NEW YORK (March 10, 2021) -- The landmark American Rescue Plan, which will help bring the crippling COVID-19 pandemic under control and speed the nation to a fair and robust economic recovery, was dramatically enhanced by provisions the National Urban League proposed and advocated, the League's President and CEO, Marc H. Morial said today.

The National Urban League Washington Bureau is pleased to announce applications are now open for the National Urban League Congressional Advocacy Program Spring 2021 Cohort! This intensive six-month advocacy certification is open to current/ active National Urban League Young Professional, National Council of Urban League Guild, and Urban League affiliate staff members who have a serious interest in expanding their knowledge of congressional and grassroots advocacy and its application within the Urban League movement and beyond.

Application deadline: Sunday, April 4, 2021

Program dates: April 2021 - October 2021

The Columbus Urban League (Columbus, OH) has set out to help many hit hard by the pandemic over the past year.

Aside from risks involved with getting COVID-19, businesses and their employees saw finances take a tumble in 2020 and into 2021.

In a partnership with the Columbus Urban League and First Financial Bancorp, 10 grants for $2,500 are available for start-up small businesses owned by Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC.)

The money is part of the Urban League’s Minority Small Business Resiliency Initiative.

Stephanie Hightower, President and CEO of the Columbus Urban League said this money is much needed.

“COVID really illuminated disparities as it already related to black and brown folks and particularly small businesses. Because of structural racism, there hasn't been the ability for small businesses to get loans,” she said.

Schnuck Markets, Inc. and the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) announced that Schnucks customers and the company donated a total of $200,000 to support the Urban League through a recent “Round Up at the Register” campaign to celebrate Black History Month in February.

The campaign, originally scheduled to run Wednesday, February 3 - Tuesday, February 16, was extended through February 21.

Schnucks customers had the option at checkout to round up their purchases to the nearest dollar with 100 percent of donations in the St. Louis area supporting the non-profit organization’s "Save Our Sons" program, and Round Ups in Schnucks stores in other markets supporting the National Urban League.

Remembering Vernon Jordan. This week, the nation lost one of its greatest champions of racial and economic justice. More on his life and legacy. | Women are POWERFUL. On March 25th we are honoring women of color who have worked tirelessly to make our communities better. RSVP now! | The new normal. On Wednesday, Marc Morial received his first dosage of the COVID-19 vaccine from Vaccine Destination: Newark. Watch here. | One step closer. This week the House of Representatives voted to PASS the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Here’s what happens next. | Paycheck Protection Program. Check out the updates from the Biden-Harris administration regarding delivering immediate relief for small business owners. | New jobs report. Dr. Bernard Anderson, our Chief Economics Adviser, shares an in-depth look at the state of the economy. Here’s what the numbers tell us.

We Must Heed the Lessons of History to End the Current Crisis

by Bernard E. Anderson, Ph.D.

Please join the National Urban League, the Jordan family and others whose lives have been touched as we gather virtually to honor his memory.  The memorial service will stream live below beginning at 11:00AM ET March 9th.  

Below is the schedule of events:

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement regarding the passage of H.R. 1 in the House of Representatives: 

“We have watched in dismay as state lawmakers around the country responded to record turnout among voters of color with aggressive, racially-motivated restrictions on voting.  The House of Representatives admirably stood against this anti-democracy movement last night by passing a sweeping expansion of voting rights contained in the For the People Act. Now the Senate must do the same.