Lopez-Humes will lead Urban Alliance’s youth employment program in its founding region, Greater DC
WASHINGTON, DC – Urban Alliance, a national youth workforce development nonprofit, announced that Mireille Lopez-Humes will serve as the organization’s new Greater DC Executive Director, leading regional strategy, partnerships, and operations to actively build the next generation of local talent.
Urban Alliance was founded in Washington, DC in 1996, and has since expanded its programs across the Greater DC region to include parts of Northern Virginia, Montgomery and Prince George’s County. With 25 years of service, Urban Alliance provides high school seniors the opportunity of economic self-sufficiency through paid internships, job skills training, one-on-one mentoring, and college and career-planning assistance. In partnership with the World Bank, Clark Construction, American Red Cross, Artemis Real Estate Partners, and Bank of America, to name a few, Urban Alliance has supported over 23,000 young people in the region.
“Mireille’s extensive ties to nonprofit organizations in DC, her passion for education, and her track record of building dynamic and effective community programs make her a powerhouse to lead Urban Alliance’s efforts in the region,” said Elizabeth Lindsey, CEO of Urban Alliance. “We are delighted for Mireille to lead our Greater DC region as we approach our 25th anniversary year and continue to serve as a vehicle for economic mobility for young people.”
Lopez-Humes’ career has been at the forefront of academic achievement for young people. She began her teaching career in the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS), and also taught in Prince George’s County and Boston, Massachusetts.
Under her leadership as principal at Moten Elementary School in Washington DC’s Ward 8, student and parent engagement increased through the school’s partnership with the Turnaround Arts school program–an initiative launched by President Obama to reform priority schools through arts and humanities.
Before Urban Alliance, Lopez-Humes worked as the Deputy Chief Program Officer at Martha’s Table, a longtime Urban Alliance partner, where she oversaw all education and healthy eating initiatives. Lopez-Humes holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership from Trinity University, and an Executive Master’s Degree in Leadership from Georgetown University, where she was one of 10 DCPS principals to receive a scholarship to attend.
“Being a part of the Urban Alliance team will give me the opportunity to have a direct impact on improving outcomes for young people by connecting them to pathways that lead to economic mobility,” said Lopez-Humes. “To be able to provide students with meaningful workforce experiences that will help their career trajectory is something I’m excited to be a part of.”
As Executive Director, Lopez-Humes will lead a dynamic team and provide strategic guidance to young people throughout the District of Columbia, Montgomery County, Northern Virginia, and Prince George’s county.
Urban Alliance works with schools, local organizations, students, and employers to build a more equitable, diverse next-generation workforce. The organization does so by offering deep-touch professional soft skills training, mentoring, and 9-month paid internships to young people, as well as curriculum outreach for workforce facilitators and employers. For more information visit us at www.www.urbanalliance.org and follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn.