Following a successful first year, in which 31 Hartford businesses each received a $2,500 grant, year two will introduce expanded grant amounts of $2,500 to $5,000, along with new dedicated staff to strengthen outreach, technical assistance, and program coordination. A total of more than $370,000 will be invested this year to help Hartford residents start, stabilize, or strengthen their dream of entrepreneurship and increase business activity within local neighborhood to create jobs, build capacity, and attract future investments.

On a picture-perfect summer day, hundreds of children and their parents attended an event in District Heights, Md., on Saturday, Aug. 23, which helped families gear up for the return of classes with free school supplies, health screenings and vaccines and food and entertainment for all.

The event, the 13th Annual Back 2 School Health and Wellness Festival, was co-sponsored by the Greater Washington Urban League or GWUL (Washington, D.C.) and Second Baptist Church Southwest, and was held in the church’s spacious parking lot. 

George H. Lambert Jr., President and CEO, GWUL, spoke with the AFRO prior to a ribbon cutting ceremony which kicked off the day, and reflected on how much the event has grown over the past 13 years. 

Calling all Changemakers!

The National Urban League Congressional Advocacy Program is back, and we're looking for the next cohort of activists + leaders! Our annual virtual certification program is designed for members of the Urban League Movement, this includes national staff, affiliate CEOs and their staff, as well as auxiliary members. During the six-month program, participants will expand their knowledge of congressional and grassroots engagement, and get an opportunity to network with policymakers, thought leaders, and political influencers.

Apply by September 29th and share with your networks!  Apply Here

For more information, please contact Toni Wiley, Senior Director of Congressional Advocacy at awiley@nul.org. 

By: Aisha R. Arrington

President and CEO, Fort Wayne Urban League

Harlem, we're home! Our new Urban League Empowerment Center is now open, featuring our headquarters, retail stores, and more. See more. | Protect our votes. See how Louisiana’s attack on voting rights deepens the assault on Black political power and America’s civil rights state of emergency. | Own your power. Marc H. Morial spoke at the Third Statewide Meeting for the Black Agenda about voter suppression vs. voter self-suppression. Learn more. | Applications are now open! The Congressional Advocacy Program is curated for changemakers who want to learn about grassroots engagement + more. | Leading the next generation. See how Melina Morgan's dedication to the Austin Area Urban League’s G.I.R.L. program has impacted her community. | Your front-row seat to inspiration. Secure your FREE spot for the virtual #NULConf25 experience to tap into sessions on entrepreneurship + more. | 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. | Carry the movement with you. Elevate your style with Urban League essentials and statement pieces designed to inspire change. Shop now.

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 August employment report paints a picture of an economy that continues to grow, but at a slower and more uneven pace. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, total employment rose by just 22,000 jobs in July, a sharp decline from earlier months and a clear sign that the labor market is losing steam. The unemployment rate increased to 4.3 percent, up one-tenth of a percentage point from July, marking the highest level this year.

The National Urban League Washington Bureau is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the 2025-2026 Cohort of the NUL Congressional Advocacy Program!

The Congressional Advocacy Program is a competitive program that gives movement leaders the opportunity to expand their knowledge of congressional and grassroots engagement and network with policymakers, thought leaders, and political influencers, while developing core leadership competencies to become effective catalysts for change in their communities and respective professions.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

"The images are just burned into people's minds and hearts and souls about what those days and weeks looked like with the city underwater. The thousands of people that were stranded at the Superdome − I mean, that was a catastrophe and a real failure of the local, state and federal government." – former Sen. Mary Landrieu

The images of desperate New Orleanians stranded on rooftops, sweltering in overcrowded shelters, floating on makeshift rafts, shocked and horrified Americans when Hurricane Katrina struck.

A greater horror lurked behind the images, one that was many decades in the making.