NEW YORK and LOUISVILLE, KY — (August 11, 2025) --  As Louisville begins the search for an independent monitor to oversee reforms to its police department, national and local Urban League leaders have offered recommendations for strategies to transform the troubled department into a force that respects all residents and advances public safety. 

The Urban League of Northwest Indiana (Gary, IN) is excited to announce two incredible milestones. The civil rights organization that has been rooted in the community for decades is marking its 80th Anniversary. In addition, President and CEO Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud will be celebrating 15 years of leadership.

An “Oak Jubilee Celebration” featuring a reception and concert gala will be held August 21, 2025 on the campus of Indiana University Northwest, Arts & Sciences Building, 3400 Broadway in Gary at 6:00 p.m. The featured performer is Grammy Award-winning singer and songwriter Howard Hewett. With popular tunes such as “Say Amen,” “Show Me,” and “Make that Move,” he is sure to be a crowd favorite.

The Lorain County Urban League (Elyria, OH) hosted its fourth annual community block party on Saturday.

The event saw the countywide nonprofit give away 350 backpacks with school supplies and raffle off a dozen donated bicycles ahead of the 2025-26 school year.

Urban League board member Tim Frashure, who works for Bendix, said it was amazing to see the sense of community created by the afternoon’s festivities.

“I feel very honored to be a part of this,” he said.

Lorain County Urban League President and CEO, Parris Smith said this year’s major sponsors were Bendix, Meijer and Walmart, with the bikes donated by area churches and the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office.

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Organizers say it’s about making sure kids have the tools they need to succeed, especially after a tough summer for many families.

The event, which took place at the Urban League headquarters on North Kingshighway, is one of the organization’s largest outreach efforts of the year. Sponsored by Nike and community partners, the expo distributed nearly $400,000 worth of school supplies, food, groceries, toiletries, and personal protective equipment to families in need.

“The line has been from Kingshighway all the way back to Grand. We expect to serve up to 5,000 people today,” said Michael McMillan, Urban League President & CEO.

Cars were lined up for hours before the event began, with some families arriving as early as 6 a.m. for the noon start. The drive-thru format allowed families to remain in their vehicles while volunteers loaded backpacks, notebooks, and other essentials directly into their trunks, ensuring a quick and safe process.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

“It’s just a given that a civilized society would want to take care of people who are struggling to put food on their table. To see that all unwound for the sole purpose of ensuring there was more money to give tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires is beyond unconscionable — it’s cruel.” — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul 

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly known as Food Stamps, has been determined to be "our nation’s most effective antipoverty program for the non-elderly."

Over $1.5 million in small business funding is being granted to organizations across Wisconsin, Gov. Tony Evers and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corporation announced.

The funding to 10 organizations is part of WEDC’s small business development grants, which aim to help businesses with improvements, training and other support.

“Across Wisconsin, I’ve had the chance to meet local leaders who are stepping up to create communities where people are excited to live, work, and grow,” said WEDC secretary and CEO Missy Hughes. ”These investments will give communities another tool to keep that momentum building.”

Among the agencies awarded funding were Grant County Economic Development Corporation and Urban League of Greater Madison (Madison, WI), who will receive $120,000 and $250,000, respectively.

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The Urban League of Greater Chattanooga or ULGC (Chattanooga, TN) is celebrating its success at this year's National Urban League Conference. The local group of students, entrepreneurs and volunteers won nearly $20,000 in prizes, scholarships and awards.

The Chattanooga chapter was awarded the Affiliate of the Year (Small Market), first place in the National Youth Case Competition, multiple scholarships, and received second place in the National Pitch Competition.

Students from their Project Ready program won first place in the National Urban League Youth Leadership Case Competition. This team also won the People's Choice Award, granting each student $500.

 Bounce Innovation Hub (Bounce) and Akron Urban League or AUL (Akron, OH) announce the transition of the MORTAR Entrepreneurship Academy (MORTAR) program from Bounce to AUL, a move that further strengthens the collaborative relationship between the two organizations and reflects a shared commitment to streamlining and aligning resources across the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

MORTAR is a nationally recognized entrepreneurship program built in Cincinnati, Ohio designed to support underrepresented entrepreneurs and small business owners as they build and grow their companies. Since bringing the program to Akron in 2020 with the support of the City of Akron, Burton D. Morgan Foundation, and GAR Foundation, Bounce has hosted 12 MORTAR cohorts and 150 entrepreneurs through the cohort-based training, mentorship, and community support.

When Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh discovered an old letter at the Urban League of Broward County (Fort Lauderdale, FL), it felt like holding a piece of living history. Dated 1974 and addressed to founder Margaret Roach, the letter outlined the steps to form a local Urban League chapter and included a modest startup budget of just $30,000.

“In 1974, Margaret and others believed Fort Lauderdale needed an Urban League because of the integration of schools and other social changes,” said Dr. Smith-Baugh, President and CEO of the Urban League. “If they could figure that out then, with under $30,000, I think to myself, we got this.”

TD Bank has been a key relationship on this incredible journey that Urban League of Broward County has been on.

This relationship spans almost 15 years and is marked by shared values and bold decisions, especially during times when others were hesitant.