The National Urban League will hold its annual conference in Cleveland next week. Landing a national conference is big for any affiliate. For the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, hosting the event is a testament to how far the organization has come since 2009, when it was on the verge of shutting down.
Back then, the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, which was founded in 1917, was mired in debt. No one wanted to lead it. The pay for the president and CEO was woefully inadequate. The prospect of receiving a raise was slim. Few could see a clear path to solvency.
Then Marsha A. Mockabee, the director of programs, stepped up. She has been president and CEO ever since.
“It was very difficult at first, but I felt that it was a divine assignment,” she said. “I had the blessed assurance that I would not be alone.”
In addition to a higher power, she had the constant moral support of her husband, James Mockabee, who died in 2020. She said former Cleveland Foundation CEO Steven A. Minter, who died in 2019, offered invaluable guidance as an adviser to the board. In 2016, MVP Plastics Corp.’s president and CEO, Darrell L. McNair, bought the Prospect Avenue building that the Urban League owned and used for its headquarters. He then leased it back to the organization.
I just love that the National Urban League understands that when they bring the conference to a community, it is not just about attracting people to a city to spend money on hotel rooms, go to restaurants, etc. It’s about giving back.”
Marsha Mockabee, president and CEO of the Urban League of Cleveland on the free public events at the national conference held here next week
Funders had been hesitant to give the organization grants for fear that the money would be used to pay down debt instead of going toward programming, Mockabee said.
“That was one of the major pieces of debt that was a weight around our neck,” she said of the building.
Conference to address Trump administration policies
Now, Mockabee said, she is excited about the conference being held July 16 to 19 downtown at the Huntington Convention Center. The civil rights organization, which focuses on economic empowerment, equality and social justice issues, will keep strategizing against Trump administration policies that many in the Urban League believe have been harmful, she said. She added that the organization’s D3 strategy – Defend democracy. Demand diversity. Defeat poverty – speaks to refining an agenda and approaches needed to save programs she and her Urban League colleagues deem important.
“DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion], safety net programs for people who really need them, civil rights and voting rights are all being attacked,” she said. “It is really important that a civil rights organization is standing up for the hard-fought rights that we have won over time.”
Mockabee said too many supporters of such programs are afraid to mount a hearty defense for fear of retaliation.
“That’s not the National Urban League,” she said. “We’ve walked these paths before. If people want to threaten, attack, etc., we know how to respond appropriately.”
State of Black America report to be released
The National Urban League’s State of Black America report will address such issues. Marc H. Morial, president and CEO of the national organization, is scheduled to speak about the impact of dismantling civil rights protections and “reclaiming the promise of the 1965 Voting Rights Act” in a July 17 session. Mayor Justin M. Bibb and the Rev. Al Shapton are also scheduled to speak at a session called “State of Emergency: Democracy, Civil Rights and Progress Under Attack.”
“We insist on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in all aspects of American life, from our courtrooms to our classrooms and campuses, from our factory floors and construction sites to our C-suites and every workplace in America,” Morial wrote in a statement released Wednesday. “We must level the playing field, so our children and children’s children have an equal opportunity to succeed.”
Free events taking place at the conference
It is customary for the organization to hold free, community-focused events at its annual national conference, Mockabee said. Many organizations that hold national conferences and conventions only open events to paying attendees.
“I just love that the National Urban League understands that when they bring the conference to a community, it is not just about attracting people to a city to spend money on hotel rooms, go to restaurants, etc.,” she said. “It’s about giving back.”
Free legal advice, virtual and in-person career fairs and a backpack and school supplies giveaway are among the offerings. A free entrepreneurship summit, a college and scholarship fair and the State of the Urban League address by Morial are also open to the public.
Here are more details about the free events. They take place at the convention center, 300 Lakeside Ave., unless noted.
July 15
The Virtual Career and Networking Fair will be held 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 15. It will include resume critiques, career coaching and workshops on career advancement. To find out more about the event, you may register by clicking this link.
July 16
The in-person Career and Networking Fair will be held in Hall B of the convention center July 16 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attendees may get resume and LinkedIn profile critiques and free professional headshots. Upload your resume and register by clicking this link.
Also on July 16, Morial will give the State of the Urban League address at the convention center at 6 p.m. Registration is not required.
While not a free event, Mockabee also wants people to consider attending the Family Reunion: Bridging Generations Through Music and Culture at 6:30 p.m. July 16 at Rocket Arena. Ticket proceeds will go to the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, which has received praise for its entrepreneurship programs.
“We want for this conference to be a springboard for people to really understand the value of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and how it is an asset,” Mockabee said.
July 19
The Community and Family Day Expo will be the focal point of the free public events. It will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 19 at the Huntington Convention Center, 300 Lakeside Ave., Cleveland. You may register by clicking this link.
Free legal advice and free health screenings are part of the expo. Free backpacks and school supplies will be distributed at the event. The college and scholarship fair will also take place at the expo.
There will be plenty of fun things to do at the family day, including a candle-making workshop and Jiggaerobics, which draws upon fitness and dance routines.
The Small Business Matters Entrepreneurship Summit will be held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 19. The event will include workshops and resources aimed at helping entrepreneurs launch and grow businesses. You may register by clicking this link.