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Urban League of Portland

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Urban League of Portland

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Empowering Communities. Changing Lives. Our programs include a distinctive blend of direct services, organizing, outreach, and advocacy.

The Urban League of Portland’s mission is to empower African Americans and others to achieve equality in education, employment, health, economic security and quality of life.

10/29/2026

We’re opening the doors to a new chapter. ❤️

On November 2, we’ll celebrate the grand opening of the Jamii Center and the Urban League of Portland’s new home at the Heritage Building.

This space represents more than a new address. It represents connection, possibility, and a place where community can continue to gather, grow, and move forward together.

We’re grateful to everyone who helped make this moment possible, and we can’t wait to welcome you in.

📅 November 2, 2026 🕗 8:00 AM–10:00 AM 📍 Heritage Building 3934 NE MLK Jr Boulevard Portland, OR 97212

A new location. A stronger community.

09/30/2026

Throwback to just last week 😉

This past Labor Day, Urban League spent the day with Portland City Councilor Candace Avalos, Multnomah County Commissioner Shannon Singleton, and Oregon AFL-CIO President Graham Trainor about the future of work, apprenticeship pathways, and making sure Black and underserved communities have a real seat at the table.

At the Urban League of Portland, workforce development is about more than jobs — it’s about family-sustaining careers, dignity on the job, and the power of partnership between labor, government, and community. Days like today remind us why this work matters.

We’re grateful for our allies who understand that a strong labor movement and a strong community go hand in hand.

09/29/2026

Meet the candidates before you vote. 🗳️

The Urban League of Portland’s Meet the Candidates series returns this October.

Hear directly from candidates seeking local office as they discuss their priorities, the issues facing our communities, and how they hope to serve Portland and Multnomah County.

Upcoming conversations:

📅 Oct. 2 | Portland City Council, District 3 📅 Oct. 5 | Multnomah County Chair 📅 Oct. 9 | Portland City Council, District 4 📅 Oct. 12 | Multnomah County Commissioner, District 2
🕕 6:00–7:00 PM

Register in advance by scanning the QR code on the flyer, or watch live on the Urban League of Portland YouTube channel, .

Your community. Your questions. Your opportunity to hear directly from the candidates.

09/25/2026

For the first time in more than a decade, a new State of Black Oregon Report is here.

Years in the making, this report reflects the lived experiences, challenges, resilience, and aspirations of Black communities across Oregon. It is both a reflection of where we are today and a call to imagine what is possible for our collective future.

On October 6, the Urban League of Portland will convene a carefully curated group of leaders, advocates, policymakers, and changemakers for a Community Conversation centered on the report’s findings and the actions needed to advance Black communities across our state.

While in-person participation is limited, this moment belongs to all of us.

🎥 The conversation will be livestreamed, and a recording will be available so community members throughout Oregon can engage with the findings, hear from leaders and stakeholders, and take part in this important dialogue.

The room may be limited, but the conversation is not.
This report was built by the community, informed by the community, and its vision for the future belongs to all of us.

📅 October 6, 2026 🕒 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM 📍 Portland State University, Urban Center Building
Stay tuned for livestream details.

BlackExcellence EquityInAction PortlandOregon CommunityConversation FutureOfBlackOregon Leadership SocialImpact OregonCommunities

09/10/2026

The Urban League of Portland is sad to share the news that George Dean has passed.

Dean had served the Urban League as a leader since 1977. He handled difficult assignments with incredible clarity and conviction. He headed the Urban Leagues of Nebraska, Greater Sacramento, and most recently as the President and CEO of the Greater Phoenix chapter where he served since 1992. Dean is widely known as a servant leader who focused on economic development. His record as a job creator in Phoenix is unparalleled. In particular, he focused on training Black workers to ensure they were included in the periods of red-hot Phoenix economy during the late 1990s, aughts, and 2010s.

Dean was also a tireless promoter of local community connections. He was able to connect disparate segments into cohesive coalitions that advocated for civil and housing rights. With his kind eyes and gentle smiles, Dean was a light for the League movement in the Arizona desert. We offer condolences and blessings to his wife Eula, as well as the staff of the Greater Phoenix Urban League.

09/07/2026

A postscript to the obituary of legendary feminist leader Gloria Steinem on this Labor Day:

At every turn, Steinem understood that the feminist movement began with Black women. After founding Ms. magazine, Steinem commissioned a poll to gauge public support of the feminist movement. In 1972, it found that 60% of Black women supported feminist goals. For white women, that number was 30%. Steinem also spoke of the importance of Black women feminists of her era, like Flo Kennedy and Paulette Barnes. And Steinem talked often about how the current nationalist movement had widespread support from white women.

