NEW YORK (November 19, 2019) -- National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial urged the Democratic candidates for President participating in tomorrow’s debate to address the issues of housing affordability, educational equity and voter suppression.

“Housing affordability in the United States is in crisis.  Public schools are more segregated than any time since Brown v. Board of Education. And the voting rights of Black and Brown Americans are under constant siege from opponents of democracy. Yet the views of the candidates for President are largely unknown to communities of color on these issues,” Morial wrote in a letter to the candidates.  “Tomorrow when you take the stage for the Democratic presidential debate in Atlanta, I hope you will fill this glaring void in our national discourse.”

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League
 

“Across the nation, families are struggling with homelessness and housing insecurity. We need to treat the affordable housing shortage like the crisis that it is. Housing is a fundamental human right. It’s time we as a nation acted like it and end the housing crisis once and for all.” – U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar, introducing the Homes for All Act, which expands public housing stock i and guarantees housing as a human right.

A pivotal moment in the 2020 Democratic primary race that happened on Wednesday may have escaped notice by much of the country. For the first time since the debates began – a total of six nights of debates – the candidates finally were asked a question about the housing crisis. 

I was so concerned about the lack of public discussion around this critical issue facing the nation that I sent a letter to the candidates, urging them to share their plans. 

NEW YORK -- The racially-discriminatory behavior by real estate agents on Long Island is appalling and should be investigated for violations of the Fair Housing Act, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and Urban League of Long Island President and CEO Theresa Sanders said today.

“I’m horrified to realize the extent to which real estate agents on Long Island are actively promoting segregation while limiting opportunities for Black buyers to purchase the homes of their choice,” Sanders said, responding to the results of a three-year investigation by Newsday. “These practices have no place anywhere in America and we will not stand by while Black homeowners are treated unfairly.”

Morial said the investigation showed the old practices of “redlining” are alive and well in the residential real estate industry on Long Island.

IN THIS ISSUE:

Equal Opportunity Dinner. We celebrated, mingled, and danced the night away on Wednesday. Watch a snippet on Good Day New York! | Harriet film. Here's our take on why Harriet is nothing short of a masterpiece and why we honored its producer at our Equal Opportunity Dinner this week. | National Day of Empowerment. Young Professionals and Guild members are joining forces today and in the coming days to make Black count! Join the effort. | Catch up on the latest. Is Colin Kaepernick headed back to the NFL? Plus, the tragic school shooting in California, new 2020 presidential candidates, and more. | New episode! For the Movement is back to bring you up to speed on the latest presidential impeachment buzz. Take a listen. 
 

Enjoy refreshments and learn about community resources available to you and financial topics including budgeting, savings, establishing or re-building credit, avoiding scams and how to be home buyer ready.

Many community organizations will come together to present these available resources at the First Financial Bank community room location in Gary, IN on November 19, 2019 from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. Those organizations include Northwest Indiana Reinvestment Alliance, Urban League of Northwest Indiana (Gary, IN), Northwest Indiana Community Action and others. 

To read the full article, click here. 

On Friday, November 8th,  the Urban League of Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach, FL) held it’s Ninth Annual Youth Empowerment Luncheon at the West Palm Beach Marriott.

Urban League President and CEO Patrick Franklin, welcomed the audience with a heartwarming appeal for the community’s continued support of the Urban League. The keynote speaker was the Honorable Congressman Alcee Hastings (D-FL) District 20.  If you have never heard Congressman Hasting speak, then you have missed something special. Beth Stibal, Marketing Manager of Hubbard Radio/West Palm said, “The Congressman was the best all time  Keynote Speakers she’s heard”.

To read the full article, click here. 

The Milwaukee Urban League (Milwaukee, WI) is looking to help at least 303 people get their driver's license, free of charge.

It’s all through a program they’ve been operating for more than 20 years. Now, they’re pushing harder to get more people into the courses than ever before.

The monthly course is free to everyone who qualifies. That includes anyone enrolled in the State of Wisconsin’s Food Share Employment and Training (FSET) program. Drivers must also have no unpaid citations or fines.

“We need programs like this. We do,” said Douglas Harris.

Harris got his license through the four-day course over the summer. He finally got it after spending when his license expired when he was homeless.

To read the full article, click here.

The Chicago Urban League’s (Chicago, IL) 58th Annual Golden Fellowship Dinner raised nearly $2 million to support education, employment, housing, entrepreneurship and advocacy programs for African-American communities in Chicago.

Nearly 1,500 supporters from the corporate, civic, faith and non-profit sectors attended the gala held at the Hilton Chicago. Mayor Lori Lightfoot greeted the crowd at the pre-event reception. The event was emceed by NBC 5 News anchors Rob Stafford and Michelle Relerford, featured inspirational acceptance remarks from the evening’s three honorees, and concluded with a rousing performance by 10-time Grammy Award winner Chaka Khan.

The Urban League’s Interim President and CEO Barbara Lumpkin said that significant support of the event illustrates the spirit of this year’s gala theme, Getting to Equal Together.

The Cincinnati Black Restaurant Week is returning for its second year.

The event is from Nov. 18 to 24 and will include 24 black-owned restaurants in the Greater Cincinnati area. 

Each of the restaurants will offer discounted pricing on certain menu items as well as specials.

Some of the participating restaurants include Conscious Kitchen, Ollie Trolley's, Sweet Petit and Island Frydays.

The week is organized by The Urban Young Professionals of Greater Southwestern Ohio (Cincinnati, OH) and Cincy Soul.

To read the full article, click here. 

Maya Rockeymoore Cummings, a policy consultant, chair of the Maryland Democratic Party and the widow of Elijah Cummings, has decided to run for the congressional seat vacated by her husband, who died last month.