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

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.

Just as it’s done for some 15 years, the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, PA) hosted its annual Thanksgiving Day food distribution Saturday morning  — continuing a tradition of helping area families in need fill their bellies and feast in style for the holiday.

“This is a great thing,” said Kahlil Morris, who was part of a steady stream of people driving SUVs, vans and small buses from area social service agencies that stopped by the cavernous Hall D at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to pick up the turkey day donations and distribute them to the people they serve.

“It helps people who are less fortunate and fills the gap, especially with COVID and the loss of jobs,” said Mr. Kahlil, who is with Housing Opportunities Unlimited, a social services group based at the Oak Hill Apartments in the Hill District.

The Greater Stark County Urban League (Canton, OH) originated 100 years ago as a group seeking to eliminate racial segregation and discrimination and achieve parity for minorities.

"It really doesn't vary much from the mission of today, which is to enable African Americans and other underserved individuals to reach full economic, social and health parity to enrich that individual's life and the lives of the individual's families," President and CEO Diane Robinson said. 

She began leading the organization in 2018 and recently reflected on its history. Although different initiatives have come and gone based on community needs, the five foundational pillars — workforce, housing, health, education and social justice — continue to be top priorities. 

"They are consistently the challenges that we have in the community," Robinson said from the league's office at the Edward "Peel" Coleman Community Center.

Washington, D.C. (November 19, 2021) – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to House passage of the Build Back Better Act and urges the Senate to pass the bill before the end of the year.

Authorities in other jurisdictions should heed the example of the Manhattan District Attorney’s office and take action to remedy past injustices and make reforms to prevent them in the future...

“From the moment Kyle Rittenhouse heeded the call to ‘take up arms’ against peaceful protestors last year to his acquittal in the courtroom today, this case has been a long and unrelenting exercise in the power of white privilege..."

"The notion that you can withhold information and documents from Congress no matter whether you are the party in power or not in power is wrong."

Oklahoma has averted an outrageous miscarriage of justice by calling off Julius Jones’ execution but has yet to address the shoddy defense and blatant racism that tainted conviction, leaders of the National Urban League and the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City said today.