The Opening of the Empowerment Center in Harlem Marks a Milestone in National Urban League History Under the Leadership of President Marc Morial

September 4, 2025 (Harlem, NY) — Under the stewardship of its President and CEO, Marc H. Morial, the National Urban League opened the doors to the Urban League Empowerment Center (ULEC) and returned home to Harlem, the place the organization was founded over 110 years ago.

Located on the iconic 125th Street and standing 17 stories high, the $250 million center represents one of the most significant new developments in the neighborhood in decades.

"This center represents not just a building but a beacon," said Morial. "It embodies the resilience of Harlem, the strength of our movement, and the promise of economic and social justice for future generations. I am proud to see this dream realized in the very heart of our community." 

The building combines the National Urban League's new headquarters with affordable housing, cultural programming, retail space, and expanded services that will strengthen Harlem for decades to come. Community leaders, elected officials, and partners hailed the Empowerment Center as a historic achievement. 

The Empowerment Center will also be the home of New York’s first Civil Rights museum, the Urban Civil Rights Museum, which is set to open in June 2026, creating a landmark destination dedicated to telling the story of the civil rights movement and its continuing relevance today.

Since the beginning of his tenure, Morial has had a vision to cement the Urban League movement's legacy into the fabric of New York with a home in the community it serves, and to embody the financial independence, ownership, and self-sufficiency outlined in the organization's mission for over a century. Under Morial's leadership, the project has been guided from concept to completion, transforming 125th Street into a hub for equity, innovation, and opportunity. 

"The Empowerment Center is proof that progress is possible," Morial added. "Since our centennial in 2010, the Urban League movement has grown to 93 affiliates in 36 states, serving over 50 million people. We are writing the next chapter of the Urban League story right here in Harlem and committing to another century of growth and empowering families and communities."

The New York Times has called the project a landmark achievement, and today's opening underscores the Urban League's commitment to its founding mission of empowerment through economic opportunity, civil rights, and community advancement.

As part of the Empowerment Center, the Urban Civil Rights Museum is set to open in June 2026, creating a landmark destination dedicated to telling the story of the civil rights movement and its continuing relevance today.

In addition, the ULEC will serve as an "anti-gentrification" project by supporting minority-owned businesses and providing additional office space to other non-profits dedicated to achieving and celebrating meaningful gains for the Black community, including One Hundred Black Men of America, the United Negro College Fund, the Studio Museum in Harlem, and Virginia Union University. 

For more information on the journey home to Harlem, visit the Campaign for Equity website.