Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“Now is when the real work begins. The hard work. The necessary work. The good work. The essential work to save lives and beat this pandemic. To rebuild our economy so it works for working people. To root out systemic racism in our justice system and society. To combat the climate crisis. To unite our country and heal the soul of our nation. The road ahead will not be easy. But America is ready. And so are Joe and I.” – Vice President-elect Kamala Harris

The 77 and a half million votes for President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris are the most ever cast for a presidential ticket, breaking the previous record set in 2008 for President Obama.

In this election, as in 2008, Black voter turnout made the difference.  They were not voting for a symbolic victory. The nation is in crisis. They want action. And so does the National Urban League.

NEW YORK (November 11, 2020) – In a letter to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial urged them to place top priority on comprehensive economic relief for Americans devastated by the coronavirus epidemic.

After 27 years as the CEO of the Tri-County Urban League, Laraine Bryson is retiring.

Bryson has received numerous honors during her career for leadership and civil rights. Bryson says it’s time to pass the baton after 27 years and looks forward to seeing the non-profit succeed and change lives.

“I think after a period of time, it’s time to pass it on to a younger generation to come with fresh ideas and different ways of doing things, but it’s always gonna be a part of my heart. I actually started at the urban league at the age of 14 in one of our programs,” said Bryson.

The Tri-County Urban League is now beginning the process of finding a replacement for Bryson.
She plans to retire during the first quarter of 2021.

To read the full article, click here.

The Urban League of Hudson County (Jersey City, NJ) is working to assist residents who are seeking a new health insurance plan next year by collaborating with the “Get Covered New Jersey” program.

The State of New Jersey has set up their own health exchange for people to get health insurance as an alternative to going through the federal health marketplace, commonly known as Obamacare.

Those with a plan through the marketplace living in New Jersey will automatically be transferred to Get Covered New Jersey.

“The Urban League is committed to lifting up the marginal and underserved … Hudson County has some challenges with reaching those who are uninsured,” said their health navigator, Kevin Jones.“

He explained that due to COVID-19, they are only providing remote assistance remotely, however, he said they will remain active on social media and plan to give presentations through there.

Two years ago, Stacey Abrams became a household name when she ran for governor of Georgia against Brian Kemp, then secretary of state. Though her votes came in short, she refused to concede – citing widespread voter suppression in a state where the election was run by the opponent himself.

In 2020, she is still not the governor. But in some ways, Abrams never lost.

Though it is poised for a recount, Georgia surprised America and the world when – on the basis of the first count –the Democrats outpolled the Republicans last week. If the result survives the recount then Joe Biden will become the first Democratic presidential candidate to win Georgia in 28 years.

He could not have done it without Stacey Abrams.

"It's very difficult to do this city by city... state by state. What's been lacking is a national plan. We have to get control of the pandemic."

Dr. Bernard E. Anderson

The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Senior Economic Advisor, National Urban League

The October Jobs Report released this week shows the economy is bouncing back strongly as businesses reopened across the country, but recent employment gains will be unsustainable without additional federal stimulus to bolster household income.

Consumer spending that was boosted by the CARES Act drove the numbers. The unemployment compensation programs that drove the spending expired in late July, reducing household income.