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    Greater Baltimore Urban League Brings National Recognition Home to Baltimore Following Award-Winning Year at 2026 National Urban League Conference

    Baltimore, MD — The Greater Baltimore Urban League (GBUL), Baltimore's historic affiliate of the National Urban League, and its award-winning young professionals auxiliary, the Greater Baltimore Leadership Association (GBLA), returned from the 2026 National Urban League Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, with an impressive slate of organizational and individual honors. Together, the recognitions affirm a shared conviction that drives the work of the Urban League movement in Baltimore: economic mobility is a civil rights issue.

    Leading GBUL's national showing was Kiara Scott, founder of Free Money Meister, who represented the Greater Baltimore Urban League and earned first place in the National Small Business Matters Pitch Competition. Her victory put Baltimore entrepreneurship on the national stage and reflects GBUL's deep investment in small business development as a pathway to wealth building for the city's residents.

    Baltimore's young professionals matched that excellence. GBLA President Coby Smith was named the 2026 National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) President of the Year, one of the movement's highest individual honors, recognizing exemplary commitment, engagement, and servant leadership. Under Smith's leadership, GBLA has grown significantly, expanded community programming, and strengthened the Urban League movement throughout the Greater Baltimore region. The honor builds on GBLA's recent recognition as the 2026 Baltimore Times Best of Black Baltimore Best Community Organization and the 2025 NULYP Chapter of the Year.

    The conference also honored 22 members of the Greater Baltimore Leadership Association through the NULYP Distinguished Recognition Program for their outstanding leadership, service, and commitment to advancing the Urban League movement.

    2026 YP Distinguished Honorees:

    Taylor Alexander, Elena Huang, Chelsea Ashby, Dr. Akin Abioye, Miles Armstrong, Taylor Clark, Ellwood Lane, Coby Smith, Jennifer Wicks, Harold Booker, Sydnee Logan, Raven Holly, Charell Elliott, Julian Walker, Natasha Speaks, Raiana Davis, Nicole Campbell, Jenn Dorsaivil, Dan Garedew, Joshua Walsh, Malik Washington

    Several GBLA members also received NULYP Longevity Awards, recognizing years of dedication and continued commitment to the Urban League movement.

    Longevity Award Honorees:

    Harold Booker, Jennifer Wicks, Sydnee Logan, Charles Jackson, Coby Smith, Joshua Walsh

    Tershea Rice, Interim President & CEO of the Greater Baltimore Urban League, celebrated what the honors mean for the city.

    "Watching Baltimore receive recognition on the national stage is a testament to the extraordinary leadership, dedication, and heart of our volunteers, young professionals, entrepreneurs, and community partners. These accomplishments demonstrate what happens when people come together with a shared purpose of creating opportunities and empowering communities. We are incredibly proud of GBLA and everyone who represented Greater Baltimore with excellence."

    GBLA President Coby Smith added:

    "These recognitions represent far more than individual accomplishments. They represent what is possible when an entire community commits to lifting one another up. Every award reflects countless hours of volunteer service, leadership, mentorship, and collaboration. I'm incredibly proud of our members for continuing to set the standard for excellence and grateful to everyone who has invested in building a stronger Urban League movement here in Baltimore. This is only the beginning."

    Collectively, these honors reflect the culture of leadership, service, and excellence fostered across the Greater Baltimore Urban League family. They underscore GBUL's commitment to advancing economic empowerment, workforce development, entrepreneurship, youth leadership, civic engagement, and community impact throughout the Baltimore region, while positioning Baltimore as a national leader within the Urban League movement.

    The Greater Baltimore Leadership Association will celebrate these historic achievements during its signature Masquerade Ball on Saturday, September 26, an evening dedicated to celebrating Black excellence, culture, leadership, and community. Community members, partners, alumni, and supporters from across the region are invited to commemorate this milestone year while supporting the continued mission of developing leaders and empowering communities.

    RSVP today using the link below:

    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/masquerade-ball-tickets-1989154078395?aff=oddtdtcreator

    About The Greater Baltimore Leadership Association

    The Greater Baltimore Leadership Association (GBLA) is the young professional's auxiliary of the Greater Baltimore Urban League, engaging professionals ages 21–40 in leadership development, community service, and economic empowerment. Over the past decade, GBLA has hosted dozens of programs annually, raised tens of thousands of dollars for community initiatives, supported Black entrepreneurs, and earned national recognition for leadership and community impact.

    About The Greater Baltimore Urban League 

    The Greater Baltimore Urban League is a historic civil rights and community empowerment organization dedicated to advancing economic mobility and opportunity throughout Maryland. As an affiliate of the National Urban League, GBUL works to create lasting impact through workforce development, youth leadership, entrepreneurship, civic engagement, education, housing, advocacy, and community-centered programming designed to strengthen individuals, families, and communities across the Baltimore region.

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