Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“As long as some among us are oppressed--and we are part of that oppression--it must blunt our faith and sap the strength of our high purpose. Thus, this is a victory for the freedom of the American Negro. But it is also a victory for the freedom of the American Nation. And every family across this great, entire, searching land will live stronger in liberty, will live more splendid in expectation, and will be prouder to be American because of the act that you have passed that I will sign today.” – President Lyndon B. Johnson, on signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965

Last week in Chicago, the National Urban League joined with the Brennan Center and Democracy SENTRY for a conversation on voting rights.

Inside the offices of the Urban League of Greater Hartford (Hartford, CT): life-improving lessons.

Osaneya Headley is an eleventh-grade student at A-1 Prince Tech in Hartford and for the past two years, she’s been mentored by Dejah Morgan, a young lady who has degrees in both biology and nursing.

“Seeing her growth and finding her passion, her purpose and why and what she want to do is very fulfilling to me,” Morgan said.

Osaneya wants to be a firefighter someday and the Urban Leagues’ mentorship program “Project Ready” has given her the opportunity to meet professional firefighters to experience what the job is really like.

Every year this mentorship program works with about 30 or so young people around the Capitol City, and it really gives them insight into what they can become in the future with a lot of hard work.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“The Schefflins advised that Mr. Fred Trump and other agents, including Mr. Wiss, wanted them to rent only to Jews and Executives and discouraged rental to blacks. They advised that a racial code was in effect, blacks being referred to as ''No. 9.” – United States of America v. Fred C. Trump, Donald Trump and Trump Management Inc.

“Take the application and put it in a drawer and leave it there.”

That was Donald Trump’s father’s policy about renting to Black tenants in his New York City buildings in 1963.

A decade later, Donald Trump had assumed the presidency of Trump Management, and the policy had not changed.

Thousands of people gathered in south Madison to celebrate the ceremonial opening of a brand new Black Business Hub that aims to benefit the community. 

Local leaders cut the ribbon on the new building Saturday afternoon (August 24th) in collaboration with the 10th Annual Unity Picnic. 

Organizers say the goal of the Hub is to help Black and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) business owners start and expand their businesses by offering financial and mentorship services. 

President and CEO of Urban League of Greater Madison (Madison, WI) Ruben Anthony made sure to recognize what the hub means to the community. 

"There are 10,000 businesses in Dane County that have more than only one employee," said Dr. Anthony. "Only four-tenths of a percent of those businesses are Black owned businesses. We believe here at the Black Business Hub that we are going to change those numbers."

The Lorain County Urban League (Elyria, OH) is proud to announce its 10th Annual Diversity and Inclusion Conference, set to take place from Sept. 4-7.

Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, will deliver the keynote address Sept. 5.

Morial will offer insights on the state of civil rights and social justice in America.

This year’s conference, themed “D3 Campaign: Defend Democracy, Demand Diversity, Defeat Poverty,” will feature a series of impactful events designed to promote equity, justice and community engagement.

The celebration will kick off with the Reclaim Your Vote Rally from 6-9 p.m. Sept. 4 at the Lorain Historical Society, 329 W. 10th St.

Honoring a legend. See how Marc H. Morial and fellow civil rights leaders paid tribute to Rev. Jesse Jackson, who paved the way for generations. | Housing discrimination. Watch as our President & CEO Marc H. Morial takes the stage at the DNC to call out Donald Trump's racist real estate practices. | COVID-19 is still here. With over two dozen variants of COVID-19, it’s essential to stay in the loop to protect your health. Find out more. | National Make-A-Will Month. As we strive to uplift communities, you, too, can safeguard your family's future. Craft a will in minutes using FreeWill today. | The place to be! Catch a glimpse of our Culture & Content House at the DNC with Hip Politics, filled with key convos & strong connections for the work ahead. | Catch the replay. Relive the moments from #NULConf24, where we were joined by so many changemakers who are fighting for a more equitable future.

CHICAGO – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial will speak on fair housing at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago tonight. 

Morial is scheduled to speak at  8 PM ET/7 PM CT.

The Urban League was instrumental in the U.S. Justice Department's 1973 racial discrimination against Donald Trump's real estate company.  Black testers sent by the Urban League were denied apartments or steered toward other buildings, and their applications were marked with “C,” for “colored.”  The consent decree Trump's company signed required that it provide the Urban League with weekly lists of all vacancies.  But the discrimination continued and in 1978 the Justice Department accused Trump Management of violating the consent decree.  The consent decree expired before the Department could press the case.

On Wednesday (August 14th), members of the Rochester Police Department joined officials of the Urban League of Rochester to announce a historic partnership.

The Urban League if Rochester (Rochester, NY) has donated office space for the RPD at its headquarters on North Clinton Avenue in the city. It will be used by the police department to help foster regular conversation and give the opportunity for officers to work side-by-side with the agency’s staff and clients.

For 60 years, the agency has served as a pioneer of civil rights in Rochester. A few years ago, RPD Deputy Chief Keith Stith contacted Urban League’s President and CEO, Dr. Seanelle Hawkins, to brainstorm ways to better align the agencies.

“We are excited. This is so much more than shared space. This is a commitment to our community’s future. It’s an opportunity to take what was once tension to solution and hope, and that is what we hope to bring,” said Dr. Hawkins.

Last week, the Urban League Plaza had its official groundbreaking ceremony. Located at 9946 W Florissant Ave., the Urban League Plaza will be a place for the community and business to thrive, spearheaded by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis or ULMSL (St. Louis, MO). This is ULMSL’s fourth new development project in the Ferguson, Dellwood and Jennings areas.

The 13,500 square foot commercial center will be anchored by a branch of First Bank. Other businesses planned for the center include At Home Care, Proficient Chiropractor, Save Our Sisters and a local restaurant. The center also has plans for a business incubator to support and grow local businesses.