Hundreds gathered Saturday (August 21st) at the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City (Oklahoma City, OK) for the opportunity to clear their criminal records at its first Expungement Expo.

Getting your record expunged is difficult and can cost around $2,500.

The Urban League and other partners are guiding people through it and covering the cost, helping them get better jobs and opportunities in the future.

On Saturday there was a ceremony for 20 people who finished the four-month process of getting their records expunged.

For some it has been a long time coming.

“It’s a game changer," said Tiffany Mason, one of the 20 who finished the process.

Mason had a minor felony on her record since 1994 and says she hasn't been in trouble since.

She says that has made it difficult to find a job.

The Las Vegas Urban League (Las Vegas, NV) received $10,000 from Enterprise Holdings Foundation to advance social and racial equity in Clark County.

The contribution is part of the Enterprise Holdings ROAD Forward commitment to allocate $35 million to more than 70 global Enterprise operating teams to drive local impact, as part of its broader commitment to donate $55 million over five years to organizations that advance social and racial equity in the communities where it operates.

The local grants program empowers employees to take the lead on identifying organizations that are best equipped to address social and racial equity gaps in their own communities across three areas: early childhood development, youth health and wellness, and career and college preparation

It’s time to march. On August 28th, we are marching virtually and in-person to end voter suppression + protect our right to vote. Join us! | Calling all young professionals! At our 2021 National Urban League Annual Conference, we curated sessions for career coaching + much more. RSVP today. | Are you vaxxed? Currently, eight states in the U.S. make up over half of the COVID-19 hospitalizations across the nation. Here’s how you can stay safe. | Cancel student loans. Proper access to higher education is a longstanding civil rights issue. Here’s an essay on how to create a more equitable society. | Our vote, our voice. Tune into the latest episode of our podcast to hear from community leaders doing critical work on the ground to protect our right to vote.

Kennedy Associates Inc. (KAI) joined the Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis (St. Louis, MO) to officially break ground on the organization’s new Senior Apartments and Community Center in North St. Louis County, Missouri.

The 3716-m2 (40,000-sf) facility will be built at 9947 West Florissant in the city of Dellwood. KAI is providing design-build services on the project.

The $10 million, three-story building will include 44 resident units (40 one-bedroom units and four two-bedroom units), including a community room on the main level for 12 to 15 people and a resident lounge with kitchenette and restrooms.

The main level will also include a private managers office, reception area, workroom, and shared access to the community room. Construction on the building is expected to be completed in December 2022.

 As students in the Tri-State return to the classroom, a local nonprofit wants to prepare them for the new school year.

On Friday (August 13th), the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio (Cincinnati, OH) is hosting a youth summit that focuses on bullying, mental health, and overcoming adversity at Woodward High School.

“I’ve seen [bullying] firsthand and I’ve dealt with it firsthand, which is why I fully agree this is something we should be talking about head-on,” one of the organizers, Mionna Godfrey, said. “We should talk about it.”

Godfrey is 15-years-old and a member of the Urban League’s Urban Champions youth employment program.

She and her peers organized the summit, which is for youth ages 10 to 21 years old.

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.