● By Rich Badmington
● Date November 3, 2025
After four years of service to Urban Alliance, first as Executive Director of our Chicago team and then as Chief Executive Officer, Abiodun Durojaye, Ed.D, leaves the organization to pursue new opportunities. Grateful for Abiodun’s hard work and commitment, the Board of Directors has initiated an organization-wide “Opportunity Project”—a months-long initiative to reveal and pursue the best available ways to serve the young people at the heart of our mission.
The Opportunity Project will unfold as a structured, yet wide-ranging review of the dynamics of the current and future school-to-career youth service environment. The project also will refresh our understanding of the fast-changing needs of employers, our historic partners in creating bright pathways for young people from low-income communities in the cities we serve.
In the coming months, under the leadership of former Urban Alliance Chief Executive Officer Veronica Nolan, acting as Senior Advisor to the Board of Directors, a team of Urban Alliance leaders and external subject matter experts will engage with young people, Urban Alliance alumni, former and prospective employers and school partners, third-party funders, and other important players in our work. We will look closely at innovations emerging from our regional offices as well as the best of what we see happening around the country and the world. Opening to fresh assumptions, ideas, and collaboration, we will pursue opportunities where they deliver the greatest value to young people and the workplaces where discovery, mentorship, and inspiration happen.
As Urban Alliance approaches its 30-year anniversary, the goal of the Opportunity Project is to understand and adjust to new facts and forces so we can continue to fulfill co-founder Andrew Plepler’s vision to provide young people with access to the workforce skills training, and paid experiences that can lay the cornerstone to economic independence. We undertake this work holding fast to Andrew’s courage, compassion, and belief in the potential of young people.
We welcome all who choose to join us in this pursuit.