Almost a year ago, at the annual Urban League of Greater Cleveland’s “Equal Opportunity Day Luncheon,” it was announced that the 2025 National Urban League convention will be hosted in Cleveland from July 16-20.
Since then, local officials who attended the 2024 convention in New Orleans have sealed the deal to bring the convention to the CLE.
According to a press release from the Urban League of Greater Cleveland, the City of Cleveland’s economy could generate $4.7 million from the event. The Huntington Convention Center will be the hub of most of the activities. Industry leaders, policymakers and luminaries throughout Northeast Ohio and beyond will speak about the mission of ULGC, which includes eliminating the racial, economic and societal barriers that prevent Black Americans and other underrepresented/underserved communities of color from achieving their full potential.
Marc H. Morial, National Urban League president and CEO, is happy about the choice of Cleveland for its 2025 convention and wants to celebrate the organization’s local leadership.
“We are so proud of the vital work of the Urban League of Greater Cleveland and the vibrant communities it is helping to build and grow, and the 2025 Conference is the perfect opportunity to showcase that work,” he said.
According to its website, the Urban League of Greater Cleveland (ULGC), a community-based nonprofit organization established in 1917, was established in response to the needs of families migrating from the South to urban cities in the North. Leveraging its assets as an advocate and service provider, the ULGC helped mitigate the issues of housing discrimination, limited access to employment, quality education, and poor landlord-tenant relations.
Marsha Mockabee, president, and CEO of the Greater Cleveland Urban League, expressed the palpable excitement for the upcoming convention, inviting everyone to be part of this significant event.
“This conference is important to our city because it shines a light on our important work in entrepreneurship, education and youth development, and workforce development, Mockabee said. “As a civil rights organization, there will be numerous opportunities to network and strategize about social justice and advocacy. This planning has been in the works for years with Destination Cleveland. One of the highest honors bestowed on affiliates is to host a National Urban League Conference.”
In a press release, Dan Gilbert, president and CEO of Destination Cleveland, shared that collaboration is what boiled down to getting the nod for the 2025 convention. He said it reflects the dedication ULGC and other organizations have to promote Cleveland’s notoriety as a city focused on equity for all its residents.
For more information on the Urban League and its mission go to: https://www.ulcleveland.org/
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