July brought the momentum forward from the jam-packed slate of activities in June. Our award-winning Biz Camp culminated with a stellar presentation of business pitches from our youth campers, bringing cash stipends to all the winners. Our President and CEO was featured on an LA28 panel connected to our Resilience Champions Fund Grant we received in May. We continued to train the next generation of LA Tradeswomen in the construction workplace through our ERiCA Grant and we wrapped up July on the road in Nashville at the National Urban League Conference 2026. On the final night of activities, the Urban League family handed the baton to us for the National Urban League Conference 2027, to be held next July in Downtown Los Angeles.

June was a month of celebration across the Los Angeles Urban League, highlighted by the inspiring achievements of our community and the continued impact of programs that create pathways to opportunity. We proudly hosted the 7th Annual Los Angeles Black High School Graduation, honoring hundreds of graduates from across Los Angeles County as they celebrated a milestone that reflects years of perseverance, determination and promise.

The month also marked the 51st Annual Whitney M. Young Jr. Awards Celebration, where community leaders, partners and supporters gathered to honor individuals whose leadership and service continue to advance opportunity throughout Los Angeles. Meanwhile, another cohort of aspiring entrepreneurs launched their journey through our MBDA Capital Readiness Program, gaining the knowledge, mentorship and resources needed to help turn innovative ideas into thriving businesses. June served as a powerful reminder that when communities invest in education, entrepreneurship and leadership, the future grows brighter for everyone.

May traditionally serves as a setup month and May 2026 was no different. With our 7th annual LA Black High School Graduation ceremony, our 51st Whitney M. Young Jr. gala, symposiums and another MBDA Capital Readiness cohort set for June, our advance teams were thinly spread throughout Southern California. May 18 brought exhilarating news into our Crenshaw office, as we learned LA28 had awarded us with funding as part of its Resilience Champions Fund Grant. Your LA Urban League was one of eight organizations to receive funding from LA28.

In the spirit of May, recognized annually as Small Business Month, we graduated another promising cohort of entrepreneurs from our Urban Capital Readiness program, hosting a bevy of other events as well, dedicated to our small business community and entrepreneur center. Quietly and unceremoniously, planning got underway for the 2027 National Urban League Conference, to be held next July at the JW Marriott Hotel, LA Live.

April brought the dawn of a new era in the history of our organization as a delegation of National Urban League officials was summoned to LA to hand deliver this major announcement. And so we learned on April 22, the National Urban League Board of Trustees authorized Marc Morial, Urban League President and CEO, to designate the Los Angeles Urban League as the host chapter (and city) for the 2027 National Urban League Conference.

A remarkable accomplishment for us, as we feel our work over the past 3 years has been recognized well enough to be included substantially into the national movement and conversation. The Urban League National Conference is headed back to Los Angeles. The last time LA hosted the National Conference was in 2002, under the leadership of John Mack.

The announcement took place before a packed house in downtown LA at the InterContinental hotel. Work is already underway to stage the best Nation Urban League Conference…ever in 2027. #NatConf27

A month of meaningful progress—marked by the launch of our Capital Readiness Program, equipping small business owners with the tools and guidance to grow and thrive. With strong early engagement, we’re already looking ahead and now accepting applications for our June cohort.

In recognition of National Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, we also hosted our first Health Webinar in partnership with Genentech—bringing critical conversations around access, early diagnosis, and care to the forefront.

An industrious month for us…immersed with the 2026 gala promotion and awareness campaign, an unprecedented lineup of partnership events and reminders sent out for all program cohorts launching in February and March.

Last but foremost—28 days filled with Black History tributes. A citywide honor to our President & CEO to top the month. To close out February, our own blockbuster Black History Month event highlighting Artificial Intelligence and five Black tech pioneers who paved the way for this technology.

Our 2026 launched with high-impact initiatives, as we first visited partners, allies and friends we met last year at this same time. They were all survivors of the Eaton Fire. We’re strengthened by their resolve and resiliency in Altadena and surrounding communities. Their healing powers and determination to rebuild.

We’ve also fortified our capacity in-house adding new members to our staff and team. We then all showed up for the annual MLK Day Parade, participating in this event for the 41st consecutive time, every year that it has been held. Still marching for “The Dream.” We’re rolling in 2026.