KNOXVILLE – This past Saturday, August 6th, the Knoxville Area Urban League (Knoxville, TN) held their annual “Shoes for School” event.

The event, celebrating its 20th anniversary, had an estimated 6,000 attendees, with over 1,700 pairs of shoes given out to students, along with around 3,000 who picked up school supplies for the upcoming school year.

President and CEO of the Urban League, Phyllis Young Nichols, said, “A new pair of shoes and school supplies excite children and inspire them to be more confident and successful in the classroom. The Knoxville Area Urban League is proud to put smiles on the faces of deserving students for 20 years and counting.”

Honoring a legend. The world stood still this week with the loss of 12-time NBA All-star + civil rights advocate Bill Russell. Read more on his legacy. | Relive the moment! Did you know you can watch some of the sessions from NULCONF22 online? Take a look. | Take a stand against COVID-19. It’s time to prioritize your health and ensure you’re vaxxed + boosted. Here’s how. | We love to see it! Read more on how Black businesses are expanding across the nation with a 103% increase compared to 2019. | Your mental health matters! Watch as we dive into strategies to ensure our communities have the necessary access for sustainability + wellness. | #SayHerName. This week the Department of Justice charged four Louisville police officers connected with the death of Breonna Taylor. Read more. | August is Make-A-Will Month! The time is now to make your mark and leave a lasting legacy for your loved ones. Learn more. | What do the numbers tell us? Dr. Bernard Anderson, our Chief Economics Adviser, shares an in-depth look at the state of the economy. Check it out.

“Racism cannot just be shaken out of the fabric of society because, like dust from a rug, it dissipates into the air for a bit and then settles right back where it was, growing thicker with time. Police reform is a start, but it is not enough. We need to dismantle broken systems and start over. We need to make our voices heard, through multiple organizations, using many different tactics. We need to demand that America gets a new rug.” – Bill Russell 

By Bernard E. Anderson, Ph.D
Senior Economic Advisor National Urban League
Whitney M. Young, Jr., Professor Emeritus, The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

The National Urban League, joined by UnidosUS, National Action Network, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights have sent a letter asking that the proposal to close the coverage gap using ACA tax credits put forth by Senators Warnock, Baldwin, and Ossoff be included in the reconciliation package. While there is great policy in the deal that we support – including the provisions on climate change and energy security, Affordable Care Act (ACA) extensions and prescription drug pricing reform, and equitable revenue raisers, it is also imperative that Congress use this bill as an opportunity to finish the job of the ACA and provide health care to people in the Medicaid coverage gap, 60% of whom are people of color.  

Download the letter

The National Urban League, joined by UnidosUS, National Action Network, and The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights have sent a letter asking that the proposal to close the coverage gap using ACA tax credits put forth by Senators Warnock, Baldwin, and Ossoff be included in the reconciliation package. While there is great policy in the deal that we support – including the provisions on climate change and energy security, Affordable Care Act (ACA) extensions and prescription drug pricing reform, and equitable revenue raisers, it is also imperative that Congress use this bill as an opportunity to finish the job of the ACA and provide health care to people in the Medicaid coverage gap, 60% of whom are people of color.  

Download the letter