Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

"This proposed structure will be as tall as the Statue of Liberty. It is a major threat to the slave-descendant community of Wallace. This grain elevator would take up hundreds of acres of the fields around you that once formed Whitney Plantation, potentially destroying unknown burial sites. It will contribute to the existing toxic burden with grain dust pollution, and permanently change the landscape of West St. John Parish." -- Whitney Plantation Museum

The cancellation of plans for a sprawling grain export facility in Louisiana is a victory for community activism, historic preservation, and environmental equity.

Representation matters. This year’s U.S. women’s gymnastics team made history as the most diverse and decorated team at the Olympics. Read more.| What’s at stake? Watch as Marc H. Morial discusses where we stand on critical issues such as Project 2025, the upcoming election & more. | What’s at stake? Tap into the conversation as we discuss the impact the upcoming election has on our nation, the importance of local elections + more. | Empowering entrepreneurs. $10K in prizes, sessions on money, marketing, and management, and more. See photos from Small Business Matters Summit! | Secure your dream job. Our Career Fair may be over, but companies are still hiring! Register now for the virtual #NULConf24 to connect and get hired. | Don’t miss the gems. Tap into the replay of our virtual #NULConf24 to hear from speakers such as Pinky Cole, Symoné Beez + many others. Register now. | Get vaxxed for free. With the summer surge in COVID-19 cases, now is the perfect time to protect your health with the updated vaccine. Get vaxxed now.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“In addition to giving us countless thrilling moments of athletic excellence, the Summer Games have given the DEI movement the greatest gift it could ever hope for: a picture of success that can inspire people from across the political spectrum … They represent what makes America great: individuals from diverse backgrounds, viewing their distinctive identities as sources of pride, cooperating together to achieve excellence and bring honor to their nation.” -- Eboo Patel

The power of the Gumbo spirit was on full display in Team USA at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

The most diverse women’s gymnastics team in U.S. history was the most decorated, with 10 medals total, 3 of them gold, including the coveted individual all-around.

A new initiative from the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (Boston, MA) aims to increase access to mental health services for Black men, a group often left out of behavioral healthcare.

The effort, a partnership between the Urban League and William James College, is pushing for greater access now, while also looking to expand opportunities — both for care and economic advancement — by training more Black men for jobs in the field.

“When we think about economic issues, there’s the saying, ‘health is wealth,’ and a significant part of health is mental health,” said Rahsaan Hall, President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

When the initiative was announced July 18, the Urban League launched a directory of mental health services and resources with a focus on communities of color. The initiative will also work to identify up to 10 candidates for programs at William James College.

Hard Rock Casino of Northern Indiana and The Urban League of Northwest Indiana (Gary, IN) have united to support up to 30 local high school graduates in their pursuit of earning a degree from Indiana University Northwest. Through the program, graduates of any Gary-based high school are eligible to receive a fully funded, tuition-only scholarship as they work toward earning their associate or bachelor’s degree at IU Northwest. The new Do Well by Doing Good scholarship program will begin taking applications on July 17 at 5:30 p.m. at https://ulofnwi.communityforce.com/

Approximately 6,500 people attended the Knoxville’s Area Urban League’s (Knoxville, TN) 22nd annual Shoes for School, which provides new shoes and school supplies for children and connects families with valuable community resources. A total of 1,750 pairs of shoes were distributed to students, and the organization estimates that more than 4,000 children stocked up on school supplies.

The annual celebration marks the start of the new school year; Knox County students return to classrooms on Thursday, Aug. 8. Shoes for School was supported by presenting sponsor Tennessee Valley Authority for the event, which was held inside the Jacob Building at Chilhowee Park & Exposition Center to escape the August heat after years at Caswell Park.

NEW YORK, AUSTIN & HOUSTON (August 5, 2024) – The National Urban League and its affiliates in Texas today demanded that the Texas Juvenile Justice Department take immediate action to remedy the inhumane conditions at its facilities.

“The level of abuse revealed in the U.S. Justice Department’s report goes beyond mere dereliction of duty,” National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said. “It is a violation of the most basic standards of human decency.”

Federal investigators revealed routine use of excessive force, including assault with pepper spray, dangerous restraint techniques, and isolation that lasted for weeks. The department’s negligence created what investigators called a “pervasive atmosphere of sexual abuse, grooming and lack of staff accountability and training.”