Nation’s Most Influential Activists, Elected Officials, Artists and Business Leaders Come Together for An Intense Schedule of Dynamic Dialogue, Advocacy, Networking, and Entertainment

NEW YORK (September 21, 2021) – As the nation struggles to emerge from the triple pandemics of COVID-19, systemic racism and economic turmoil, the National Urban League’s first all-virtual Conference will focus on eliminating disparities and expanding opportunity.

Washington, D.C. (September 21, 2021) –National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to the Department of Justice’s new policy limits on chokeholds and no-knock entries:

“Last week, the Department of Justice took an important and necessary step to mitigate the alarming use of police tactics that have resulted in unnecessary deaths, especially within Black and Brown communities. For far too long, the law enforcement community has allowed a minority of officers to cause inexplicable tragedies and atrocities in communities they police with little to no accountability.

 A total of $100,000 dollars is how much the Regions Foundation is giving in grants to support homeownership in the Hyde Park neighborhood.

“Affordable housing and living the American dream through homeownership is one of the core fundamental principles of the Urban League’s creation 111 years ago. and to this very day. And so part of this is not just homeownership but also helping people stay in housing,” said Michael McMillan, President, and CEO of Urban League Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO).

“This is what we have to do in every part of our community, and that’s rebuild it and re-invest in our community,” Sen. Karla May, (D) Missouri, said.

The two-bedroom, two-story home is ready for purchase.

“The focus that the foundation has is to build stronger, inclusive communities,” said Scott Hartwig, market executive for Regions Bank St. Louis.

The Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) and the Regional Business Council  banded together with community partners and volunteers for a "Clean Sweep" in Walnut Park. 

The group tore down abandoned buildings and cleaned up the community in an effort to prevent crime and promote strong family values. 

"People really want to be involved. People want to see their communities built back up, Cornell "Niddy" Thirdkill, a volunteer said. "They don't want to see it trashed, if you get people engaged they will participate."

Thirdkill wants to help usher in a new era in the community. 

"If nobody does this it will continue to get worse," Spencer Cole, a young volunteer said. "I appreciate it and I'm happy to be here."

The next generation gets it. Spencer and his friends know the importance of their hard work. 

The New York Urban League or NYUL (New York, NY) and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) are pleased to partner with Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin to host a Back-to-School event in support of the September 11th National Day of Service.   This event is generously supported by partners Spectrum, Enterprise, Macy’s and Alpha Phi Alpha Harlem Chapter.  The Back-to-School event will support elementary and middle public school students in District 5 schools in Harlem.  The event is free to the public and will be held at P.S. 175, 175 West 134th Street from 12-3pm. 

For our first-ever Virtual Summit, it is our commitment through our 2021 theme Resiliency for Me! to fuel youth participants with new insights, refreshed inspiration, and effective techniques to be able to feel more emotionally resilient.  

As the 2021 National Urban League Youth Council made clear, America is at a point of division on several levels - as such, the 2021 Summit is an especially unique opportunity for our youth to begin to feel the hope and encouragement needed to bridge these divides.  Thus, through the conversations and spaces they will encounter on September 25th, it is our intention to empower and strengthen our Urban League youth to be better equipped to face significant adversities that could greatly impact their development.

To register and learn more about the virtual event, click here

 One of the region's top manufacturing companies on Wednesday put hiring efforts on the fast track.

The Fort Wayne General Motors Truck Assembly Plant conducted a job fair at the Fort Wayne Urban League offices (Ft. Wayne, IN), offering, in some cases, on the spot hiring for 200 job openings.

Employers across the country have been scrambling for months to find workers in a lingering labor shortage.

Officials with GM say the job fair attracted a good turn-out of job seekers, around 75 in the first two hours alone.

The extra $300.00 a week in checks delivered to Hoosiers receiving enhanced unemployment benefits during the pandemic will be getting cut-off no later than mid-September.

A recent appeals court ruling allows Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to end the federal payments after providing a 30-day notice.

We wait to see if that forces some people collecting that extra cash to get more serious about finding work now.

Saluting Latinx heritage. From now through October 15, we’re celebrating our Hispanic/Latinx brothers + sisters and their influences to our culture. | Responding to Hurricane Ida. Here are guidelines we recommend to help avoid inequitable recovery for Black families after a disaster. | It’s almost here! We have four phenomenal days curated just for you + it’s all FREE. The only way to access it is by registering. RSVP now. | How to stay safe. You may have a lot of questions and we can give you the facts. Here’s what you need to know about the COVID-19 vaccines. | Your vote matters. Marc H. Morial sits down with Brittany Packnett Cunningham for a convo on #NationalBlackVoterDay + much more. Watch now. | A word from our Prez. Black communities have been in a battle with three pandemics over the last year. Marc H. Morial breaks it down in this essay. | Our youth spoke, we listened. On September 25, join us for the first-ever FREE live Youth Leadership Summit. Register today!

20 years later. Today, we honor the people we lost and the countless lives impacted by the tragic attacks of September 11, 2001. We will never forget. | Remembering Michael K. Williams. We not only lost a giant in storytelling but also in the fight for equity. Here's how we can honor Williams' legacy. | It’s FREE. You heard us correctly, this year’s Conference is free and you can curate your own schedule. The only way to experience it all is to register. | Reclaim Your Vote! Last year, we launched the first-ever National Black Voter Day and this year, we’re doing it even bigger. Stay tuned.Your safety matters. In-person activities are becoming the norm again, but protecting yourself against COVID-19 should still be top of mind. Here are tips. | New episode. Over a week has passed since Hurricane Ida hit areas of Louisiana, Mississippi, New York + New Jersey. Tune in for how we can rebuild. | Secure the bag. Aspiring entrepreneurs, tap into our webinar on Sept. 15th to catch gems on how to leverage resources to finance your business.