Welcome to the official website of the National Urban League. I am Marc Morial, President and CEO.

Since our historic founding in 1910 the National Urban League has worked to empower the lives of millions of Americans. As we embark on our 95th year of service I invite you to search within the pages of this site to read not only of our glorious history, but to join us as we define the future.

During my inaugural address to the Urban League movement in 2003, I laid out a thoughtful and progressive platform, the "Empowerment Agenda", that I believe will carry this organization into the twenty-first century.

As a part of that agenda, I identified five areas of emphasis, which include:

• Education & Youth
• Economic Empowerment
• Health & Quality of Life
• Civic Engagement
• Civil Rights & Racial Justice

Shortly following my keynote address, I embarked across the country to visit more than 50 of our affiliate offices to see the mighty work that these brave, talented and dedicated soldiers in the field perform daily. I was honored and awed to meet the citizens, workers and developers across the country meeting the needs of the community on the local level, with spirit and conviction.

It was in this atmosphere that we started anew. A process that has redefined our important role in the fabric of America for the 21st century.

Here are some highlights of a year of success for the Movement!

• We launched our first "Legislative Policy Conference" in Washington, D.C. which brought over 400 NUL affiliate representatives to Capitol Hill. These critical meetings were designed to bring into focus the challenging issues facing African Americans and communities of color.

• The newly expanded "State of Black America" report which included the new "Equality Index" and the "National Urban League Survey" a national poll released in March at the National Press Club. Our 2005 edition is highly anticipated with new facts and figures that will launch greater understanding of the divide in America along racial lines.
  


• In October 2004, we launched the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, a successful collaborative partnership effort of business, government, philanthropic and community organizations in five cities -- Atlanta, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Jacksonville, Fla. and Kansas City, Mo. We will expand to more cities in 2005-2006, establishing Economic Empowerment Centers. This initiative's goal is to support, mentor and provide supportive services to entrepreneurs to help them succeed.
  
• We initiated bold and new programs and initiatives with our Five Point Agenda, within Education & Youth, Economic Development, Health & Quality of Life, Civic Engagement and Civil Rights & Racial Justice.

  The Black Male Commission, got underway with historic town hall meetings at Morehouse College in Atlanta in November 2004 and Shelby County Correction Center in Memphis, Tennessee in February 2005.

• Our new Urban Youth Empowerment program funded by a $10M Department of Labor grant is the largest new federal grant received by the NUL. The program has been launched in 15 cities.

Its still Empowerment Time, where there is inequality and injustice within the quest for the American dream, we'll be there.

It is still Empowerment Time in America when the HIV-AIDS death rate is 10 times higher in black America.

It is still Empowerment Time when our Equality Index shows that African-American's economic status is only 56 percent of that of our white counterparts.

It is still Empowerment Time because we are at a moment in history when the choice is clear. Either we take a giant step forward or fall further behind.

I want to invite you today to join us as we build a renewed Urban League movement, styled and designed for the challenges of tomorrow -- but based on the foundation of yesterday.

Become a member of your local Urban League. Join the Urban League Family.

We are re-energized, renewed, refreshed and ready for the challenges of the future and ready for you.

It's still Empowerment Time - don't be late.