Devoting time on MLK Day to clean up in this historically black community.

Following Tallahassee's college students on a service day in Frenchtown and learning how this could continue past the holiday.

For the seventh year, the Tallahassee Urban League (Tallahassee, FL) held an MLK service day in Frenchtown.

"We want to do everything we can to bring about a transformation to our neighbors."

And the majority of hands working on that transformation — about 200 of Tallahassee's college students.

Chaudia Adams is a FAMU social work student and an intern at the Urban League.

She says the turnout for Monday's service day was much better than expected.

It's great for one day, but she hopes to improve the Urban League's social media presence to connect with students where they tend to live.

The Fort Wayne Urban League (Ft. Wayne, IN) announced earlier this month their partnership with “The Race Card Project”; created by journalist Michele Norris in 2010. Aisha Arrington, President & CEO of the Fort Wayne Urban League shared in a press release that over 100 community members have shared their six-word race or identity story.

Arrington said in a release, “This project provides an opportunity for us all to be a little vulnerable during Black History Month, dig a little deeper, and learn from each other. Everyone has a race story and everyone’s story matters. I believe this quote from Nelson Mandela says it perfectly: “No one is born hating another person because of the color of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”

Examples of six-word race stories the Urban League has received so far:

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“American communities, disproportionately Black and Brown, have long borne the scars of the Drug War. Extreme and racist sentences for crack cocaine offenses tore apart families. Children grew up visiting their parents behind bars. Those parents are now elders, yearning to hold their grandchildren. Justice is served by allowing these individuals to return home. Their debt to society was long ago paid.” — Kara Gotsch, Executive Director of The Sentencing Project

Chief Justice John Marshall described a presidential grant of clemency as an "act of grace."  The President's Constitutional power to grant pardons and reprieves descends from the “prerogative of mercy” of English law.

Few acts of clemency exemplify the ideals of grace and mercy more fully than President Biden's historic commutation of the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses.

Forever our icon. This weekend, we celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., whose passion for equity remains the fabric of the movement. | The threat is real. See how we plan to resist as Trump takes office on Monday, vowing to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. | The fight for diversity. With DEI policies and programs under attack, we're ready to defend diversity as a united front. Join us virtually this Wednesday! | Don’t miss the gems. Watch part one and part two of our Instagram Live for a conversation about Black men's health, self-care practices + more. | A true champion. Marc Morial gave Kristen Clarke her flowers as she winds down her tenure as Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights. See how it went. | When was your last vaccine? Staying up to date with vaccines is the best way to ensure your immune system is protected. Set your appointment now. | Your new career is one click away. Register for our FREE Black History Month Virtual Career Fair to network with recruiters and secure your next job. | Ready to save some coins? We’re taking over Cleveland, OH for #NULConf25, and you can join us for a discounted rate if you register by Jan. 31. | Turn dreams into action. As we honor Dr. King's legacy, we're collecting dreams from our community about the future of equity. Share your dream now.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

 
"A second Trump administration intends to abandon efforts to advance and legally defend affirmative action and DEI policies within military academies, federal minority contracting programs, and other federal programs shown to open opportunities – as well as create inclusive education and workplace environments – unfairly denied to people of color, women, and other marginalized groups ... A second Trump administration would not only refuse to enforce civil rights regulations on behalf of individuals from historically marginalized groups, but to actively weaken these protections in housing, education, health care, and other essential resources." — Alexis Agathocleous, Kim Conway, ReNika Moore, ACLU 

The Defender’s Winter Grocery Buyout, in partnership with Urban League of Greater Kansas City (Kansas City, MO), served the people through revolutionary mutual aid at Black-owned Sunfresh. This intervention provided direct material support to our people while disrupting the criminalizing narratives about our community.

This winter, while much of the city nestled into their holiday traditions, The Kansas City Defender team gathered at Sunfresh on 31st & Prospect – launching one of our most inspiring mutual aid initiatives yet.

Our final Grocery Buyout of 2024 was as much about providing material relief to our people, as it was about building power, communal love, and the radical act of Black people just taking care of Black people.