Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“Though not tall in stature, Sybil Haydel Morial was a tower of grace, kindness, dignity and strength who inspired generations of servant leaders. For the past three decades, she was the matriarch of New Orleans politics ... Sybil was just as tenacious and just as fearless, but in a quiet yet iron-willed way — the epitome of a Steel Magnolia.” -- Clancy DuBos

New Orleans has lost its matriarch.

America has lost one of the last soldiers in that battle of the 1950s and 1960s that opened doors so we could walk through them.

My family has lost its mother, grandmother, and grandmother, Sybil Haydel Morial. But our grief is tempered by our gratitude, and the knowledge that her wisdom, passions, tenacity and love will live on for generations.

NEW YORK (September 25, 2024) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial said he was appalled and disgusted by Missouri’s execution of Marcellus Williams, which he called an extreme miscarriage of justice.

“History will look back on Marcellus Williams’ execution as a prime example of racism in the criminal justice system,” Morial said. “He was killed in cold blood, a political pawn, without a shred of credible evidence of his guilt still intact.”

NEW YORK (September 25, 2024) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial issued the following statement in response to U.S. Rep.  Clay Higgins' racist comments about Haitian immigrants:

Parents were equipped with knowledge at the Back-to-school parent leadership conference, as the annual event returned to the Midlands. The event aims to help students that may be struggling in the classroom, sharing tools and knowledge with parents that could help keep their kids on track academically.

Dozens of parents came out here to Trinity Baptist Church to find out more about educational resources that are out in the community that can help their children succeed.

“It’s really important that we reach out to the community and give them the tools that they need in order to meet the achievement standards,” said, J.T. McLawhorn, President and CEO of Columbia Urban League (Columbia, SC).

It tells parents how certain processes in the education system work and introduces them to statewide resources that aim to help students grow up into hard-working adults.

Intuit Inc. (Nasdaq: INTU), the global financial technology platform that makes Intuit TurboTax, Credit Karma, QuickBooks, and Mailchimp, has expanded a program to help small businesses thrive. The program was initiated with the Los Angeles Urban League (Los Angeles, CA) and now includes the Urban League affiliates in Atlanta and Philadelphia.

The Urban League of Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) expects to break ground next year on Village at Oakland Park, a 469-unit affordable housing development that will include for-sale townhouses west of I-95 in Oakland Park.

The Oakland Park City Commission on Wednesday (September 18th) rezoned the 19.7-acre development site, on the northwest corner of Northwest 21st Street and Northwest 26th Avenue, to allow for the development of 355 apartments in mid-rise buildings and 114 townhouses. The commission also unanimously approved a related land use plan amendment and a plat proposal.

“This is a milestone in Oakland Park’s and the Urban League’s history,” said Oakland Park Mayor Mitch Rosenwald at the commission meeting. “This is a catalyst.”

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“I look at it this way: anybody can carry a picket sign, but I think you should be able to articulate what that sign means … Don’t get me wrong. I believe in the same things that all those people demonstrating believe in, but I just look for plays or movies that say the same thing and play characters in them.” – James Earl Jones

America lost two Black icons of the entertainment industry in recent days.

James Earl Jones was a generation older than Tito Jackson, but both hit the peak of their fame in the 1970s and played a major role in shifting perception of Black culture and history.

Jones’ distinctive bass voice, which brought him his greatest fame in roles where his face was not even seen, brought a remarkable gravitas and dignity to characters whose race was of pivotal importance.

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Morial Family Announces Passing of Matriarch Sybil Haydel Morial