PITTSBURGH -- This weekend, the National Urban League Convention kicks off. It will bring African-Americans from around the country to Pittsburgh.

This week, Channel 11's Kimberly Easton is looking at some of the issues that affect the local African-American community.

Young Urban League Professionals started connecting in Pittsburgh about a year ago. It didn't take them long to create and pursue their mission -- to attract and keep the next generation of leaders.

As a group of young professionals prepares for the National Urban League Conference, several issues come to mind.

President of the Young Urban League Professionals, Errika Fearbry Jones, said, "As a young professional, there are many ceilings that we bump into. There are many challenges that we still have to face. The civil rights movement is different but it's still there."

This is why the Young Urban League Professionals formed its own chapter in Pittsburgh and all its members are eager to take on the challenge.

Cosette Grant said, "I see Pittsburgh as an opportunity for cutting edge change. There is at the state and local level a lot of commitment to inclusion of young professionals including young African-American professionals."

Their civil rights movement includes empowering young professionals on three fronts: financial literacy, real world education, and most of all political involvement.

Waknwa Nzambi said, "We want more of it. We think what's going on here in Pittsburgh is progressively getting better and better but we really do feel there are voices that need to be heard."

Jones said they're working together to turn young professionals into the leaders of tomorrow.
"The Urban League has been here for years and has taken steps to make sure our civil rights are taken care of. And we need to make sure we take that to the next level."

When the Pittsburgh Urban League Young Professionals kicked off its chapter in February, it had 24 members. It now has nearly 100 members and the chapter is expected to grow even more.

Channel 11's coverage of the Urban League Convention continues all week. Wednesday, Kimberly Easton will have the details of a new report about the state of black families.