BUFFALO – National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial had a message for the residents of Buffalo this past weekend.

“We will not forget Buffalo.”

Standing in front of the Jefferson Avenue Tops Market where the tragedy occurred, Morial stood with Buffalo’s Black leaders, and other political leaders, as he spoke about the shooting and the need for action.

In his speech, Morial spoke about not only the need for tougher gun laws, but also a call for action to end systemic racism.

SEATTLE – In an effort to assist Black-owned businesses, The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle, WA) has partnered with the newspaper the Seattle Medium to bring back the 25 Alive Campaign.

The first initial run of the campaign came when businesses across the country were being shut down temporarily due to the pandemic. These shutdowns hit businesses hard, especially Black-owned businesses that may not have survived without the campaign’s initial run.

The main goal of the 25 Alive Campaign was to have people spend $25 a week at a Black-owned business.

KANSAS CITY – Gwen Grant, President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Kansas City (Kansas City, MO), is fighting for the taxpayers of Kansas City.

In a lawsuit filed by Grant on behalf of the city’s taxpayers, she is claiming that the Board of Police Commissioners system is “Taxation without Representation,” which violates the state’s Hancock’s Amendment.

The Kansas City police are overseen by a five-member board of commissioners. The state governor appoints four of the five members, with the fifth chosen by the mayor of Kansas City. No other major city in the country operates in this fashion.

HARTFORD – The Urban League of Greater Hartford (Hartford, CT) can count themselves seventeen thousand dollars richer today.

On Tuesday, May 31st, the Goodwill of Western and Northern Connecticut announced that they had raised over $17k to benefit the Urban League via their 2022 Goodwill Give Back program. The Goodwill Give Back program is an initiative in which Goodwill partners with organizations that adhere to their mission to help people get ahead economically, via new jobs and career advancement. It is now in its second year.

With the Urban League’s mission to close the equality gap in various areas of life, it aligned well with Goodwill’s Give Back mission statement.

MADISON – The Urban League of Greater Madison’s Black Business Hub may have found a new home.

Dane County is set to approve a $2 million purchase of a portion of a building on South Park Street. They then will lease it back to the Urban League of Greater Madison (Madison, WI) to support their Black Business Hub.

According to Dane County Executive Joe Parisi, they are pleased with this partnership.

It's a celebration! We affirm LGBTQ communities and stand for full rights & freedoms. Find resources via our partner, the National Black Justice Coalition. | We haven't forgotten Buffalo. The white supremacist attack against Black victims makes clear the crisis of racism & poverty that fueled it. It's time to act. | Don't take your safety for granted. If you've already caught COVID-19 once, it's possible to catch it again. Take steps now to minimize that chance. | Congrats, grads! Our President & CEO Marc H. Morial delivered the commencement address at Morris College. See how he inspired the graduates. | Starting this Tuesday! Meet us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or NUL.org and add your voice to a range of policy topics like student loans and Black health. | Do you qualify? The FCC’s Affordable Connectivity Program will provide eligible families with a discount on broadband services and technology devices. | Meet us in D.C. We're just a month and some change away from an epic experience that's sure to be the highlight of your summer. Register today! | How's the economy doing? Dr. Bernard Anderson, our Chief Economics Adviser, shares an in-depth look at the state of the economy. Check it out.

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

With 390,000 jobs added in May, the latest Jobs Report reflects a “Goldilocks” labor market; not too hot, not too cool.   

The economy is humming along at a moderate pace driven by high consumer demand… however, if trends continue in the direction reflected in the May report, and there is little relief from supply chain bottlenecks, it’s likely that additional Fed interest rate increases will spark a mini recession in 2023.  

The U.S. has never had a situation in which inflation exceeded 4%, the unemployment rate was less than 4%, and the Federal Reserve raised interest rates without sparking a recession.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“Racism [in Buffalo] there comes not only in the form of a teen-age white supremacist murdering Black people at a grocery store. It is also evident in the policies that encourage disinvestment from public schools attended by Black students, in the annual failure to develop affordable-housing policies, and in the continued use of fees and fines that disproportionately impact Black residents.” Princeton Professor of African American Studies Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor

Before the nation could fully process the horror of the May 14 mass murder at a Buffalo supermarket, we were battered with the heartbreak of another, even deadlier attack at an elementary school Texas.