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Urban League of Portland

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Urban League of Portland

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.

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.

07/30/2026

Greetings from Nashville!
This week, the Urban League of Portland is proud to be represented at the National Urban League Conference, where our President & CEO, Nkenge Harmon Johnson, and members of our team are joining Urban League affiliates, partners and leaders from across the country.

Throughout the week, we’ve had the opportunity to reconnect with colleagues, build new partnerships, exchange ideas and learn from organizations working to create stronger, more equitable communities nationwide.

Every conversation, every connection and every shared experience helps strengthen our work here in Portland. We look forward to bringing new ideas, renewed energy and valuable insights back to the communities we serve.

Thank you to the National Urban League for bringing together changemakers from across the country. We’re excited to continue the conversation and share more highlights from the week ahead.

07/27/2026

Every year, the National Urban League Conference reminds us that we’re part of something bigger than ourselves.

Last year in Cleveland, we connected with leaders from across the country, shared ideas, strengthened partnerships, and returned home inspired to continue the work in Portland.

This week, we’re in Nashville.

We’re excited to represent the Urban League of Portland, learn from affiliates across the nation, and bring home new ideas that strengthen our community.

Follow along all week as we share moments, conversations, and lessons from the 2026 National Urban League Conference.

Nashville, we’re ready.

Portland Nashville

07/20/2026

Urban League of Portland staff proudly participated in the Portland Pride Parade on July 19th, 2026, joining thousands in a joyful celebration of community, inclusion, and resilience.

Our walking crew represented a true cross-section of the organization, boasting team members from the Office of the President, Empowerment, Advocacy & Civic Engagement, Operations, Housing and Outreach, and Health & Seniors. Along the parade route, President & Chief Executive Officer Nkenge Harmon joined her fellow Urban Leaguers, further highlighting our organization’s commitment to belonging and intersectional liberation.

This year’s celebration carried special significance as it marked 50 years since Portland’s first gay rights march, organized by cherished community elder and Urban Leaguer Ms. Kathleen Saadat.

The parade traveled nearby SW Harvey Milk Street, where the recently dedicated Kathleen Saadat Building resides, a permanent reminder of her legacy.

🌈

07/08/2026

Every one of these people showed up ready.

Ready to learn. Ready to work. Ready to build something that lasts.

Through Urban League of Portland’s workforce development program, hundreds of unemployed and underemployed Oregonians are finding real pathways into careers in construction, manufacturing, and healthcare.

Thanks to a $20,000 investment from PGE Foundation, that work continues.

Not just jobs. Careers that build economic security and create generational wealth for people who have faced real barriers to opportunity.

Talent was never the problem.

Access was.

Thank you Portland General Electric and O&G Industries for investing in the people of this 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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