{"id":646222,"date":"2026-03-10T19:10:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:10:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/646222\/"},"modified":"2026-03-10T19:10:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T19:10:19","slug":"dallas-fort-worth-urban-league-makes-historic-debut","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/646222\/","title":{"rendered":"Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League Makes Historic Debut"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"has-drop-cap\">North Texas marked a historic moment this week as civic leaders, corporate partners, young professionals and community advocates gathered for the official launch of the Dallas\u2013<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dfwulyp.org\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Fort Worth Urban League<\/a>, the 93rd affiliate of the National Urban League.<\/p>\n<p>The sold-out event was hosted at Gilley\u2019s Dallas and emceed by broadcast journalist Evan Anderson. The momentous event also welcomed <a href=\"https:\/\/nul.org\/marc-h-morial\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Marc Morial<\/a>, who has been the primary catalyst for an era of change and a transformation for the 100-plus-year-old civil rights organization. His presence underscored the national importance of bringing the Urban League\u2019s legacy of economic empowerment back to the Dallas\u2013Fort Worth region.<\/p>\n<p>For years, North Texas had been the largest metropolitan region in the United States without an Urban League affiliate\u2014leaving a gap in coordinated services for underserved communities. The new affiliate aims to fill that void through workforce development, entrepreneurship programs, and advocacy designed to expand economic mobility across the region.<\/p>\n<p>A Night Grounded in Faith and Purpose<\/p>\n<p>The evening opened with a powerful invocation from Dallas Rev. Dr. Freddie Haynes, who framed the launch within the broader legacy of the civil rights movement.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cGod, we pray your blessings now upon this new start of this affiliate,\u201d Haynes said. \u201cWe thank you for the programs that are going to be transformative\u2026 and the solutions that will come out of this affiliate.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>Haynes also reminded attendees that progress requires collective responsibility, invoking the long-standing belief that justice moves forward when communities act.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2012.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-145067\"  \/>Rev. Dr. Freddie Haynes (speaker), Senator Royce West (speaker), Victor Vital, Board Member DFW Urban League, Evan Anderson (Emcee). Photo By: Sienzhi Kouemo<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have a responsibility to push that arc toward justice,\u201d he said, referencing hip-hop icon Kendrick Lamar. \u201cAnd as we do it, we know we\u2019re going to be all right.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>A Vision for Economic Mobility<\/p>\n<p>Interim CEO Marnese Barksdale Elder emphasized that the organization\u2019s mission will focus on expanding opportunity across the region.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2021.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-145068\" style=\"width:768px;height:auto\"  \/>Behind the scenes with Victor Vital and DFW Urban League Interim CEO Marnese Barksdale Elder. Photo By: Sienzhi Kouemo<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThe Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League is a group of visionary leaders dedicated to expanding economic mobility, opportunity and community transformation,\u201d Elder said during the program.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>She noted that the organization will prioritize programs focused on workforce development, entrepreneurship and advocacy that strengthen families and communities throughout North Texas.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn a region experiencing tremendous growth, it is critical that progress includes everyone,\u201d Elder added.<\/p>\n<p>The affiliate plans to build programs that create real pathways to opportunity while ensuring that the benefits of regional growth are shared broadly.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2040.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-145070\"  \/>Reuben Griffin, President of Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League. Photo By: Sienzhi Kouemo<\/p>\n<p>During the event, Marc Morial emphasized that the return of the Urban League to North Texas represents an important moment for both the region and the national organization.<\/p>\n<p>The Urban League, founded in 1910, has long served as one of the nation\u2019s leading civil rights and economic empowerment organizations, operating dozens of affiliates across the country to support job training, education and community advocacy initiatives.<\/p>\n<p>By establishing the Dallas\u2013Fort Worth affiliate, the National Urban League hopes to strengthen regional efforts to address disparities in employment, economic access and education.<\/p>\n<p>The launch celebration also recognized the corporate and philanthropic partners whose early investments helped make the affiliate possible.<\/p>\n<p>Founding sponsors include:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Matthews<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Comerica Bank <\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Wells Fargo<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Dr. Arlene Ford &amp; Christopher Reynolds<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>JPMorgan Chase<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Erika N. Salter, PC<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>HEB<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>Communities Foundation of Texas<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Together, these organizations have contributed more than $1 million in early support to help establish the affiliate and launch its programming. Event organizers also thanked the evening\u2019s presenting sponsor, Matthews Southwest, for providing the venue and helping make the launch celebration possible.<\/p>\n<p>Civic Leaders Rally Behind the Mission<\/p>\n<p>Several North Texas leaders were also recognized for helping bring the Urban League back to the region, including Senator Royce West and Commissioner John Wiley Price.<\/p>\n<p>Their advocacy, organizers said, helped demonstrate that the need for an Urban League affiliate in North Texas was both urgent and long overdue. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cTheir letters of support were powerful and unmistakably clear that North Texas needed an Urban League,\u201d Elder said.<\/p>\n<p><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/IMG_2034.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-145072\" style=\"width:768px;height:auto\"  \/>Dr. Froswa Booker of the sponsor committee for DFWUL and Vice President Sienzhi Kouemo.<\/p>\n<p>A key highlight of the evening was the presence of the Urban League Young Professionals, who will serve as the next generation of leadership for the organization. The speech from Marc Morial was equally inspiring, drawing multiple ovations from distinguished guests as he spoke about advancing Black equity in the workplace.<\/p>\n<p>Young professionals across Dallas and Fort Worth are stepping forward to support the affiliate through mentorship, volunteerism, fundraising and community engagement.<\/p>\n<p>Their involvement signals a broader commitment to building sustainable leadership for the organization and ensuring that the Urban League\u2019s mission continues to resonate with emerging leaders across North Texas. <\/p>\n<p>While the evening marked a historic launch, speakers made clear that the event was just the beginning.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cThis night is not just a launch event,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bemnet-meshesha-msw-55aa14189?trk=public_post-text\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Bemnet Meshesha, MSW<\/a>, told the audience. \u201cIt is a declaration of what we believe is possible for the people and communities we serve.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>As the program concluded, supporters were encouraged to continue investing in the mission through partnerships, volunteerism and philanthropy.<\/p>\n<p>With national leadership, strong corporate backing and a coalition of young professionals behind it, the Dallas\u2013Fort Worth Urban League now begins the work of transforming opportunity into measurable impact across the region.<\/p>\n<p>\n\tRelated<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"North Texas marked a historic moment this week as civic leaders, corporate partners, young professionals and community advocates&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":646223,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[5135],"tags":[5229,8021,8022,8023,274687,50956,1596,8024,274688,16672,425,172042,274689,274690,274691,50,182653,358,3187,67,586,132,5230,68,2969],"class_list":["post-646222","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-dallas","tag-america","tag-black-media","tag-black-news","tag-black-press","tag-commissioner-john-wiley-price","tag-communities-foundation-of-texas","tag-dallas","tag-dallas-weekly","tag-evan-anderson","tag-jpmorgan-chase","tag-local","tag-marc-morial","tag-marnese-barksdale-elder","tag-matthews-southwest","tag-national-urban-league","tag-news","tag-senator-royce-west","tag-texas","tag-tx","tag-united-states","tag-united-states-of-america","tag-unitedstates","tag-unitedstatesofamerica","tag-us","tag-usa"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@us\/116206464491254428","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646222","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=646222"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/646222\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/646223"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=646222"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=646222"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=646222"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}