Born in Anchorage, Alaska, Edith Jones was raised in Kentucky and is married with two adult children. Earlier in life, she served 20 years part-time with the National Guard.

She then had a state government career before going back to school, getting her master's degree and becoming an educator. She retired from work a couple of years ago.

“What I found out along the way, is your plan for retirement, sometimes your plans don’t come out the way you want them," Jones said. "Some things happen within the family in which you may have to make some changes financially. Go into your nest egg, and before you know it, you may have to go back into the workforce. I didn’t plan to come back into the workforce, but I’m glad there’s a program like this.” 

The Second Annual Project Ready National STEAM Day will be on Friday, November 8th from 4-5pm EST. The National Urban League Education and Youth Development Team is grateful to partner with The Chicago Urban League (Chicago, IL), The Urban League of Louisiana (New Orleans, LA), The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN), The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle, WA), The Quad County Urban League (Aurora, IL) and COX Enterprises to present this engaging online event. 

To register for the Zoom event, please scan the QR code in the invitation below or click on this link. 

We Want to Hear from You!

Please complete this survey to let us know how your organization and community engages in climate resiliency work, and how the National Urban League can best support your efforts.

The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund (GGRF) is a product of the Inflation Reduction Act, and a once-in-a-generation program that will invest $27 billion to address the climate crisis, generate economic development, and support communities most affected by climate change.  Now is the time for communities of color to access these transformative funds for our communities.

We demand accountability. See how the recent defamation lawsuit against Trump may finally bring accountability for his lies about The Exonerated Five. | Will you vote early? In many states, you can skip the lines on Election Day by voting early. Find out the options offered in your area. | The Motor City votes! Early voting is underway in Michigan, where Marc Morial spent time educating and engaging voters this week & alongside Rev. Al Sharpton, 2 of the Exonerated 5, and other powerful leaders. | You’re invited. The Equal Opportunity Dinner is back! Grab your favorite sneakers and join us on November 12 in NYC. Get your ticket now. | Get your voting plan ready. Election Day is less than 10 days away, and here are some reasons why you should #ReclaimYourVote. Take a look. | We love to see it! See how young leaders from the Urban League of Rochester made headlines with an innovative AI solution for online safety + inclusivity. | Level up your skillset. Register for our FREE webinar on Wednesday for tips to enhance your professional communication skills for career success.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“Starting when I was 15, my life was not my own. For years, I had no control over what happened to me. Being in the spotlight makes me wary and self-conscious again. I am overwhelmed with fear that an overzealous Trump supporter might take matters into his or her hands. Doing something simple like picking up dinner for the family or going to the aquarium now fills me with dread. I’m constantly looking over my shoulder, keeping an eye out for people who stare too long. Like a soldier always on high alert, I can never enjoy myself fully, with all the adrenaline that comes with that. It’s a scary feeling.” -- Yusef Salaam

Matias Reyes violently raped a 28-year-old woman who was jogging in Central Park on April 19, 1989.  He beat her so badly she remained in a coma for 12 days.

Listen as Khalil Thompson, Executive Director of Win With Black Men, discusses key issues Black men are prioritizing in this election.

This week, we visited the cradle of the civil rights movement to discuss what’s at stake in the upcoming election. Read more.

The Austin Area Urban League (Austin, TX) is hosting the 3rd annual HBCU Basketball Classic on November 8th and 9th at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, Texas. This year’s HBCU Basketball Classic has partnered with HBCU+ to stream the event on its platform. Highlights of this year’s classic include the Conference Challenge and the Battle of the Border.

In the Conference Challenge, teams from the Red River Athletic Conference will face off in a fierce battle on the court. HBCUs Huston-Tillotson University Men & Women, Jarvis Christian University, and Paul Quinn College will go against the newly added HBCU Athletic Conference teams, including Wiley University and Philander Smith University.