| Marc H. Morial 2007 Honoree |
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| According to a major publication, "Marc H. Morial, a lawyer by profession, is leading the National Urban League into a new era with street smarts and boardroom savvy." In May 2003, Morial was selected as the eighth president and CEO of the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to bringing African Americans into the economic and social mainstream. After his appointment to the Urban League, Morial established an ambitious five-point empowerment agenda that includes: education and youth, economic empowerment, health and quality of life, civic engagement, and civil rights and racial justice. He helped propel the Urban League into the forefront of major public policy issues, ranging from helping Hurricane Katrina victims and extending the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to creation of jobs and housing. |
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In 2004, Morial launched the Urban League's first Legislative
Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. At this event, Urban League staff and
supporters from across the country discussed jobs, education and civil rights
with congressional lawmakers. Morial was also instrumental in forming the Urban
League's Black Male Commission to explore and develop recommendations, solutions
and programs addressing the alarming disparities disproportionately affecting
black males. He also established the Urban Entrepreneur Partnership, which
combines public and private sector resources to support business development
growth among minority entrepreneurs.
"Your vision has every right to be nurtured and realized." |
Before leading the Urban League, Morial served two four-year terms as mayor of New Orleans. During his tenure, crime fell by 60 percent, a corrupt police department was reformed and $400 million was appropriated for improvements. These improvements included the expansion of the convention center, as well as the construction of 15,000 new homes and a new sports arena.
Before serving as mayor, Morial was a Louisiana state senator for two years. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a J.D. degree from Georgetown University.
Morial has been recognized by the Non-Profit Times as one of America's top 50 leaders of non-profit organizations and by Ebony Magazine as one of the "100 Most Influential Blacks in America."
To future activists, Morial says, "Your vision has every right to be nurtured and realized."
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