NEW YORK (April 17, 2020) -- Across the nation, Urban League affiliates are providing essential services to workers and families devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a partnership with the National Urban League, Lyft is helping them get where they need to be by providing ride codes that the National Urban League and its affiliates will be able to distribute to essential workers and families all over the country.
 

NEW YORK (April 18, 2020) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today thanked a group of 33 Senators for responding to the League’s plea for dedicated, flexible funding for state and local governments in the next COVID-19 emergency funding package.

The latest. Marc Morial is back with updates on the fight against COVID-19. Watch it now on Facebook Live and visit our COVID-19 hub online. | We're here for you. See how our first responders are giving out groceries and hot meals, helping laid-off workers pay rent, advocating in Congress, and more. | Need a new job? Join us for a supportive and educational session where you'll learn strategies for a successful job search after experiencing a lay-off. | Be counted. It’s not too late to fill out the Census 2020. It’s just 10 questions and only takes 10 minutes (or less). Do it online or by mail today! | Black girl magic. Meet Dr. Kizzmekia Corbett, the Black woman doctor who is leading efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine.v | Inside scoop. Check out our D.C. office's round up of the latest coronavirus news, including the status of stimulus checks and an interview with Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

By Maia Spoto and Jacob Fulton, The Daily Northwestern

Once a decade, the U.S. government attempts to count all Americans — but not every American is easy to reach, and an undercount can have enduring consequences for those the government misses.

The United States Census Bureau defines hard-to-count communities as those who face barriers to inclusion in census counts, including communities of color, those experiencing homelessness, immigrants, LGBTQ communities and the elderly.

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Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
 

“Until government is able to stand up the benefits that are included in the CARES Act and Families First Act, people in the meantime have to live, that's really the challenge. The Urban League and other non-profits are here to support people and get them connected to what they need. People have to know they can call a number and someone on the other end is going to care what they're experiencing.” -- Urban League of Greater Atlanta President and CEO Nancy Flake Johnson.

It’s hard to believe the toll the coronavirus pandemic has taken on the economy, and even harder to describe. At least 22 million Americans have filed for unemployment compensation in the last four weeks.  It’s the largest and fastest string of job losses since the nation began keeping records in 1948.  

The unemployment rate has soared to 20 percent, the highest rate since the Great Depression.

By Madeline Buckley, Chicago Tribune

On a recent warm day in Chicago, a street outreach worker witnessed groups of people congregating in West Side areas known for drug dealing.

In southern Illinois, a public health worker distributing syringes saw eight to 10 people crowded into two trap houses.

For people who are addicted to illegal drugs, particularly heroin and other opioids, the purchase and sale of drugs is an essential business, even as much of the country has shut down due to the spread of COVID-19. In Illinois, there are more than 24,500 known cases and at least 948 deaths. 

To read the full article Click Here.

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: MAKE MORE CITIES WITH SIGNIFICANT AFRICAN-AMERICAN POPULATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR CORONAVIRUS AID

NEW YORK (April 13, 2020) -- The National Urban League today urged Federal Reserve Chair Jerome H. Powell and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to lower the eligibility for a key coronavirus economic recovery program to reach devastated communities in more cities.

In the midst of a record-breaking number of people filing for unemployment, one Louisiana organization is hosting a series of virtual job fairs to connect people looking for work with potential employers.

The Urban League of Louisiana’s (New Orleans, LA) Office of Workforce Development is scheduled to host at least seven virtual job fairs over the next few months to connect job-seekers to essential-industry jobs during the novel coronavirus pandemic.

The potential jobs include positions in:

Teenagers and young adults in Louisville have daily chances to win cash from the Louisville Urban League (Louisville, KY).

The organization launched a new social media challenge aimed at promoting social interaction during COVID-19 stay-home orders.

It’s called “Louisville versus Da Rona.”

Anyone can participate, but young adults in the Louisville Metro are eligible for the daily prizes.

To participate, young adults have to follow the Louisville Urban League on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. Then, they need to tag the urban league in a post where they showcase what they’re doing to beat the coronavirus. Users also must use the hashtag #LouisvilleVsDaRona.

Jae Bennett began coughing last Saturday afternoon after visiting some Kansas City homeless camps as part of his job with a nonprofit.

By that evening, his dry cough had worsened and his temperature climbed to 104 degrees.

For the next 48 hours, he frantically searched for a place to get tested for the new coronavirus. He eventually found a clinic and was tested Monday, but it wasn’t easy.

“You have to do your due diligence,” Bennett said. He suspects many people in his shoes, especially other black Kansas Citians, might give up and not get tested at all.