NEW YORK (November 29, 2021) – The nation has lost one of its greatest champions for racial justice and equal opportunity with the passing of former Congresswoman Carrie Meek of Florida, National Urban League President Marc H. Morial said today.

“The daughter of a sharecropper and granddaughter of a slave who was denied admission to graduate school in her home state because of her race, Congresswoman Meek dedicated her career to creating a just and equitable society and expanding opportunity for every American,” Morial said. “Spurred by her early experiences with segregation, which she called a ‘shadow’ on her life, she led the integration of Miami-Dade Community College, where she spent three decades as an educator and administrator.

A local organization wants to help people move past their criminal record by training attorneys to better represent them.

The Louisville Urban League (Louisville, KY) is hosting an "expungement training workshop" for attorneys.

Through the "Reily Re-entry Project," the Urban League has helped thousands of people get their records erased, though organizers say they need more attorneys to help guide people through the complicated process.

"I always want the community to understand that our role is to do the projects, do the work. We're helping. We're the Band-Aid. But we really need the policy to shift the nature of the work. If I had the magic wand to change the policies that force this job to even exist I would immediately put myself out of business," said Sadiqa Reynolds, President and CEO of the Louisville Urban League.

On average, digital attacks cost enterprises an estimated $200,000, which is a high price tag for most businesses. In fact, an alarming 60 percent of small businesses shut down for good within six months of an attack. However today, there are ways to protect small businesses so that they do not fall victim to financial extortion or the destruction of sensitive information.

Palo Alto Networks, the global cybersecurity leader, has begun partnering with NUL, not only to grow NUL's education and workforce programs—Project Ready and the Urban Tech Jobs Program—but also to provide affordable products to NUL’s small business owners. At a recent Tech & Demo Day, their experts also joined us in a discussion on the importance of heightened security awareness, sharing how small businesses can effectively implement today’s cybersecurity measures.  

The effort to create a new enterprise center in Madison dedicated to supporting under-served entrepreneurs received a big boost, thanks to the foundation created by American Girl founder Pleasant Rowland.

On Wednesday (November 24th), the Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation announced a gift of $1 million for the Black Business Hub, a proposed 4-story building placed prominently at the corner of Park Street and Hughes Place. The donation equals a full third of the amount the Urban League of Greater Madison (Madison, WI) is trying to raise before breaking ground next month.

“What an inspirational way to head into the Thanksgiving holiday!” Urban League President and CEO Ruben L. Anthony, Jr., said. “I am more confident now than ever that we will bring this vision to life, and ultimately have an impact on families in our community that will be felt for generations to come.”

Tyshawn Cook has big plans for his newly purchased two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo in Spring Valley.

“I am in the middle of renovating everything so the whole kitchen is going to get moved and destroyed,” said Cook, as he walked around his new living room.

The 23-year-old is confident in his vision for his new condo. He wants a more modern kitchen and he’s working with his dad to remove the carpet and replace it with new flooring.

As an San Diego State University college student, NAVY reservist, and full-time calibration technician, Cook’s days have long been packed with activities. Now that he’s also a homeowner, he said his daily life has gotten even busier.

“Probably once a week if not once every other week, I am definitely going to Home Depot,” he said. “Now that’s something, honestly, I wasn’t thinking about before.”

NEW YORK, ATLANTA and COLUMBUS, Ga. (November 24, 2021) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial, Urban League of Greater Atlanta President and CEO Nancy Flake Johnson and Urban League of Greater Columbus President and CEO Tracey R. Mosley issued the following statement in response to the conviction of Greg McMichael, Travis McMichael and William Roddy Bryan in the murder of Ahmaud Arbery:

“Ahmaud Arbery’s murderers have been held accountable, but this case leaves a deep and painful wound on our nation’s soul.

The Urban League of Hampton Roads (Norfolk, VA) is set to host the 38th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leaders Virtual Event in January.

Event organizers say the event is designed to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and recognize leaders whose significant contributions to the community reflect Dr. King’s commitment to social justice and equity for marginalized communities.

“We are proud to continue this long held tradition for the Hampton Roads community. It is incredibly important that we recognize and celebrate the leaders who make such significant contributions to our community, as well as educate the community about the instrumental role the Urban League serves for the Hampton Roads community,” said Gilbert Bland, President and CEO of the Urban League of Hampton Roads. 

As Lavenia Victor turned her car into the parking lot of University Preparatory Academy, where hundreds had gone to get free turkeys ahead of Thanksgiving, she stretched her arm out the window and waved at a volunteer.

Just after 9 a.m. Saturday, as she inched closer to the front of the line, her 5-year-old granddaughter, Emoni Wells, whom she has adopted from her daughter, played with a Barbie doll in the back seat. Behind them was a long row of cars that stretched a half-mile down the street.

“We have no family here,” said Victor, 45, who lives with Emoni in Singer Island. “It’s just she and I. It’s special to be able to sit down with my granddaughter, who’s now my daughter, and have a good meal.”

Victor and her granddaughter were among about 600 families who turned to the Urban League of Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach, FL) on Saturday for help ahead of Thanksgiving. It is a tradition that has endured for 20 years.