Urban League CEO Michelle Merriweather Honored for Visionary Leadership and Community Impact

Michelle Merriweather, President and CEO at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle, WA) was recently named the CEO of the Year by Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis (St. Louis, MO). Chosen from among the 92 Urban League affiliates from across the country, the award outside of being recognized by the National Urban League is one that recognizes the hard work and impact that other Urban League affiliate CEOs are having across the country.

According to Merriweather, who joined ULMS in 2015, the award is an acknowledgment by her peers that she is indeed carrying out the mission of the Urban League that is both meaningful and impactful in the community that she serves.

“It means a lot. St. Louis Urban is literally the gold standard, they are the largest urban league in the country and for Michael McMillan, their CEO, to see me and recognize the work we are doing truly meant a lot,” said Merriweather.

“The growth we have experienced has put us on the map both here in Seattle, and across Washington state,” continued Merriweather. “When I first came on as vice president there were 12 of us, and now we have a team of about 130 and growing in less than 10 years.”

In terms of advocacy, ULMS has seen tremendous growth in the areas of housing, education, employment, public health and homelessness.  All things that help improve the quality of life for people living in the Pacific Northwest and provide people with the assistance needed to stabilize underserved communities in the area.

One of the stabilizing factors for both the Urban League and the community is the Urban League’s recent acquisition of property on 23rd and Rainier Ave. for the future home of the Urban League and site to build affordable housing.

“There will be close to 200 units of low-income rental units, about 30 affordable condos for sale, and if all goes to plan, a childcare center inside the home of the Urban League,” said Merriweather. “We will be able to provide all of our services under one roof, and I think securing this space for our community is significant because the block is where South Seattle and the Central Area meet, so we are still representing where we were historically in the Central Area, but also recognizing where we are now in South Seattle.”

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