Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“This project is befitting of the legacy of greatness that so many Black New Yorkers have built here in Harlem. It is Black-owned in a time when we are being taught as if the words DEI are that of a slur, when in fact what they are is a representation of the fulfillment of the ideals that make so many proud to be New Yorkers.”  -- New York City Mayor-Elect Zohran Mamdani

Harlem has always been more than a neighborhood—it’s a symbol of resilience, creativity, and the enduring fight for justice. This week, the National Urban League reaffirmed that legacy with the dedication of the Urban League Empowerment Center, a transformative development that does more than add bricks and mortar to the skyline. It sets a new standard for what inclusive development should look like in America.

NEW YORK (November 13, 2025) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the end of the most recent federal government shutdown:

The Urban League of Rochester (Rochester, NY) hosted its 6th Annual Interrupt Racism Impact Summit on Monday (November 3rd), marking the organization’s 60th anniversary.

This year’s summit, themed ‘Impact. Ignite. Inspire,’ brought together community leaders, activists, executives, educators, and youth to discuss actionable solutions for advancing racial equity.

“When we hear some of the rhetoric today about not talking about diversity, equity, and inclusion, what we’re seeing in today’s world unfortunately we don’t feel that good about,” said Dr. Candice Lucas, Senior VP of Equity and Advocacy at the Urban League of Rochester. “We’re going to continue to fight for justice and we are going to continue to make sure that Rochester and Monroe County are the progressive and equitable communities that Frederick Douglass and Susan B. Anthony fought for.”

Hundreds of volunteers from various area employers gathered in Kinloch on Thursday morning to participate in the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis’s (St. Louis, MO) Build Up Community Cleanup.

The Regional Business Council and STL Partnership also played hosts to the cleanup, which resulted in hundreds of pounds of trash and dead brush being removed from the streets of Kinloch.

For years, widespread illegal dumping has plagued the small city that sits just east of Lambert Airport. As of the 2020 census, the population is just over 250 people.

“We’re here, we’re empowered, we’re engaged, Kinloch has not gone anywhere, and we’re invested in shaping what our future is going to look like,” said Kayla Moore, a resident of Kinloch who came out to the cleanup event.

Moore said the community appreciates not only the help offered during large-scale cleanups, but the exposure to the ongoing problem it brings.

As the federal shutdown stretches on, families who depend on SNAP benefits and the businesses that serve them are at risk.

At the Piggly Wiggly parking lot on South Monroe Street, car after car lined up for boxes of food filled with fresh produce, protein, and bread.

The Tallahassee Urban League (Tallahassee, FL), Second Harvest of the Big Bend, and local faith partners organized the giveaway to help families left without food assistance as the federal shutdown continues.

Urban League President Curtis Taylor says the Urban League and its partners distributed food to more than 600 people Friday (November 7th).

“A lot of people don't know what it means to be hungry, or to know that I don't know where my next meal is coming from,” Taylor said.

But the effects go beyond hunger. Neighborhood grocery stores say they are feeling the strain too.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“My greatest fear is that one day we may wake up and our democracy is gone.” — John Lewis

On Tuesday, November 4th, Americans took the first step toward turning the page on this dark chapter of our history by voting for state and municipal leaders committed to our advancement, our democracy, and standing up to an increasingly authoritarian government. 

2025 has been an emotional year for Americans. It began with wildfires that brought one of our most beautiful cities to a standstill, followed by the inauguration of an administration that immediately began turning back the clock on American life as we’ve come to know it.