On nights like Tuesday, where temperatures drop below freezing, the City of Austin opens its overnight cold weather shelters — but this year there’s a new crew helping run the show.

It comes after a city audit released roughly a year ago showed flaws in how the city was staffing those shelters, including using Parks and Recreation Department employees and other staff with little to no training.

Now, a Central Texas nonprofit, the Austin Area Urban League or AAUL (Auston, TX), does a bulk of the staffing. They’ve worked with the city previously, but taken over staffing this year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (November 25, 2024) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial unveiled the organization's new "Main Street Tax Initiative" during his recent testimony before the United States Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs’ Economic Policy Subcommittee.

“The Main Street Tax Initiative is a roadmap to ensure our tax system reflects our shared values of fairness, equity, and opportunity,” Morial aid. “By expanding critical tax credits, restoring key deductions, and creating targeted incentives, this plan provides the tools needed to uplift hardworking Americans, reduce poverty, and foster economic growth in undercapitalized communities.”

More than 15 years since its founding, Airbnb continues to be an economic lifeline for people around the world with 40 percent of hosts saying the income from hosting helps them stay in their homes. To help ensure more people can benefit from the economic opportunities of hosting and homeownership, Airbnb is expanding partnerships with leading organizations through the Airbnb Housing Council and the Airbnb Entrepreneurship Academy.

In January 2024, we launched the Airbnb Housing Council as part of our commitment to partner with governments and communities on the housing challenges they face. Chaired by former mayor of Baltimore Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, the Council brings together leading independent housing organizations and experts to advise Airbnb on policies, partnerships and initiatives we can support that not only help spur housing supply but also prioritize inclusion and access for all communities.

Michelle Merriweather, President and CEO at the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle, WA) was recently named the CEO of the Year by Urban League of Metropolitan Saint Louis (St. Louis, MO). Chosen from among the 92 Urban League affiliates from across the country, the award outside of being recognized by the National Urban League is one that recognizes the hard work and impact that other Urban League affiliate CEOs are having across the country.

According to Merriweather, who joined ULMS in 2015, the award is an acknowledgment by her peers that she is indeed carrying out the mission of the Urban League that is both meaningful and impactful in the community that she serves.

“It means a lot. St. Louis Urban is literally the gold standard, they are the largest urban league in the country and for Michael McMillan, their CEO, to see me and recognize the work we are doing truly meant a lot,” said Merriweather.

The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (Boston, MA) recently announced its Holistic Health Access Initiative, which will allow citizens 60 and older to access five free Lyft rides with the intention of using the ride for health and wellness-related errands and activities.

“ It’s an opportunity to address some of the concerns around health access for seniors in the city of Boston. It is a partnership between the city of Boston, the Urban League, and Lyft. I think given the concerns around health equity issues and the disparities and health outcomes in communities of color, we felt it would be important to increase access,” said Rahsaan D. Hall, Esq., President and CEO of the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

While many across Connecticut will be with their friends and family this Thanksgiving holiday, thousands of students across the state won’t have a place to call home.

The Urban League of Greater Hartford (Hartford, CT) is pitching in to help the growing issue in the capital city by putting together bags that include oral care items and winter wear for those struggling.

In the Hartford school system, there are hundreds of teens that are without a home.

“You don’t have to be rich to do something and many hands make light work,” said Kyrinda Richardson.

She deals with the youth every day, and she says you truly never know the situation someone is living in.

“A lot of us are in a situation where we too could be in an unfortunate circumstance. One paycheck away or one tragedy away from being in this situation,” she continued. “We have over 5-thousand students who experience homelessness.”

Will justice prevail? See how the Malcolm X lawsuit is an opportunity for NYPD & federal law enforcement to draw the curtain on an era of corruption. | Keys to the concrete jungle. Take a look as power couple Marc H. Morial and award-winning journalist Michelle Miller are awarded with the keys to NYC! | What's next for taxes? Watch as Marc H. Morial testifies in front of the Senate about the urgent need to prioritize working-class people in upcoming tax laws. | What are your holiday plans? There’s still time to get updated vaccines to boost your immune system before gathering with family + friends. Here's how. | A well-deserved honor. Congrats to our President & CEO Marc H. Morial, who received the Alumni Award of Merit from the University of Pennsylvania! | Don’t miss the gems. Catch the replay of our webinar to learn tips + techniques to level up your digital skills. | Open enrollment is here! The deadline to secure an affordable + comprehensive health plan for 2025 via Medicare is Dec 7th. Apply today. | Are you registered? Next summer, we’re taking over Cleveland for our 2025 Conference. Register today to lock in our lowest rate ever.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“For decades, {U.S. government agencies and the NYPD]  viewed Black activism as a threat to national security, resulting in the unchecked targeting of prominent leaders, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Marcus Garvey. This lawsuit seeks accountability for the systemic negligence and intentional actions that deprived Malcolm X’s family and the world of his life and legacy.” – Civil rights attorney Ben Crump

Six days before Malcolm X was gunned down at the Audubon Ballroom in New York City, an undercover NYPD detective told the department he’d seen “a dry run” of Malcolm X’s assassination, which he believed would happen on the upcoming Sunday.

The Urban League of Kansas (Wichita, KS) is asking the community to come out and provide input on the revitalization of an east Wichita neighborhood that continues to see demise. 

67214 is a zip code that is seeing more wood than windows. Boarded-up homes have taken over the area mixing in with other lived-in properties.  

Greg Tennant, who owns eight homes in the area, blames COVID-19 for lack of homeownership.  

"Well, the people here don't have the income they did. Between the utilities going up and taxes, we've had to put more on to pay their bills, they can't afford it," said Tennant.   

The Urban League Interim President/CEO Cindy Miles said they want to start a project beginning on Ninth Street hoping to revive the area. The goal is to begin rebuilding housing and making it affordable for the community.  

More than 600 people gathered together at the Avalon Manor Banquet Center to recognize those who have made a difference in diversity and inclusion. Urban League of Northwest Indiana (Gary, IN) hosted its 12th annual Diversity and Inclusion Luncheon on Thursday, November 7.

The luncheon serves as a way for the organization to acknowledge contributions made by businesses, educational institutions, non-profit organizations, civic organizations, and other individuals that advocate for diversity and inclusion in Northwest Indiana communities.

Urban League of Northwest Indiana President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud considers this one of her favorite events of the year.

“We look for organizations or individuals in the community who are proactive in promoting Diversity and Inclusion in the workplace,” McCloud said. “This event is amazing because we get to present awards to those who make those efforts in Northwest Indiana.”