Education - Teacher
Mark Gardner

Youth Coordinator
Gabriel Boyd

Read & Rise Program Coordinator
Willona Amoakoh

Engagement Specialist HYP (Hartford Youth Project)
Khary Black

Khary Black is an Engagement Specialist, here at the Urban League, for the HYP program.  He is a Morehouse College graduate, as of 2002, with a BA in Psychology.  Khary began working with the youth in Hartford, in 2003 at SAND Elementary, and has continued working with adolescents  since then.  He has worked for Catholic Charities as an Academic Support Advisor, at Fox Middle School, as well as a Case Manager for the Hartford Street Youth Program.  Khary Black is dedicated to assisting the youth in this community, and we commend him for his efforts. 

Engagement Specialist HYP (Hartford Youth Project)
Steve Hodge

Intake
Genene Rosa

Receptionist/Resource Employment Ctr
Ivy Lowe