NEW YORK (Feb. 12, 2024) – The National Urban League has joined a coalition of civil rights, political, and advocacy groups in launching a comprehensive response to counter growing calls to dismantle diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts, particularly fueled by prominent figures like Elon Musk and Bill Ackman.

 Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League, emphasizes that attacks on DEI undermine efforts for equality and fairness, especially in supplying equal opportunities for Black individuals in the workforce.

Morial calls any move to abolish DEI efforts, “a literal slap in our face,” also saying, “We’re up against an effort to contort and misrepresent what DEI really means.”

FARRELL (Feb 12, 2024) – The Shenango Valley Urban League (Farrell, PA) recently partnered with Farrell senior Hayven Hilton as her senior project for a blood drive on Friday, Feb. 9th.

The event, held in the Harriett Morrison Gym, aimed to collect blood specifically for individuals with sickle cell disease. Hilton collaborated with various organizations alongside the Urban League, including the Red Cross, the Youngstown chapter of Jack and Jill of America Inc., and the Mercer County NAACP, to bring the initiative to fruition.

GARY (Feb. 12, 2024) - The Urban League of Northwest Indiana (Gary, IN), alongside three other organizations statewide, recently secured a significant grant from the Indiana Department of Education to enhance literacy and math programs during the summer.

This grant, known as the Expanding What Works grant, exceeds $1 million in value, affirming the Urban League's commitment to educational advancement.

Partnering with The Mind Trust, an Indianapolis-based nonprofit, and collaborating with the Lavinia Group, the Urban League aims to implement five weeks of intensive reading and math lessons. These programs are tailored for incoming first through ninth-grade students, focusing on addressing the academic needs of those requiring added support.

PHILADELPHIA (Feb. 5, 2024) - The Urban League of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA) recently celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day with its annual job fair, held at Temple University last Tuesday, Jan. 30th.

The event aimed to provide job seekers with face-to-face interactions with potential employers, offering a more personal approach compared to online applications.

The event is in its 13th year.

Charity Wells, the Director of Workforce Development at the Urban League expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring employers into the community.

ROXBURY (Feb. 5, 2024) – The closure of a Walgreens pharmacy in Roxbury has prompted collaborative efforts between the city and the local community to ensure residents have access to medications.

Despite resistance from residents, Walgreens permanently closed its Roxbury location, leading community leaders, including the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts (Roxbury, MA), to step in and address the resulting gap.

Rev. Miniard Culpepper, an advocate for keeping the pharmacy open, said, “This is a matter of life or death.”

The Urban League quickly stepped in to address the issue.

ROCHESTER (Feb. 5, 2024) - The Urban League of Rochester (Rochester, NY) wants to INTERRUPT RACISM.

INTERRUPT RACISM is an Urban League program that tries to actively address racial inequities. The program is designed for local businesses aiming to cultivate equitable work environments by identifying and rectifying policies or behaviors hindering diversity.

Dr. Candice Lucas, Senior VP for Equity and Advocacy at the Urban League, explains that the 12-month program, launched in 2024, involves 15 organizations and 100 participants. During the program, participants conduct assessments, scrutinizing policies, recruitment and retention methods, and community beliefs to uncover ingrained inequities, even when organizations may be unaware of their existence.

KNOXVILLE (Feb. 5, 2024) – For one year, the Knoxville Area Urban League (Knoxville, TN) has been engaged in a partnership with an adult education program.

This collaborative initiative, which began in February of 2023, supplies free classes and tests for adults looking to obtain a high school equivalency diploma.

Dr. Charles Lomax, the President and CEO of the Urban League, emphasizes that education is a key tool for the community.  

Catch the first lesson. Black history is under attack and we’re fighting back by educating folks on our history all month. Read more. | Support Black women. The Fearless Fund is fighting back against defenders of white supremacy to ensure women of color entrepreneurs are supported.| It's time for change! Meet us this Tuesday in Austin, Texas as we advocate for legislative priorities that affect our communities. | This is your personal invite. Join us this summer for #NULConf24 to experience four jam-packed days of Black excellence, networking + more. | Greetings from Nashville! This week, Marc H. Morial hosted the Gala Reception & Awards for the 2nd Annual Black History Honors. More on that. | Help your immune system do its job. The latest COVID-19 vaccine offers advanced protection against new variants. Get yours for free. | Level up your digital identity. Register now to join our FREE webinar on Wednesday for tips on promoting your personal brand in the digital space. | How does it affect you? A government shutdown disproportionately impacts underserved communities, SBA loan recipients + others. Find out more. | What do the numbers tell us? Watch as Marc H. Morial joins CNBC’s Squawk Box to discuss the January jobs report, state of the economy + more.