Dr. Patrick C. Graham’s first day as President/CEO of the Urban League of Central Carolinas, Inc. started on September 17, 2007.

Graham served as the Director of Emergency Financial Assistance and Economic Self-Sufficiency at Crisis Assistance Ministry from 2001 to 2007. In that role, he managed the division that provides funds to those in immediate need of financial assistance. Graham also managed the agency’s staff, maintained relationships with corporate and community partners, ensured compliance with contracts and upheld the agency’s commitment to treating all clients with dignity and respect.

Graham’s professional, civic, and academic accomplishments make him well suited to be the Urban League’s new President/CEO. He has a unique and clear understanding of the population that the Urban League serves and the community from which it seeks financial support. In fact, several of Graham’s recent publications address Black migration -the very issue that the National Urban League was formed to combat in 1910. Graham’s advocacy extends beyond simply what his job requires. He has continually demonstrated a steady commitment to the Central Carolinas. Graham is currently President of the Diversity Council of the Carolinas and a board member for the Energy Committed to Offenders organization. He is also on the board of the North Carolina Coalition to End Homelessness.

Graham grew up in New York but he earned his bachelor’s degree in marketing right here in Charlotte at Johnson C. Smith University. He later returned to New York to earn his doctorate in philosophy and remained there until 2001, serving as Executive Director for the Martin Luther King Center in Long Beach, NY. Graham is the father of two Jasmie age 18 who is a freshman at Delaware State University and Myles age four. Graham is married to Katina Graham a Pharmacy Manager for Bi-Lo.

Graham was recently voted Omega Man of the Year by the Charlotte chapter of Omega Psi Phi in November 2007. In 2006, Omega Psi Phi Fraternity named Graham Citizen of the Year for North and South Carolina and he completed the Bank of America Leadership Initiative. Graham participated in Leadership Charlotte program in 2005.