City of Austin Breaks Ground on Urban Empowerment Zone

Austin Housing and the Austin Housing Finance Corporation (AHFC) are thrilled to announce the groundbreaking celebration for Urban Empowerment Zone 1 (UEZ I). The new community will provide 80 Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) units to serve individuals and families at risk of or exiting homelessness. Located at 6400 FM 969 Road in District 1, the development will consist of a four-story, elevator-served building that includes a community room, warming kitchen, community pantry, laundry facilities, computer center, supportive service areas, and a central courtyard designed to promote safety and community connection. 

“By combining affordable housing with supportive services at UEZ I, we’re creating more than a place to call home,” explains Deletta Dean, Director of Austin Housing. “We’re creating opportunities for residents to rebuild their futures as part of our Austin community.” 

Submitted by ihall_11 on Tue, 03/24/2026 - 12:10

Urban League Pitches Sankofa Center for Deuces Rising Phase II

The Pinellas County Urban League (St. Petersburg, FL) has formally pitched its vision for the next phase of the Deuces Rising redevelopment, centered on a new Sankofa Empowerment Center along St. Petersburg’s historic 22nd Street South corridor.

In a December 30, 2025 proposal to Mayor Ken Welch, the organization outlined plans to anchor Phase II of the city-led project with a mixed-use commercial facility designed to serve as both an economic engine and community hub.

The proposal focuses on the “North Commercial Building,” a planned 28,000-square-foot, two-story development at the southwest corner of 22nd Street and 6th Avenue South. The project is part of a broader three-phase initiative that includes affordable townhomes already underway and a potential future mixed-use building with housing.

Submitted by ihall_11 on Tue, 03/24/2026 - 11:41

ReMarcs Newsletter - March 21, 2026

Know what questions to ask. See how our new guide helps you filter through candidates to find out where they stand on issues that impact you. | Live from DC! Catch the replay of the Demand Diversity Roundtable in action, launching our new guide to defend democracy at our Empowerment Summit. | His legacy lives on. Watch as our President & CEO, Marc H. Morial, pays homage to Rev. Jesse Jackson during his homegoing service in Chicago. | Reclaim your time. Register for our free webinar for tips to help you manage your schedule, reduce overwhelm, and create space for what matters most. | Shop with purpose. This Women’s History Month, use code FFXNUL, and Fashion Fair will donate 10% of purchases to the National Urban League.

Submitted by rwilliams@nul.org on Sat, 03/21/2026 - 09:20

Americans Deserve to Know Who They’re Sending To Washington. Our Guide to Defending Democracy Helps

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

"The continued slide into authoritarianism is made possible by the twin assaults on our democracy and the pursuit of racial justice. In this time of crisis, we need elected officials who stand up against efforts to render us without meaningful participation in the democratic process, have our histories censored from our cultural institutions, and be shorn of the protection of our hard-earned civil rights." -- Kimberlé Crenshaw

Knowing who to vote for in today’s political climate feels like navigating a minefield. You hear one thing about a candidate in a campaign ad, another at the barbershop or beauty salon, and something different from clips from influencers and podcasters on social media. And rarely is any of it aligned or the truth.

Submitted by cmonteil@nul.org on Thu, 03/19/2026 - 21:20

National Urban League & Demand Diversity Roundtable Release America 250: A Guide for Defending Democracy, A Non-Partisan Tool for Democracy

WASHINGTON, D.C. (March 18, 2026) – As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its founding, the National Urban League and the Demand Diversity Roundtable have released a new civic education resource, America 250: A Guide for Defending Democracy, to help Americans navigate an era of profound democratic challenges.  The nonpartisan guide equips voters, community leaders, and civic organizations with values‑based and action‑oriented questions designed to illuminate how public officials and candidates understand their constitutional responsibilities.

Submitted by iamempowered on Wed, 03/18/2026 - 10:15

Urban League, SRM Break Ground on Queen Anne Housing Development

Altaire at Queen Anne, a 114-unit affordable rental housing development offering studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, has broken ground in Seattle.

The project transforms a five-year vacant site into housing in one of the city’s higher-cost neighborhoods. The development is being built by the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle (Seattle, WA) and SRM, in partnership with the Seattle Office of Housing, Amazon’s Housing Fund, the Washington State Housing Finance Commission, Citibank, and PNC Bank.

The project team also includes Runberg Architecture Group, AMH Design, LLC, KPFF Consulting Engineers, Brumbaugh Landscape Architecture, Emerald City Engineers, Inc., Terracon, NV5, DCI Engineers, and Duncanson Surveying. Move-ins are anticipated to begin in November of 2027.

Submitted by ihall_11 on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:59

National Urban League Expands to North Texas with New Affiliate

North Texas marked a historic moment this week as civic leaders, corporate partners, young professionals and community advocates gathered for the official launch of the Dallas–Fort Worth Urban League (Dallas, TX), the 93rd affiliate of the National Urban League.

The sold-out event was hosted at Gilley’s Dallas and emceed by broadcast journalist Evan Anderson. The momentous event also welcomed Marc Morial, who has been the primary catalyst for an era of change and a transformation for the 100-plus-year-old civil rights organization. His presence underscored the national importance of bringing the Urban League’s legacy of economic empowerment back to the Dallas–Fort Worth region.

Submitted by ihall_11 on Mon, 03/16/2026 - 16:06