In November, the economy generated 245,000 jobs; the unemployment rate edged down to 6.7 percent. The economy is slowly pulling out of the deep hole it fell into when the coronavirus struck in the first quarter.

Gross domestic product (GDP) increased strongly in the third quarter as more businesses reopened, lockdowns eased, and some schools reopened. But when the Fall season arrived, and the flu threat returned, the virus surged throughout the country. Social distancing restrictions were reintroduced, limiting in-store service in bars, restaurants, and other businesses, reducing revenue.

Concerned that America is currently ill-prepared and ill-equipped to deliver any of the COVID-19 vaccines to Black communities, Black leaders today announced the creation of a task force in New York to both ensure the vaccine is readily accessible to Black New Yorkers and address concerns in Black communities about the safety and efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccine. 

Black Voters Matter partnered with the Urban League of Greater Columbus (Columbus, GA) and Metropolitan Baptist Church to host a Thanksgiving food drive-thru giveaway Tuesday all while reminding residents to vote.

Families were given a free box filled with items for a full Thanksgiving dinner, including a turkey or ham. The event took place at Metropolitan Baptist Church.

The organization said this was one way to thank residents and give back for all they do.

“We wanted to be able to give back to the community,” said Susan Cooper, CEO of the Urban League of Greater Columbus. “We just want to say thanks in giving back to the community because we know that right now during COVID-19, people are struggling.”

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Nextep Founder and CEO Brian Fayak announced the Nextep Charitable Foundation would be donating $50,000 to local organizations supporting the Black community. Through this initiative, the Nextep Charitable Foundation is donating $10,000 to five nonprofits to further the impact each organization is making and create awareness around the work they’re doing in the community.

The Nextep Charitable Foundation is thrilled to announce that one of these $10,000 donations is going to the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City (Oklahoma City, OK). 

Nextep Charitable Foundation’s $10,000 donation will go directly toward the “Real Talk, Brother” initiative, which aims to support Black men and boys with mental health conditions. Through this program, licensed mental health professionals train local barbers to become mental health advocates for their clients, so they can identify and find support for those struggling. 

The Chicago Urban League (Chicago, IL) is promoting the idea of patronizing Black-owned business on Black Friday.

The day after Thanksgiving is often called Black Friday, and an occasion for big sales. This year, the city of Chicago, the Chicago Urban League and a local advertising agency have christened it "Black Shop Friday”— a campaign that encourages people to buy from African-American businesses.

“We believe that this campaign will really provide a global education to folks in the Black community to people in the larger community,” Chicago Urban League President Karen Freeman-Wilson tells WBBM Newsradio Political Editor Craig Dellimore.

Starting Tuesday Nov. 24, the website BlackShopFriday.com will have information about more than 500 black-owned business eager for new customers.