WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 18, 2026) – As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the National Urban League and the Demand Diversity Roundtable have released a new civic education resource, America 250: A Guide for Defending Democracy, to help Americans navigate an era of profound democratic challenges.  The nonpartisan guide equips voters, community leaders, and civic organizations with values‑based and action‑oriented questions designed to illuminate how public officials and candidates understand their constitutional responsibilities.

Altaire at Queen Anne, a 114-unit affordable rental housing development offering studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, has broken ground in Seattle.

The project transforms a five-year vacant site into housing in one of the city’s higher-cost neighborhoods. The development is being built by the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle, WA) and SRM, in partnership with the Seattle Office of Housing, Amazon’s Housing Fund, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Citibank, and PNC Bank.

The project team also includes Runberg Architecture Group, AMH Design, LLC, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Brumbaugh Landscape Architecture, Emerald City Engineers, Inc., Terracon, NV5, DCI Engineers, and Duncanson Surveying. Move-ins are anticipated to begin in November of 2027.

North Texas marked a historic moment this week as civic leaders, corporate partners, young professionals and community advocates gathered for the official launch of the Dallas–Fort Worth Urban League (Dallas, TX), the 93rd affiliate of the National Urban League.

The sold-out event was hosted at Gilley’s Dallas and emceed by broadcast journalist Evan Anderson. The momentous event also welcomed Marc Morial, who has been the primary catalyst for an era of change and a transformation for the 100-plus-year-old civil rights organization. His presence underscored the national importance of bringing the Urban League’s legacy of economic empowerment back to the Dallas–Fort Worth region.

Nearly seven months into her tenure as President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Miami (Miami, FL), Dr. Makeda Johnson’s mission is clear: restore the organization’s visibility while expanding its impact on education, housing, and economic empowerment.

Johnson, who took the helm on Aug. 25, 2025, is the first woman to lead the affiliate in its 80-year history. Her appointment marked a new chapter for one of Miami’s longest-standing civil rights and community development organizations following the six-decade tenure of T. Willard Fair.

While Fair guided the organization through segregation, integration, and decades of advocacy, the Urban League has recently maintained a quieter approach to public engagement. Last year, Fair told The Miami Times that the group preferred to focus on its work rather than promote it, rarely issuing press releases or digital updates.

Johnson, however, is ushering in a season of vocal advocacy.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“Policy rollbacks that have removed protections and investments designed to support Black communities … is the regression, combined with economic indicators, particularly unemployment, that would qualify as recessionary if they were applied to the national economy.” — Monica Mitchell, Chief of Staff, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies

The revelation that the U.S. economy shed 92,000 jobs in February and now faces its highest unemployment rate in years has rattled economists, many of whom warn that the country may be on the brink of a recession.

For Black America, the recession has already arrived.

Although there's beauty in our city's Black history, it is also mired by harmful redlining policies and urban renewal projects that forced Black residents out of north and northeast Portland.

Today, those neighborhoods are the site of a growing movement to help every Black community member thrive in this area again.

“I think that this building, one day, by the time my grandchildren get grown, this will be historical,” said Leor Beverly.

Named after the prominent Oregon suffragist, the Hattie Redmond Apartments sit along North Interstate Avenue in the historically Black Kenton Neighborhood.

From 1990 to 2010, African Americans were pushed out by the thousands as the area was redeveloped and prices rose.

The building is part of a broader effort to help Black Portlanders find a place in this neighborhood again, by starting with the most vulnerable members of the community.

Nearly 2,000 high-achieving high school seniors from across the Midlands were celebrated Sunday afternoon as the Columbia Urban League (Columbia, SC) marked a major milestone, both for students and for Black history.

More than 1,800 students were recognized during the organization’s 40th Annual “Young and Gifted” Black History Month Program, held at Brookland Baptist Church. Family members, friends, educators and community leaders filled the sanctuary, cheering as honorees were acknowledged for their excellence.

Students were recognized for achievements in academics, athletics, the arts, leadership and a range of extracurricular activities. Organizers say the program remains the largest recognition of African-American student achievement in South Carolina.

This year’s event also carried added significance, commemorating 100 years of Black history while spotlighting the next generation of leaders.

“At a time when it’s easy to take a step back, the Urban League is stepping up.”

Those were the words of Springfield Urban League (Springfield, IL) President and CEO Dr. Marcus Johnson during a Dec. 2 Springfield City Council meeting. Johnson was trying to convince the alderpersons to sell eight city-owned parcels of land on Springfield’s east side for $4,000 to the Urban League for future revitalization.

The City Council tabled the matter that night because the request took many by surprise, including two of the aldermen who represent the area. But the land purchase was approved unanimously by the City Council several weeks later, and now the Urban League is moving forward with an ambitious plan to determine what the community wants to happen with those eight lots plus other Urban League-owned properties in the area. Once those desires are determined, Johnson said work will begin to make things happen.