Local leaders will launch Dallas-Fort Worth’s first-ever Urban League on Monday, March 9.

North Texas was the largest urban area in the United States without an established Urban League, according to a 2022 American Community Survey. That was the catalyst for the Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League Young Professionals to begin working on creating a local affiliate, which was established in July 2025.

“It’s significant because an Urban League is not something that gets planted down from our headquarters in New York,” Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League, said. “It’s something that is created by local leaders in the local community and then becomes a part of this dynamic national network, and that’s what’s important. We are Civil Rights, mission-driven, but our unique role in Civil Rights and in social justice is that we’re a direct services provider.”

For people who may not know what an Urban League does, Morial explained, the organization connects people to jobs, housing, scholarships, and education.

“We serve small businesses who need assistance, and that’s our secret sauce. That’s our special sauce. And here in Dallas and in Fort Worth, and it’s important that this is going to be a regional affiliate, not just Dallas, Dallas, not just Fort Worth, but a combination of the two,” Morial said.

Monday evening, a sold-out kickoff celebration will be held at Gilley’s Dallas to mark the milestone.

Marnese Elder will serve as Interim CEO of the Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League, while Bemnet Meshesha is Chair of the Board. The executive leadership is made up of civic, nonprofit, higher education and business leaders from across North Texas.

“This Urban League affiliate is going to focus on workforce, jobs, opening doors for economic opportunity because we are a Civil Rights, mission-driven organization. But we’re about economic empowerment, economic opportunity and economic justice,” Morial added.

According to its website, the goal of the National Urban League is to, “Promote economic empowerment through education and job training, housing and community development, workforce development, entrepreneurship, health, and quality of life for a wider range of underserved people and backgrounds. Impacting 1.8 million lives today.”

You can learn more about the new Dallas-Fort Worth Urban League here