The Urban League of Portland honors Gloria Steinem, as well as the Black women who shaped her own thinking and views – Paulette Barnes, Diane Williams, Mechelle Vinson, Flo Kennedy, and Tarana Burke just to name a few.

Read more about Steinem’s life at The Root:
Gloria Steinem Dies at 92: Her Legacy of Crediting Black Women for Feminism

08/27/2026

Some people leave behind a body of work. Others leave behind a way of moving through the world. Dolly Parton did both.

Today, we remember an extraordinary artist, songwriter, businesswoman, philanthropist, and humanitarian whose impact reached far beyond the stage.

Dolly understood that success meant more when it could be shared. Through the Imagination Library, she helped put books into the hands of millions of children.

She invested in education, health care, disaster relief, and communities in need, often with the same warmth and humility that made generations of people feel like they knew her.

She came from humble beginnings, never forgot where she came from, and spent a lifetime opening doors for others.

That is a legacy worth celebrating.

Thank you for the music, the laughter, the generosity, and the example.

Dolly Parton, 1946–2026.

We will always love you. ❤️

08/14/2026

Earlier this week, we celebrated a milestone years in the making: the ribbon cutting for M Carter Commons.

Named in honor of Margaret Louise Carter, Oregon’s first Black woman legislator and a former Executive Director of the Urban League of Portland, this community carries forward a legacy rooted in service, opportunity, and the belief that people should be able to remain in the communities they helped build.

M Carter Commons brings 62 affordable homes to Portland’s Overlook neighborhood, creating housing for older adults along with supportive services designed to help residents remain connected, secure, and supported.

This is what becomes possible when a community decides to build together.

We are deeply grateful to the partners, advocates, funders, and community members whose vision and commitment helped bring M Carter Commons to life.
A special thank you to:

❤️ Northwest Housing Alternatives and Executive Director Trell Anderson ❤️ O’NEILL/WALSH Comm Builders, O’Neill Walsh Community Builders ❤️ KeyBank ❤️ Kaiser Permanente Northwest, Kaiser Permanente Northwest ❤️ Senator Rob Wagner, Senator Rob Wagner ❤️ Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read, Tobias Read ❤️ , Mary Nolan ❤️ Maurice Rahming ❤️ Tricia Tillman ❤️ Wendy Watson

And to every community leader, public partner, staff member, supporter, and volunteer who helped make this milestone possible, thank you.
We cut a ribbon this week, but what we celebrated was much bigger than a building.

We celebrated housing. Dignity. Partnership. Community. And the continuation of a legacy that still calls us to build a stronger Portland.
Together, we keep building.

CommunityImpact

08/10/2026

Every ribbon tells a story.

Over the years, we’ve had the privilege of celebrating projects that expand opportunity, strengthen neighborhoods, and create spaces where our community can thrive.

Tomorrow, we’ll gather once again for the ribbon cutting of Margaret Carter Commons, the next chapter in that story.

Named in honor of Margaret Louise Carter, Oregon’s first Black woman legislator, Margaret Carter Commons will provide 63 affordable homes for older adults, along with supportive services that help residents thrive. It’s a project made possible through partnership and a shared commitment to building stronger communities.

As we look ahead to tomorrow’s celebration, we’re also looking back with gratitude at the many milestones that brought us here.

Here’s to continuing the work, one ribbon at a time.

08/03/2026

We’re back from an incredible 2026 National Urban League Conference in Nashville!

This year’s conference brought renewed focus to expanding representation, strengthening economic opportunity, and supporting the next generation of small-business entrepreneurs.

A big thank-you to Marc Morial, Clifton Harris , the National Urban League , and the Urban League of Middle TN for hosting such a memorable conference.

We were especially inspired by remarks from former Vice President Kamala Harris, and proud to celebrate our President and CEO, Nkenge Harmon Johnson, who was presented with a Gold Record by the Urban League of Middle Tennessee.

What a meaningful week of connection, conversation, and community.

Address

10 N Russell Street
Portland, OR
97227

Opening Hours

Monday	8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday	8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday	8:30am - 5pm
Thursday	8:30am - 5pm
Friday	8:30am - 5pm

Telephone

+15032802600

Website

http://www.ulpdx.org/

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