The Urban League announced today that noted social entrepreneur Alfred Babington-Johnson will be the speaker at its March 27 groundbreaking ceremony. The event, including Babington's speech, is free and open to the public. Click here for details.

Alfred Babington-Johnson has been a politically active catalyst for community development from his earliest years.  Babington (as he prefers to be called) earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Howard University in 1968, and graduated from Bethel Theological Seminary in 1984 with a Master of Divinity degree in Theology.  During his professional career he has been a stockbroker, an actor, a business analyst, and a business owner.  He is the Founder, President & CEO of The Stairstep Initiative Companies.  Stairstep strives to understand the components, processes, and dynamics required to revive a spirit of community.  The Initiative provokes dialog centered on the importance of a community-building agenda and creates replicable models to demonstrate viable approaches to achieve positive community outcomes. 

Babington has been involved with an extensive list of public commissions, committees, and boards and has received numerous honors and awards.  He was Co-Chair of the Minneapolis Urban League’s successful capital campaign; served 10 years as a Minneapolis Public Housing Commissioner (including a term as Vice Chair); was Co-Chair of the Mayor’s Task Force on Business Regulation (Minneapolis); is past president of The National Association of Minority Contractors of Minnesota; currently serves on the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Twin Cities Public Television (TPT): and is a member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (Omicron Boulé).  Babington was honored as Bethel Seminary’s Alumnus of the Year for 2000 and received its first Presidential Distinguished Medal of Honor, and also serves as a faculty associate at the seminary.  In 2004 General Mills and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Breakfast Committee recognized him as a Local Legend.  His published essay “Reclaiming the Village” speaks to the importance of values, connectedness, economic incentive, and the spirit of ownership in the African American community.  He is married to Anna and is the father of Tamica, Emmanuelle, and Zachariah.

Babington, who refers to himself as a “social entrepreneur”, is an ordained elder at Grace Temple Deliverance Center and has a deep concern for spiritual development of all people.  His passion for the promotion of values, leadership, and economic and spiritual development of the African American community is conveyed through his public speaking to various groups and through the life he has chosen to lead.