Marc H. Morial
Elected in May of 2003 as the eighth president and CEO of the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights and direct services organization empowering African Americans and other ethnic communities, Morial has helped propel the league into the forefront of national discourse on public policy issues, research and effective community-based solutions in urban America. From Hurricane Katrina and the extension of the Voting Rights Act to creating jobs and housing through effective economic strategies, he is considered one of the nation’s foremost experts on urban issues. He has also been twice recognized by the Non-Profit Times as one of America’s top 50 non-profit executives and has been named to Ebony’s 100 “Most Influential Blacks in America” list. Upon his appointment to the league, Morial established an ambitious five-point empowerment agenda encompassing Education & Youth, Economic Empowerment, Health & Quality of Life, Civic Engagement and Civil Rights & Racial Justice that informs the league’s programs, research and advocacy efforts. He created the new quantitative “Equality Index” to effectively measure the disparities in urban communities across these five areas. The index is now a permanent fixture in the league’s much-heralded The State of Black America report. Under Morial’s leadership, the league joined a select group of nonprofits to receive the Better Business Bureau/Wise Giving Alliance’s seal of approval in 2007, the only civil rights organization selected. Mr. Morial established his President’s Council of Economic Advisors to assist the league in its efforts to mold public policy at the national level, and put the NUL Opportunity Compact, a comprehensive and ambitious set of policy prescriptions for economic change, on course for release in late September. In 2006, the National Urban League Economic Empowerment Tour was launched to raise national awareness of economic disparities between minorities and mainstream America one city at a time. Since its inception, the tour has stopped in Pittsburgh, Pa. and the New York City metropolitan area, with two stops in the works. Under Morial’s direction, the league in 2005 came to the rescue of over 30,000 victims of Hurricane Katrina through its 100-plus affiliates, assisting them with food and clothing and connecting them with government resources. Mr. Morial played an instrumental role in organizing a Black Entertainment Television network telethon to help raise millions of dollars for those affected by the disaster just days after it struck. The NUL also served as an advocate of Katrina victims through the release of its Katrina Bill of Rights, which the Congressional Black Caucus used as the basis for its hurricane relief bill, and through the creation of the Katrina Fund. In 2004, Mr. Morial launched the League’s first Annual Legislative Policy Conference (LPC) in Washington, D.C. Armed with a common agenda of jobs, education and civil rights, the Urban League leadership (staff, board and volunteers) from across the country served as frontline advocates in discussions with congressional lawmakers. A Black Male Commission was formed to explore and formulate concrete recommendations, solutions and programs to address the alarming inequities, disparities and social trends disproportionately affecting black males. Morial also established the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership (UEP), combining public and private sector resources to support business development growth among minority entrepreneurs. Under Morial’s economic agenda, five economic empowerment centers have been established; and $127.5 million has been secured in new market tax credits for business financing. Prior to joining National Urban League, Morial served two distinguished four-year terms (1994-2002) as Mayor of New Orleans, maintaining a 70% approval rating. During his tenure, crime fell by 60 percent; a corrupt police department was reformed; and $400 million was appropriated for city infrastructure improvements, including the construction of 15,000 new homes, 200 miles of streets, a new sports arena and the expansion of the convention center. He also brought the NBA’s Hornets basketball team to New Orleans and was president of the U. S. Conference of Mayors. Before becoming mayor, Morial served as a Louisiana State Senator for two years. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, a law degree from the Georgetown University and honorary doctorate degrees from Xavier University and the University of South Carolina Upstate. # # # |
Marc H. Morial