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.

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.