New federal data reinforces the stark racial disparities that have appeared with COVID-19: According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services...

As we pass the halfway point for taking this year's census, nearly two out of every five U.S. households have yet to respond to the survey, stoking fears that billions of federal dollars could be left on the table — dollars that fund crucial services including during the pandemic.

The new coronavirus erupted just as the 2020 census was getting underway. In the wake of mass layoffs and unprecedented economic damage, studies are projecting that more than 4 million people could be undercounted this year.

U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, a Democrat from New York City who represents one of the most diverse districts in the nation, is also anticipating an undercount, leaving her fearful for communities.

A Father’s Day march with a focus on justice was held Sunday in Center City. The march started at the Octavius Catto monument on purpose. Following the Civil War, Catto was one of Philadelphia’s most prominent civil rights activists — rights that this group says they’re continuing to fight for more than a century and a half later.

It was a call to action as about 100 men, women and children participated in the Fathers Fighting For Families march for injustice Sunday morning in Center City.

The group started at the Catto statue outside of City Hall and then marched to Independence Hall. The Urban League of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) organized the event to recognize and honor Black fathers for their courage, perseverance and contributions to the community.

The Louisville Urban League (Louisville, KY) and about 60 more local leaders and organizations have sent a petition to the city as a call to demand specific and immediate action on various issues facing the Black community.

The 20-page document, addressed to Mayor Greg Fischer and Metro Council President David James — and copied to a number of other prominent governmental leaders — focuses on public safety and funding for Black community initiatives, but touches on many areas the authors feel need attention.

"Black community leaders and those of good conscience are working to push for answers and consequences. The time has come to give us the necessary resources to begin to do the work for ourselves since our elected leaders are reluctant to do what they have been sworn to do for all of our citizens," reads a summary of the document, distributed by the Urban League.

 Urban League condemns the police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks calling for Systemic Change

June 13, 2020 (Atlanta, GA) – Nancy Flake Johnson, president and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Atlanta, issued the following statement today in response to the shooting death of a black man who was fleeing police in a Wendy’s parking lot on June 12, and the subsequent resignation of Atlanta Police Chief Erika Shields:

“We are deeply saddened yet again by another senseless shooting death, this time of Rayshard Brooks. Our hearts and prayers go out to his family, the people who loved him, and our communities that live with the daily trauma of brutality and violence. Our anguish runs deep through our souls, and we ask how many more lives will be lost before the killing

"The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves are free. " - General Order No. 3 as read by Maj. Gen. Gordon Granger, Galveston, Texas, June 19, 1865

Nationwide protests in the wake of George Floyd’s killing while in police custody have sparked conversations in the wealth management industry about racial injustice, as well as public statements from companies and industry groups.

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation today announced a five-year, US$1.6 billion commitment to Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to deliver lifesaving vaccines to the world’s poorest countries. The commitment was announced at the Global Vaccine Summit 2020, hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson of the United Kingdom.

Funding secured today for Gavi’s next strategic period will help the Alliance reach an additional 300 million children in the world’s most vulnerable communities and save up to eight million lives, bringing the total number of children immunized with Gavi support to more than one billion since its inception in 2000.

In addition to supporting the continuation of routine immunization services during the current COVID-19 crisis, Gavi will play a vital role in efforts to end the pandemic, leveraging its two decades of experience in vaccine delivery to deploy potential COVID-19 vaccines to low income countries when they become available.

The UPS Foundation is contributing $3.2 million to civil rights organizations including the NAACP and historically black colleges and universities including Morehouse, Spelman and Clark Atlanta University.

The Sandy Springs-based shipping giant said the funding will also go to the National Urban League, the Executive Leadership Council, 100 Black Men of America, the education fund of the Leadership Conference on Civil & Human Rights, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, United Negro College Fund, National Center for Civil and Human Rights and the National Black Child Development Institute.