On June 10th, the National Urban League and UnidosUS crossed a milestone in their joint journey to reimagine the future of assessment and accountability systems in K-12 public schools. After four years of planning and collecting data from stakeholders, the final event, Defending the Future of Public Education: Culminating Summit of the Future of Assessment and Accountability Project, concluded with the release of a set of policy principles developed as a road map for rebuilding the education system through the lens of students, caregivers, and educators.

What felt like a victory lap for the project at the Washington, D.C. event became a call to action as speakers opened the summit, highlighting the looming threats to public education posed by the current administration.

Clean spaces bring a bright future for neighborhoods on the south side of Peoria, thanks to one program in particular.

The Tri-County Urban League (Peoria, IL) has revived their summer employment program after they previously lost it to federal funding.

This locally sponsored program is the called Tri-County Urban League Summer Youth Employment program, and it is meant to help students within the area build a better future for themselves.

Denise Jackson, a member of the Tri-County Urban League, said it is a way to help the youth in the Peoria School district.

“[We want the program to] not only employ young people during the summer, but also to teach them leadership skills, community service involvement, and to connect the young people with the educational programs,” she said.

Three days a week, students get paid $12 an hour to clean pieces of trash in neighborhoods on the south side.

The Urban League of Greater Madison (Madison, WI) will hold its 11th annual Unity Picnic on Saturday, July 26, to bring the community together over food, fun and music at the Black Business Hub.

The annual Unity Picnic has been held for over a decade now. This year it will be held roughly a month earlier than last — now back on its regular timing — as the last Unity Picnic was coupled with the grand opening of the Black Business Hub in August 2024.  

The Unity Picnic was started initially as a welcoming party for the Urban League’s current President, Dr. Ruben Anthony.

“He said, ’I’d like something that’s really community oriented and sort of grassroots focused instead of some fancy event at Monona Terrace,’” said Ed Lee, senior vice president of the Urban League of Greater Madison. “We ended up doing a community picnic and folks had such a great time. It was a nice addition to the neighborhood that it has stuck.”

The Knoxville Area Urban League or KAUL (Knoxville, TN) announced that it has named Dr. Laurie Shanderson Evans as the new President and CEO.

Evans is the founder and CEO of Accreditation Insights and is scheduled to assume leadership of KAUL on July 7. Evans has also held several senior leadership roles in higher education. 

“Dr. Shanderson Evans brings not only decades of leadership experience, but also a deep understanding of the systems that shape opportunity and equity in our communities,” said Ursula Bailey, CEO search committee chair and KAUL board-chair elect. “Her expertise and strategic vision for community-building, fundraising and development and impact-focused initiatives, coupled with her commitment to inclusion, education and empowerment, make her the right leader at the right time for the Knoxville Area Urban League.”

The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN) Board of Directors announce Dr. Reginald Smith's appointment as the organization's next president and chief executive officer, effective Aug. 11. Dr. Smith brings over 20 years of experience in education, nonprofit leadership and community development.

Dr. Smith relocated from Memphis to Chattanooga in 2004 to attend UTC, where he earned degrees in human services management and public administration. He also earned his Ph.D. in organizational leadership from Johnson University in 2024.

Dr. Smith currently serves as executive director of The Bethlehem Center. Under his leadership, the center launched new initiatives in youth development, case management, food security, resource access and services for undocumented, unaccompanied children — underscoring his deep commitment to holistic community support and equity, said officials.

The Big Ugly Bill. Congress passed a bill that eliminates needed medical and food benefits for millions of working Americans. See how it could impact you. | Greetings from NOLA! Check out scenes from the 40th Annual AMAC Airport Business Conference, where Marc H. Morial spoke about equity + leadership. | What’s your dream job? Sign up for our virtual Career & Networking Fair during #NULConf25 to connect with employers, explore job openings + more. | Coming soon. Get ready for our 2025 State of Black America® Report, which highlights the rollback of civil rights and how we're fighting back. Sign up now. | What do the numbers tell us? Dr. Bernard Anderson, our Chief Economics Advisor, shares an in-depth look at the state of the economy. Check it out. | Start shopping today. Before heading to Cleveland this summer for #NULConf25, grab your Urban League merchandise online. Check it out.

Please visit: https://stateofblackamerica.org

By Bernard E. Anderson, Ph.D.
Whitney M. Young, Jr. Professor Emeritus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania
Senior Economic Advisor, National Urban League

The July employment situation report, released a day early due to the Independence Day holiday, confirms that the U.S. labor market remains stable, though it continues to reflect signs of deceleration amid a clouded economic outlook. Unemployment remains low, and layoffs are modest, yet the momentum in hiring is slowing as businesses contend with persistent policy uncertainty and the looming expiration of a critical tariff pause.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League