All across the Midlands there are children going back to school without any supplies, whether it’s due to family finances or the hardships from the pandemic.

So, on Friday (August 13th), the Columbia Urban League (Columbia, SC) decided to step in and help by giving out free bookbags full of school supplies.

“I just had knee surgery, so I hadn't been able to hobble around in the stores good enough to get things for my children,” said Lasonya McMath who received supplies. “This is more helpful for me.”

The organization gave out more than 300 bags that were donated by Absolute Total Care and Walmart.

"You have people trying to balance everything and I think this giveaway for bookbags provides a great opportunity to help them with some of the finances and expenditures that they have to provide with going back to school,” said President and CEO of Columbia Urban League, JT McLawhorn.

The Knoxville Area Urban League (Knoxville, TN) and Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN) will soon begin a joint session of NextLevel, a business development program offered through a partnership between the Tennessee Valley Authority, Interise and Tennessee Urban League Affiliates. The purpose of the seven-month program, scheduled to start August 18, is to support established small business owners who wish to create a dynamic plan to grow his or her business.

“NextLevel is an impactful program that utilizes research-driven business development tools and local collaboration with industry professionals to help business owners build a strategic roadmap to business growth and success,” said Phyllis Y. Nichols, President and CEO of the Knoxville Area Urban League. “We deeply appreciate our community partners, Tennessee Valley Authority and Interise, for their commitment to entrepreneurs who are ready to take their next steps forward.”

Remembering Richard Trumka. Last week, the nation lost one of its greatest champions for racial and economic justice. Here’s more on Trumka’s legacy. | School’s back in session. Here’s what you can do to be proactive in our fight against COIVD-19 + protect your kids this school year. | Anti-voting laws. Here’s an essay that breaks down how lawmakers are fighting to ensure last year’s historic voter turnout never happens again. | Reserve your seat. The National Urban League Annual Conference is back and better than ever! Register now to join us for FREE on September 28-October 1. | Protect the Black vote. Our voting rights are under attack and Texas State Representatives Jarvis Johnson and Sheryl Cole are fighting against it. Tune in. | Child Tax Credit. Did you know that eligible working families can receive $3,000-$3,600 per child as part of the American Rescue Plan? Find out more. | The Side Hustle Generation. Working a 9-5 and a side hustle has become the new norm. Join us on August 18th to explore best practices to balance both.

Washington, D.C. (August 11, 2021) – Marc H. Morial, President, and CEO of the National Urban League, issued the following statement after the Senate passed its budget resolution, S.Con.Res. 14, by a vote of 50-49 this morning:  

“We are pleased that the Senate adopted a budget resolution, which realizes the vision of President Biden’s landmark American Families Plan. This will provide much-needed investments in American workers, families, and communities. Recognizing that infrastructure means more than bridges and roads, it also means affordable housing, broadband, access to healthcare, and investments in our human infrastructure such as paid leave, childcare, and universal pre-K.  

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“There’s no evil that’s inflicted more pain and more suffering than racism, and it’s something we in the labor movement have a special responsibility to challenge. It’s our special responsibility because we know, better than anyone else, how racism is used to divide working people.”  -- Richard Trumka

As the leader of a movement whose history is fraught with racial conflict, Richard Trumka was fiercely anti-racist.

Early in his presidency of the United Mine Workers of America, Trumka established a solidarity program with Black mineworkers living under the brutal apartheid regime in South Africa.

Then in his early 30s, Trumka rallied support for a boycott of Royal Dutch Shell, a major investor in South African industries, stressing the need for American unions to join the struggle.

19 states currently have special laws called “Law Enforcement Officers Bill of Rights” (LEOBR) laws. The laws vary from state to state, but most give special rights to police officers that ordinary people do not get and prevents communities from investigating misconduct that could lead to discipline. These special rights include protections during the investigation of misconduct (including procedural privileges like allowing delays before questioning an officer about misconduct), limits on what discipline can be imposed for certain misconduct, and expungement of disciplinary records.

Maryland was the first state to enact a state LEOBR law, and in April 2021, it became the first state to repeal the law. Maryland’s repeal has called attention to the issue and served as an inspiration to others around the country.