NEW YORK (May 7, 2013) – The National Urban League, the nation's largest historic civil rights and urban advocacy organization, today announced the launch of its first subsidiary in its 103-year history, the Urban Empowerment Fund (UEF) – a new Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) and small business loan fund. UEF was created to fill a credit gap which has widened in recent years as a result of the continual fallout from the Great Recession, disproportionately impacting many minority-owned small businesses and those operating in underserved communities.

Marc Morial today testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship panel entitled “Strengthening the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem for Minority Women.” During his remarks, Morial underscored the important role Black woman-owned businesses play in the U.S. economic recovery and competitiveness.

- Cy Richardson named Senior Vice President, Economics and Housing -
- Hal Smith named Senior Vice President, Education, Youth Development and Health -

National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial today issued the following statement today in support of President Obama¹s appointment of Rep. Mel Watt to head the Federal Housing Finance Authority (FHFA) and of Federal Communications Commissioner Mignon Clyburn to lead the FCC as interim Chair of the agency.

Statement from Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League re: the Nomination of Mayor Anthony Foxx as Transportation Secretary

Jacksonville Urban League President & CEO Richard Danford’s Statement on JUL Actions in relation to the application of the “Sequestration Act.”

In preparation for the impacts of the “Sequestration Act” my staff and I have closely reviewed all federally funded Jacksonville Urban League programs. Our two-track approach focuses on minimizing the impact of this sequestration on both client services and the employees involved these programs.

Civil Rights Group Praises Inclusion of Key Provisions of it 8 Point Plan

 
Washington, DC (February 13, 2013) - National Urban League (www.nul.org) President and CEO Marc H. Morial today issued the following response to President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address.
 
On the president’s plan for job creation and economic growth:
 

Today the US Department of Housing and Urban Development issued a set of rules designed to offer a practical standard for establishing the instance of discriminatory effects stemming from housing policies and practices.

Prior to the release of today's rule, agencies and jurisdictions throughout the country determined whether such policies violated the Fair Housing Act of 1968 on an ad hoc, case-by-case basis. The result was often the continuation of discriminatory policies in one jurisdiction that had long been found unfair and unlawful in another.

NEW YORK (February 6, 2013) -- A collaborative effort among Verizon Wireless, the National Urban League and other advocacy organizations to increase outreach to minority- and women-owned telecommunications companies helped to bring about a $189 million sale to a minority-owned firm.

The sale of a 700 MHz B block wireless spectrum licenses to Grain Management, a Sarasota, Florida-based private equity firm, is part of an ongoing effort to create opportunity for  women and minorities, said Marc H. Morial, President and CEO of the National Urban League.

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. (February 1, 2013)  -- The diverse and vibrant city of Fort Lauderdale will be the site of the National Urban League’s prestigious 2015 Conference, National Urban League President and CEO Marc H. Morial and Urban League of Broward County President and CEO Dr. Germaine Smith-Baugh announced today.