Alumni in the News

James Kelly

Distinguished Alumnus James Kelly to Retire as Urban League Head
James Kelly, 2006 recipient of the School of Social Work’s Distinguished Alumnus Award and President and CEO of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle since 1999, says he will step down from his position at the end of April.

"It’s time to move on, move out and move into other areas that I haven’t ever had time, energy or the chance to do," he said.

Kelly is credited with getting the former Colman School site converted into the highly acclaimed African American Museum, developing the League’s housing, jobs and education programs into one of the most productive in the nation, and being a key political adviser to state, local and regional leaders. His initiatives into youth violence are perceived as critical in the dramatic decline in gang-related youth deaths in the area. Kelly reported that some of the personal and professional accomplishments of which he is most proud include establishing the Contractors’ Development Network (keeping minority businesses competitive), launching the Urban League Scholars college-preparation program, and receiving the School of Social Work’s 2006 Distinguished Alumnus Award.