A deadly wave of firestorms at two opposite spectrums of Los Angeles county is not how anyone projected the start of the new year.

A staff of civil rights leaders transformed itself into a disaster relief agency, at least temporarily. The offshoot was a long-term commitment to the communities of color that lost homes and businesses, ensuring the equitable delivery of recovery assistance—such that no neighborhoods should ever feel like they’re left behind based on zip code. The catastrophic Eaton Fire broke out in the hills above Altadena.

We watched generous donations from around the globe pour into our ‘Wildfires Relief Fund.’ Many of our 2025 PROGRAMS cohorts got underway and our website continued as a resource hub, for those affected by the fires. Not only did we give out information—but compassion, gift cards, and a continuous stream of immediate relief supplies were doled out as well.

February also saw the kick-off of our Black History Month permanent installation here on the website. We featured tech, health, finance, business, first responder and labor pioneers, including our founder Katherine Barr.

March continued the momentum from February, with ongoing fire recovery efforts and our programs in full swing. It was also National Women’s History Month—and the moment we dove headfirst into planning our biggest fundraiser of the year. Despite predictions that few people would be in a festive mood just five months after the fires, we were determined to prove otherwise by celebrating healing.

April rang in the realization of federal budget cuts to nonprofits and the administrative action against DEI. The Minority Business Development Agency (MBDA) was effectively dismantled-a gut punch to one of our most popular entrepreneurship-based programs.

No time to lament, just time to strengthen our resolve and diversify our funding. Our CEO stays on the go. She believes everything is possible, by working smart and hard. Cynthia Mitchell-Heard finds opportunity in every challenge and that’s our north star.

Weeks before the big show the entire event is sold out. May included final preps for our gala-like event in June. BeBe Winans? Confirmed! Doug E Fresh? Confirmed! October London? Confirmed! Jenifer Lewis? Confirmed! And a whole lot more confirmed…to make this event the spectacular ‘Event of the Year.’

The preparation is in the planning, and as of now everything is in place. Everything is set. We just need the Southern California weather to cooperate.

The Whitney M. Young Jr. Awards and Celebration. Restore, Rebuild and Embrace Community: A Night of Unity, Justice, and Healing.

We gave out our highest accolades, with legal eagle George Fatheree winning the Whitney M. Young Jr. Award. Our musical guests put on a show! We galvanized the community around our mission in a night of healing and celebration. And our leader dropped a keynote that unlocked the passions of everyone in the crowd. The Honorable LA Mayor Karen Bass even pulled up for introductory remarks—amidst a backdrop of ICE Raids and immigration protests not far from her office in Downtown LA. That’s Los Angeles 2025 for you. What a year! The blockbuster event was featured in OK, TooFab and People Magazine.

We’ve undergone a change in our chairman of the board, added four new board members and have a celebrity golf tournament fundraiser planned for late July. 

Our team returned from the Annual Conference in Cleveland energized, after hearing our national leader Marc Morial declare our civil rights push “A State of Emergency.” While our Urban League family serves the nation, we’re focused on our own backyard, too. In October, we’ll release the State of Black Los Angeles report with LA County—a barometer, report card, and call to action on urgent issues like economic stability, affordable housing, health access, and immigration. Subtitled Solidarity in Action: Black and Brown LA, this event will take place October 16.

Back home, our PROGRAMS continue to thrive with record participation and measurable impact—and July brought more reasons to celebrate. We were awarded a major grant from the LA County Department of Economic Opportunity through its High Road Training Partnerships program, and just days later, we hosted the exciting and highly successful Los Angeles Urban League Celebrity Golf Tournament. Nearly 300 players, leaders, and celebrities came together at Calabasas Country Club for a day of friendly competition, community building, and fundraising for our mission. It was a tee-rific success and a perfect close to a landmark month.

Our summer newsletter, the second edition of The Quarterly is out. Are you read in? Check out the latest issue!

We celebrated with the Concerned Citizens Community Involvement (CCCI) team at their grand opening of Serenity Apartments, a multi-use senior housing community, at 1623 W. Manchester Ave. As development at this address continues, the Los Angeles Urban League will be spending more time there. We are CCCI’s workforce development and training resource partner. Together we’re building a more connected and opportunity-rich South Los Angeles.

Intuit IDEAS Cohorts graduate the first week in September!

Education Impact

Students Enrolled in Our Programs

Students Are

More Likely to go to College When Enrolled in Our Programs

Education Impact

Students Enrolled in Our Programs

Students Are

More Likely to go to College When Enrolled in Our Programs

Education Impact

Students Enrolled in Our Programs

Students Are

More Likely to go to College When Enrolled in Our Programs

Education Impact

Students Enrolled in Our Programs

Students Are

More Likely to go to College When Enrolled in Our Programs