Urban League chief to be Jabali speaker at YSU event

The speaker is a Liberty school board member who grew up in Youngstown and is a Rayen School grad.

STAFF REPORT

YOUNGSTOWN — Thomas S. Conley, executive director and chief executive officer of the Warren-Youngstown Urban League, is the keynote speaker at the 9th annual Jabali African Cultural Celebration at Youngstown State University on Friday.

Conley, who also is vice president of the Liberty school board, will speak on the topic “The Urban League and the Restoration of Hope in the Mahoning Valley.”

Conley, a Liberty resident, grew up in Youngstown, graduated from the Rayen School and received a bachelor’s degree in business management from Malone College.

He worked in the Youngstown accounting office of Alvin Hopkins before serving as finance director for the Youngstown Area Urban League from 1986 to 1991.

He is the son of Joseph S. Conley, longtime Youngstown city schools educator who was superintendent from 1994 to 1996.

The dinner and entertainment begins at 6:30 p.m. in Kilcawley Center’s Chestnut Room.

The event also will be a celebration and thanksgiving for President-elect Barack Obama.

Entertainment will be provided by the Kent State University African Ensemble and members of YSU’s African Student Union.

Dinner is $25 for adults and $10 for students. Those attending also can purchase a table for eight people for $175.

For more information, contact the Africana Studies Program at (330) 941-3097.