CHICAGO – National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial will speak on fair housing at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago tonight. 

Morial is scheduled to speak at  8 PM ET/7 PM CT.

The Urban League was instrumental in the U.S. Justice Department's 1973 racial discrimination against Donald Trump's real estate company.  Black testers sent by the Urban League were denied apartments or steered toward other buildings, and their applications were marked with “C,” for “colored.”  The consent decree Trump's company signed required that it provide the Urban League with weekly lists of all vacancies.  But the discrimination continued and in 1978 the Justice Department accused Trump Management of violating the consent decree.  The consent decree expired before the Department could press the case.

On Wednesday (August 14th), members of the Rochester Police Department joined officials of the Urban League of Rochester to announce a historic partnership.

The Urban League if Rochester (Rochester, NY) has donated office space for the RPD at its headquarters on North Clinton Avenue in the city. It will be used by the police department to help foster regular conversation and give the opportunity for officers to work side-by-side with the agency’s staff and clients.

For 60 years, the agency has served as a pioneer of civil rights in Rochester. A few years ago, RPD Deputy Chief Keith Stith contacted Urban League’s President and CEO, Dr. Seanelle Hawkins, to brainstorm ways to better align the agencies.

“We are excited. This is so much more than shared space. This is a commitment to our community’s future. It’s an opportunity to take what was once tension to solution and hope, and that is what we hope to bring,” said Dr. Hawkins.

Last week, the Urban League Plaza had its official groundbreaking ceremony. Located at 9946 W Florissant Ave., the Urban League Plaza will be a place for the community and business to thrive, spearheaded by the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis or ULMSL (St. Louis, MO). This is ULMSL’s fourth new development project in the Ferguson, Dellwood and Jennings areas.

The 13,500 square foot commercial center will be anchored by a branch of First Bank. Other businesses planned for the center include At Home Care, Proficient Chiropractor, Save Our Sisters and a local restaurant. The center also has plans for a business incubator to support and grow local businesses.

The Tallahassee Urban League (Tallahassee, FL) led a march of local political candidates and their supporters on Friday, August 16. The get-out-the-vote event happened on the eve of the final weekend of early voting before Tuesday's primary election.

Tallahassee Urban League President and CEO Curtis Taylor led off the march from the organization's Old Bainbridge Road headquarters.

"Voting rights, civil rights, women's rights, Social Security, Medicaid, minimum wage, everything will be on the line. And so we got to make sure we get everyone out to vote. That's what this is all about."

The group of a few dozen candidates and their supporters then headed for the highly visible corner of Monroe and Tennessee streets. Among the group, contenders for the Tallahassee City Commission, Leon Schools superintendent, property appraiser, county judge and state senate District 3.

The Urban League of Nebraska (Omaha, NE) is hosting a open house for the UNO's new program, the North Omaha Initiative.

North Omaha Initiative is UNO's new partnership with the Urban League of Nebraska to expand educational opportunities to the community.

"Increase enrollment at UNO from north Omaha communities. I hope to see more diversity at UNO and i want people here in north Omaha to know to know what UNO has to offer," said Cynthia Robinson.

Cynthia Robinson the Director of the Black Studies Department says there are many perks to taking the course here at the Urban League.

"If you take these UNO courses here at the Urban League they are $944 each, if you take the same course at UNO it is $15,000." said Robinson

Tory Robinson, an advisor at the university says with the prices being lower it gives neighbors more room to experiment.

Protecting Black culture. See how the defeat of the Grain Elevator Project in Louisiana is a victory for community activism, historic preservation + more. | Join the conversation. Tap in this Tuesday in Chicago as our President & CEO Marc Morial leads a discussion about democracy, diversity & poverty reduction. | Headed to Chicago? Don't miss our full suite of events at the Democratic National Convention! Sign up and get ready to advocate for our collective rights. | Did you hear the news? Updated COVID-19 vaccines and flu shots are coming this fall! Here’s everything you need to know. | Congratulations! Julie Vaucresson of Creole Made Easy, LLC took home the top prize at our Small Business Matters Pitch Competition. Here's more of her story. | Don’t miss the gems. Tune in now to catch up with everything you may have missed from our phenomenal speakers at #NULConf24 in New Orleans. | We appreciate you! Black Philanthropy Month may be over, but it’s not too late to thank an Urban League staffer for their hard work. Get started now.

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League

"This proposed structure will be as tall as the Statue of Liberty. It is a major threat to the slave-descendant community of Wallace. This grain elevator would take up hundreds of acres of the fields around you that once formed Whitney Plantation, potentially destroying unknown burial sites. It will contribute to the existing toxic burden with grain dust pollution, and permanently change the landscape of West St. John Parish." -- Whitney Plantation Museum

The cancellation of plans for a sprawling grain export facility in Louisiana is a victory for community activism, historic preservation, and environmental equity.