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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.
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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.

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.

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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.

07/07/2026

Some legacies deserve to be carried forward.

John Willie Godbolt was a social justice advocate and member of the Syracuse 8, a group of Black college athletes who stood up against racial discrimination in 1970 at a cost most people wouldn’t pay.

The John Willie Godbolt Memorial Award honors that legacy with a $1,000 scholarship for high school seniors or two-year college graduates committed to social justice and community service.

Application Period: July 13th – August 3rd Award Announcement: August 31st, 2026

Link in bio to apply. Questions? Contact [email protected]

ULPDX UrbanLeaguePortland BlackHistory Opportunity

07/01/2026

Last week, we marched.
Through the streets of Portland. In our red. With our people.
Juneteenth doesn’t need explaining to most of us.
It’s a feeling. A memory. A reminder of who we are and where we come from.
And every year, showing up in the street, together, is how we say we’re still here.
We saw generations out there.
Elders riding in style. Young people holding signs and holding the line. Families bringing their kids to see what community looks like when it shows up for itself.
That’s what Urban League is here for.
Not just programs and services. Presence.
Showing up when it counts.
Thank you to everyone who came out and marched with us.
The work continues.

StandWithBlackWomen

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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