Urban League Defines Diversity and Addresses Biggest Challenges at DEI Symposium

The conversation about diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) is an important part of what Urban League of Northwest Indiana (Gary, IN) represents. On Thursday, March 6, students and adults throughout the Region gathered at Valparaiso University's Harre Union ballroom to discuss significant DEI topics in a safe environment.

Submitted byihall_11 onMon, 03/17/2025 - 18:49

Urban League Program Aims to Improve Access to Mental Health Care

The Greater Stark County Urban League (Canton, OH) has launched the Cultural Ally Program to improve mental health care access for underserved communities.

The program is funded by a $159,000 grant through Stark County Mental Health & Addiction Recovery.

The Cultural Ally Program aims to bridge the divide between behavioral health services and diverse populations, including Black, Latinx, LGBTQ+, veterans, and economically marginalized people.

A "cultural ally" serves as a liaison between mental health providers and community members, advocates for culturally responsive care, helps people navigate mental health resources and builds trust and resilience by promoting self-support systems within communities.

Submitted byihall_11 onMon, 03/17/2025 - 18:27

The Power List: Dr. Valerie Thompson

For the last eight decades, the Urban League of Greater Oklahoma City or ULOKC (Oklahoma City, OK) has been the African American community’s premier social service agency, providing affordable housing, minority business support, workforce development, employment and education services. As CEO, Dr. Valerie Thompson works to break poverty cycles, address systemic inequities and foster hope.

“One of the most rewarding aspects of the role is witnessing transformation firsthand,” Dr. Thompson shared. “Every day, I hear stories of clients who have overcome barriers and thrive through the ULOKC’s programs. My role also gives me the unique opportunity to uplift the next generation.”

In 2025, Dr. Thompson says the organization will prioritize affordable housing, youth education, workforce programs and expungement services.

To read the full story, click here.

Submitted byihall_11 onMon, 03/17/2025 - 18:09

ReMarcs Newsletter - March 15, 2025

A march forward. Urban League leaders from all over marched across the Edmund Pettus Bridge to honor John Lewis & others. More on the powerful day. | Let’s talk tariffs. See how Trump’s imposed tax increase on American consumers can impact you, your community, and the future of jobs. | Making sense of this moment. Watch as Marc Morial shares a timely message about the assault on diversity during a Legal Defense Fund event in Selma, AL. | We’re on the list! The National Urban League has officially been added to CharityWatch’s Top-Rated Charities list. Check it out. | Black communities matter. The American Community Survey is an ongoing collection of community-level data, ensuring everyone is counted. Find out more. | Uniting for change. Join us as we gather advocates, leaders, entrepreneurs & more for a powerful Conference focused on real solutions and collective action. | What are your spring plans? Don’t let preventable illnesses ruin your travel plans. Here’s what you need to know about which vaccines are best for you.

Submitted byrwilliams@nul.org onSat, 03/15/2025 - 14:57

If It Walks Like A Tax And Quacks Like A Tax, We Call It A Tax

Marc H. Morial 
President and CEO
National Urban League


"You can’t really run a campaign where you’re like: I want to cut taxes for rich people and raise them on the poor. So instead, it’s all of this smoke-and-mirrors distraction about how foreigners are taking advantage of us ... It’s a story that, if you don’t know any economics and you haven’t stopped to think about it, sounds appealing. And the more people who buy that story, the more he can do this fiscal switch and have an excuse for the tax cuts." — Kimberly Clausing
 
President Trump says "tariff is the most beautiful word in the dictionary."

The beauty, for him, is that it allows him to avoid the word "tax." 

Submitted bycmonteil@nul.org onFri, 03/14/2025 - 13:18

National Urban League Assails Extremist Spending Bill That Threatens to Upend District of Columbia, Gut Aid to Cities, and Hold the Country Hostage

NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE ASSAILS EXTREMIST SPENDING BILL THAT THREATENS TO UPEND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, GUT AID TO CITIES, AND HOLD THE COUNTRY HOSTAGE

NEW YORK (March 13, 2025) — National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today condemned a move by the U.S. House of Representatives to force a  government spending bill through that will effectively give DOGE unchecked power to dismantle the federal government and defund the District of Columbia through September 30th.

“The District of Columbia has long been a stronghold of the Black middle class in the America,” Morial said. “Cutting $1 billion from the city’s budget not only threatens its services, it is an all-out assault on the schools, workforce, and city services that make our nation’s capital great.”

Submitted byiamempowered onFri, 03/14/2025 - 10:56

The Urban Development Accelerator Convenes in St. Louis, MO

The Urban Development Accelerator (UDA) brought together leaders from four National Urban League affiliate organizations in St. Louis, MO from June 2nd – 4th, 2024. In this real-world classroom, contextualized by the visionary real estate development work of the Urban League of Metropolitan St. Louis (ULMSTL), CEOs and affiliate leaders from the Springfield Urban League, the Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, the Urban League of Nebraska, and the Urban League of the Upstate engaged in an immersive learning experience.
Submitted byrwilliams@nul.org onMon, 03/10/2025 - 16:27

Urban Development Accelerator Hosts its Inaugural Convening in New York, NY

The first cohort of the Urban Development Accelerator (UDA) convened in New York, NY on March 27th and 28th, 2024 bringing together five Urban League CEOs [Greater Sacramento Urban League, Springfield Urban League, Urban League of Greater Southwestern Ohio, Urban League of Nebraska, and Urban League of the Upstate] and an additional participant from each affiliate who is vital to the development work of the organization.
Submitted byrwilliams@nul.org onMon, 03/10/2025 - 15:40