NEW YORK –  The National Urban League has joined a coalition of  civil rights, public interest, labor, faith, and technology organizations to urge Facebook founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg to consider the “protection of civil rights as a fundamental obligation as serious as any other goal of the company.”

In a letter to Zuckerberg, following recent policy changes to exempt politicians’ speech from its Community Standards and fact-checking program, the organizations said:

The Buffalo Urban League (Buffalo, NY) has been chosen as the operator for the new CRUCIAL Community Center at 230 Moselle Street. A ribbon was cut on Saturday, October 19 for the facility, which will be a tremendous community resource that will help to provide such resourceful practices as money management, home ownership, employment, resume writing and interview tips, health and wellness, starting and growing your own business, exercise, health screenings, and even yoga. The Buffalo Urban League will work with a wide range of community partners to ensure that the the Community Center is many things to many people. 

“It is great to have the Center open to respond to the needs of the community,” said Brenda McDuffie, President & CEO, Buffalo Urban League.

There was a time when Amanda Endicott felt like things were hopeless, until she set her eyes on a flier leading her to a free program that would change her life. Now, she's making money and making strides.

Life for Endicott is looking up.

"I have a full time job," Endicott said. "I'm not in transitional housing anymore. I have my own place. I have a driver's license. I have a brand new car."

That is not how things were fifteen months ago. At that time, she had no income, no job, no home, no driver's license, and little hope.

Addiction and a criminal record led Endicott to the transitional house, where, one day, a visitor brought a flyer to share with the women who lived in the home. The words spoke to Endicott.

Homeless, Lonisha Jordan and her sons, 10 and 12, sleep in their car, motels or other places, each day living a low-income housing crisis that shuts out many in Madison and Dane County.

So does Paul Buggs, who spends nights at a men's shelter in a church basement, and Tina Helt and her teenage son, who sleep in the entrances of buildings on streets hugging Capitol Square.

For all the local effort to provide shelter for those with little means — and there's lot of it — many feel the harsh realities of Madison's low-income housing shortage, low vacancy rates and state tenant-landlord laws that usurp local control and create barriers for those with spotty credit or rental histories, evictions or convictions.

The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga (Chattanooga, TN) is holding a job fair Tuesday, October 22 at Kingdom Hall on M.L. King Boulevard.

Attendees have the opportunity to meet with 30 local and regional businesses to inquire about open positions, distribute resumes and learn more about Chattanooga’s top employers.

In partnership with Men’s Warehouse, Urban League of Greater Chattanooga will also give away men’s and women’s suits at the event.

To read the full article, click here: https://www.wrcbtv.com/story/41208050/urban-league-to-hold-job-fair

A conversation on the importance of including people of color on creative teams in the film an television industries was held Oct. 5 as part of the Los Angeles Urban League Young Professionals’ (Los Angeles, CA) Future of the Industry Entertainment Summit.

Tana Sessions moderated the panel discussion of industry insiders that included entertainment attorney Sloan Whiteside, Paige Simpson, a manager of scripted television; and Trell Thomas, the founder of the Black Excellence Brunch.

“Own your story and tell it,” Simpson said. “Remember why you’re at the table. You are unique. You are who you are. Shine, and be yourself.”

The panelists all had their own stories of making their way into the industry.

The news is out: the 2020 National Urban League Conference will be held in Houston, Texas! Save the date for August 5-8, 2020.

National Urban League President and CEO Marc Morial issued the following statement regarding the passing of U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings:

“The passing of Chairman Cummings is a devastating loss to the civil rights community and to the nation.

“I was proud to present the congressman with the National Urban League’s President’s Award in 2016 in recognition of his achievements in public service and his commitment to making a difference in the lives of marginalized communities.

“He has worked hand-in-hand with the National Urban League for many years, most recently in our efforts to combat voter suppression and foreign interference in U.S. democracy.

“Few in Congress have fought more passionately and effectively for economic justice and integrity in our public institutions.

“We grieve his passing and extend our deepest condolences to his family.”

NEW YORK (October 15, 2019) – A coalition of civil rights groups today announced an agreement with T-Mobile US to expand on its existing nationally-recognized diversity initiatives in a wide range of areas following the closing of its planned acquisition of Sprint to become the New T-Mobile.

The Memorandum of Understanding, filed today with the Federal Communications Commission, outlines the proposed New T-Mobile’s plans to create initiatives to improve diversity in the areas of Corporate Governance; Workforce Recruitment and Retention; Procurement and Entrepreneurship; Wireless Services (including 5G Wireless Services) for Low Income Consumers; and Philanthropy and Community Investment.