Civil Rights Leader Marc Morial Visits Tyson

Arkansas Could Gain Chapter Of National Urban League

STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES 
Donnie Smith, left, Tyson Foods’ president and CEO, laughs Monday with Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, as Morial presents Smith with a set of lapel pins at Tyson Foods’ World Headquarters in Springdale. Morial gave a speech at the Tyson Diversity Education Speaker series.

STAFF PHOTO ANTHONY REYES Donnie Smith, left, Tyson Foods’ president and CEO, laughs Monday with Marc Morial, CEO of the National Urban League, as Morial presents Smith with a set of lapel pins at Tyson Foods’ World Headquarters in Springdale. Morial gave a speech at the Tyson Diversity Education Speaker series.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

— Arkansas residents could have more employment opportunities as a result of a partnership between Tyson Foods Inc. and the National Urban League.

Marc Morial, chief executive officer of the National Urban League, spoke Monday to staff members at Tyson headquarters about progress and leadership in honor of Black History Month. The National Urban League is a civil rights organization Tyson partnered with in 2012 to work on health, hunger and nutrition initiatives.

Fast Facts

Black History Month

• Black History Month began as Negro History Week in 1926.

• Negro History Week expanded to Black History Month in 1976.

• Negro History Week was created by Carter Woodson, an American historian.

• February is Black History Month.

Source: Staff Report

By The Numbers

Hunger And Food Insecurity

Food insecurity refers to people who don’t know from where their next meal will come.

19.7 percent — Number of people in Arkansas who are food insecure.

14.5 percent — Number of U.S. households that were food insecure in 2012.

20 percent — Number of U.S. households with children that were food insecure in 2012.

160,000 — Number of people in Arkansas age 60 or older who were food insecure in 2013.

Source: Staff Report

Officials with the organizations are expanding the focus to include an employment initiative, said Krista Cupp, Tyson spokeswoman. It's important to focus on unemployment, which can lead to issues with hunger.

"It's really become a lot more than it started out," she said of the partnership.

The partnership started in Mississippi with educational, wellness and nutrition fairs. This year, the partnership is working on nutrition and health initiatives in Nashville, Tenn.

When Donnie Smith, chief executive officer of Tyson, introduced Morial, he said officials are trying to create a local chapter of the National Urban League. Smith said he thinks a chapter in Arkansas would work well.

"I have never seen an organization activate a community like the National Urban League," Smith said.

Morial said an Arkansas chapter would probably be based in Little Rock and work statewide.

"We want to connect our constituents with job opportunities at Tyson," he said.

Lisa Ray, chairwoman of the Springdale Chamber of Commerce, said she thinks a chapter of the National Urban League in Arkansas would help the local economy and help employ more people.

Morial said today's leaders need to be educated on all 20th century history, not just that of African Americans, to solve 21st century problems.

"Contributions to the history of the country have been made by so many groups," he said. "The way in which we live was dramatically reshaped by the events of the 20th century."

As an example, Ray said there are many Hispanic and Marshallese residents in Springdale. In order to help them and serve them, community and business leaders need to understand their cultures and histories.

Morial said leaders need to take risks if communities are to change. He thinks the current generation is too focused on themselves and lacks willpower to pursue progress.

"We have become a generation that's in love with 'me'," he said.

He used Martin Luther King Jr. as an example of an agent for change, saying King spoke about a better future for his children, not himself.

"Inherent in that was being selfless," he said. "We do not want to be the generation that hands the baton to your children, and we are five steps behind where it was given to us."

NW News on 02/25/2014