Pittsburgh’s Black community had its stars out on Tuesday night, Sept. 23.

From the 10th floor of 912 Fort Duquesne Blvd., Downtown, the new headquarters of The Pittsburgh Foundation, with windows clearly showing the scenery of the North Shore, PNC Park and the Rachel Carson Bridge, about 200 people attended the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh’s (Pittsburgh, PA) annual event, the “State of Black Pittsburgh.”

As interim President and CEO of the Urban League, Esther Bush, told the New Pittsburgh Courier on this evening, the event “is important so we can exchange information and ideas out loud and not be afraid of it. All these powerful Black folks in the audience, and what they have to share.”

115 years of progress! See how we’ve been the boots on the ground fighting to Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity, and Defeat Poverty for over a century. | No room for complacency. See how the Trump Administration’s assault on fair housing protections is a deliberate step backward in the fight for racial equity. | CBFC week! The Annual Legislative Conference exemplifies Black excellence, power & possibility. Watch as Marc H. Morial shares ways to meet this moment. | Remember home phones? Technologies may evolve, but the phone numbers that hold those memories don’t have to. Share your favorite story with AT&T! | Training the youth. Our Urban Youth Pathways Program provides young adults with career exploration, training, and supportive services. See more. | Need help negotiating? Kick off the month of October with us at our FREE webinar for tips on how to negotiate with confidence. Sign up now. | From barriers to breakthroughs. See how our Growth Opportunities Program supports justice-involved youth with expungement, violence prevention & more. | The countdown is on! Apply to our Congressional Advocacy Program by this Monday, September 29 for the opportunity to learn about all things policy. | Build your future. Read more about our partnership with TradeFutures, which helps underrepresented communities access jobs in the construction industry. | What’s on your wishlist? Elevate your wardrobe by grabbing official Urban League merchandise from our online marketplace. Check it out.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“Every way that someone could come to us and get help for free and see that someone is speaking with the voice of the American people and with the government, all of that is being dismantled ... when people lose that, they’re losing something fundamental to the American dream, to the economy, to their lives. And it has a real, concrete impact.” — HUD whistleblower Paul Osadebe

The Trump Administration’s latest assault on fair housing protections is more than a technical rollback. It is a deliberate step backward in the long fight for racial equity and opportunity. By stripping resources from HUD’s fair housing division, slowing investigations, and easing the burden on cities and landlords, this administration is sending a clear signal: the federal government will no longer stand firmly on the side of justice in housing.

Memphis leaders are calling for a citywide prayer for peace. 

The Memphis Urban League or MUL (Memphis, TN) launched a citywide initiative called "Pause for Peace."  

It is a unified pause at 9:01 a.m. and 9:01 p.m. 

"Memphis has always found strength in moments when we breathe and act together,” said Gale Jones Carson, President and CEO of the Memphis Urban League. “At 9:01—a number that is distinctly Memphis—we are asking our entire community to pause, focus on peace, and recommit to caring for one another." 

Leaders are calling for all residents, city leaders and religious leaders to take a moment at those times to focus on peace, and recommit to caring for one another. 

It is a 90-day initiative runs from now until December 16. 

To read the full story, click here.

Thanks to the Tallahassee Urban League (Tallahassee, FL), the FAMU Federal Credit Union and Tallahassee's Loews stores, about a dozen low-income seniors are getting the latest energy-efficient appliances.

One of the delighted recipients was Delois Hollinger.

"Oh, my goodness! I'm getting a refrigerator and a stove! Oh, my, I needed it so badly; I'm SO happy!!!" she exclaimed.

The FAMU Federal Credit Union purchased the appliances from Loews, which Credit Union Board Chair Lorenzo Alexander said provided a significant discount.

"From $14,000 to $8,000 was a big, big difference."

Urban League President and CEO, Curtis Taylor said several of the households have been without working stoves or refrigerators for some time. Event organizers say the new appliances will be delivered in the next week or so.

Ever wonder where that perfect glass of wine comes from – or what led that bottle of Riesling to appear on your grocery store shelf? Odds are, a local distributor is behind it.

Pinnacle Imports, with locations in St. Louis and Kansas City, is one such distributor. Founded by siblings and St. Louis natives Bill and Elizabeth Kniep, the brand has been a fixture in the city’s hospitality industry for more than 20 years, sharing its passion for wine through both education and supply to local restaurants and shops. When the May 16 tornado ravaged the city, Pinnacle decided to give back by partnering with the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (St. Louis, MO) – an organization that has served St. Louis for 107 years.

Community members gathered Wednesday night (September 17th) at Strikers Youth Arts Project for a forum on gun violence, hosted by the Tallahassee Urban League (Tallahassee, FL) and the Leon County Council on the Status of Men and Boys.

Community leaders say a conversation like this is the first step to making our neighborhoods safer.

"The goal of Leon County Sheriff's Office and every law enforcement agency is to reduce gun violence, but we reduce it with education," said Deputy Paxton Rogers.

At Strikers Youth Arts Project, college students, community leaders, and neighbors of all ages gathered for an open discussion about gun violence and what can be done to create change.

Tallahassee Urban League President Curtis Taylor says the goal is to move past the headlines and toward real solutions.

He said, "We will have a dialogue about how to come up with ways to combat this senseless gun violence and crimes in our communities."

A local community leader is among those appointed to serve on Gov. Josh Shapiro’s Advisory Commission on African American Affairs.

Dr. Erin Houston, President and CEO of the Shenango Valley Urban League (Farrell, PA), was among 27 people appointed to the commission’s 2025-27 advisory board, according to a press release issued Monday by the governor’s press office.

Houston said she was honored to serve in this capacity for the commission.

“I appreciate and do not take lightly the responsibility for serving on a commission such as this,” Houston said.

According to the press release, the commission’s purpose is to:

•Gather information regarding African American Pennsylvanians’ experiences and needs.

•Review, evaluate and assess programs affecting them.