NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE DEMANDS END TO SHUTDOWN THAT THREATENS AMERICANS AND DEMOCRACY

WASHINGTON, D.C. (October 1, 2025) — As the federal government shuts down, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued a grave warning about the destructive impact on Black, Brown, and working-class Americans and on the stability of our democracy itself.

“This shutdown is not a budget dispute. It is a direct attack on families, workers, and the institutions that safeguard our freedom,” Morial said. “The reckless refusal to govern threatens the very foundation of American life.”

Second chances don’t come often, but on Monday night, four Wichita teenagers were celebrating new beginnings.

They’ve completed the One Heart Project, a program that provides young people in the juvenile justice system with the tools to change their lives. The program is a first of its kind in Wichita. 

At the Urban League of Kansas (Wichita, KS), the four teens received their certifications, not just as graduates, but as proof that transformation is possible.

The One Heart Project partners with Sedgwick County Juvenile Justice to help young people rebuild their futures like Chyna’s.

“Like I would be at home and one of the words that we would learn was like ‘accountability,’ and I would just go home and basically like tell my mom like, ‘I’m taking accountability for stuff now,'” Chyna said.

The program teaches life skills, job readiness, and re-entry support.

The Louisville Urban League (Louisville, KY) received a significant donation Monday to help bridge the digital divide.

Spectrum awarded a $40,000 grant to the Urban League.

That money will support the league's senior jobs program.

The program offers technology and digital literacy training to provide participants with the skills to re-enter the modern workforce.

"We are living in difficult times, very challenging times, and particularly challenging times for our senior population," said Lyndon Pryor, president and chief engagement officer at Louisville Urban League. "There are a lot of things that are happening that are going to impact your ability to live, work, and thrive. But it is because of programs like this that we're able to help to continue to support that population and those demographics."

In the past seven years, Spectrum has awarded the Urban League with $245,000 in grants.

On behalf of The National Urban League, I am excited to invite you and your members to join us for our Civic Engagement Summit, State of Emergency: The Future of Civic Power on Saturday, October 4, from 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM. 

As current and future leaders, your participation will be invaluable as we come together to discuss proven strategies for civic engagement and explore how to strengthen our collective civic power.

This is a space created by and for young people,  a chance to connect with peers, hear from inspiring speakers, and leave with tools you can put into action right away. Whether you’re passionate about making change in your community or across the country, this summit is designed to fuel your leadership journey. 

Pittsburgh’s Black community had its stars out on Tuesday night, Sept. 23.

From the 10th floor of 912 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown, the new headquarters of The Pittsburgh Foundation, with windows clearly showing the scenery of the North Shore, PNC Park and the Rachel Carson Bridge, about 200 people attended the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s (Pittsburgh, PA) annual event, the “State of Black Pittsburgh.”

As interim President and CEO of the Urban League, Esther Bush, told the New Pittsburgh Courier on this evening, the event “is important so we can exchange information and ideas out loud and not be afraid of it. All these powerful Black folks in the audience, and what they have to share.”

115 years of progress! See how we’ve been the boots on the ground fighting to Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity, and Defeat Poverty for over a century. | No room for complacency. See how the Trump Administration’s assault on fair housing protections is a deliberate step backward in the fight for racial equity. | CBFC week! The Annual Legislative Conference exemplifies Black excellence, power & possibility. Watch as Marc H. Morial shares ways to meet this moment. | Remember home phones? Technologies may evolve, but the phone numbers that hold those memories don’t have to. Share your favorite story with AT&T! | Training the youth. Our Urban Youth Pathways Program provides young adults with career exploration, training, and supportive services. See more. | Need help negotiating? Kick off the month of October with us at our FREE webinar for tips on how to negotiate with confidence. Sign up now. | From barriers to breakthroughs. See how our Growth Opportunities Program supports justice-involved youth with expungement, violence prevention & more. | The countdown is on! Apply to our Congressional Advocacy Program by this Monday, September 29 for the opportunity to learn about all things policy. | Build your future. Read more about our partnership with TradeFutures, which helps underrepresented communities access jobs in the construction industry. | What’s on your wishlist? Elevate your wardrobe by grabbing official Urban League merchandise from our online marketplace. Check it out.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“Every way that someone could come to us and get help for free and see that someone is speaking with the voice of the American people and with the government, all of that is being dismantled ... when people lose that, they’re losing something fundamental to the American dream, to the economy, to their lives. And it has a real, concrete impact.” — HUD whistleblower Paul Osadebe

The Trump Administration’s latest assault on fair housing protections is more than a technical rollback. It is a deliberate step backward in the long fight for racial equity and opportunity. By stripping resources from HUD’s fair housing division, slowing investigations, and easing the burden on cities and landlords, this administration is sending a clear signal: the federal government will no longer stand firmly on the side of justice in housing.

Memphis leaders are calling for a citywide prayer for peace. 

The Memphis Urban League or MUL (Memphis, TN) launched a citywide initiative called "Pause for Peace."  

It is a unified pause at 9:01 a.m. and 9:01 p.m. 

"Memphis has always found strength in moments when we breathe and act together,” said Gale Jones Carson, President and CEO of the Memphis Urban League. “At 9:01—a number that is distinctly Memphis—we are asking our entire community to pause, focus on peace, and recommit to caring for one another." 

Leaders are calling for all residents, city leaders and religious leaders to take a moment at those times to focus on peace, and recommit to caring for one another. 

It is a 90-day initiative runs from now until December 16. 

To read the full story, click here.