In the early 20th century, as millions of African Americans fled the racial terror and economic oppression of the Jim Crow South, they arrived in northern cities with hope in their hearts and resilience in their bones. This movement, known as the Great Migration, was one of the largest internal shifts in American history. It gave birth to new communities, new institutions and new demands for justice.
In 1910, in response to this wave of change, National Urban League was born in New York to help black families cope with the problems of city life and take their rightful place in American life.
Now, more than a century later, we are returning to our roots with the discovery Urban League Empowerment Center in Harlem — an area that has long been the cultural and political heart of Black America. This is not just a new headquarters. This is a $250 million investment in capital, opportunity and community-driven progress.
The Center for Empowerment provides a model for what inclusive development should look like. It includes 170 units of affordable housing designed for families earning between 30% and 80% of the area median income. Residents will include youth supported by New York Foundling's program for foster youth who have aged out of the system—a population that is too often left behind. By providing stable housing and access to services, we help these young people transition into adulthood with dignity and support.
The Center also provides retail and office space for minority-owned businesses and nonprofits, creating a vibrant ecosystem of entrepreneurship and services. The economic activity will generate more than $300 million with a commitment to employing locals, women and people of color. This is not development for the sake of development – it is development with a purpose.
But the significance of this project goes beyond economics. Urban Civil Rights Museum Opening in 2026 during the 250th anniversary of the United States, Harlem will be New York's first museum dedicated to the American civil rights movement, with a unique focus on the struggles in the northern urban environment.
The museum's mission is to interpret and share stories of justice and civil rights while offering immersive educational experiences that empower visitors to become agents of change. The museum will feature a permanent interactive installation, rotating exhibitions, as well as retail space and a café. The museum collaborates with renowned firms Local Projects, Kubik Maltbie and Pacific Studio to develop exhibitions and visual identity.
The Empowerment Center is home to other cultural institutions such as the Studio Museum in Harlem, Virginia Union Universityand the United Negro College Foundation, preserving Harlem's artistic heritage while nurturing the next generation of creators and leaders.
We also built a 10,000 square foot conference center for workforce development, civic engagement and leadership training. This is where ideas will be born, movements will grow, and the future of justice will be shaped. This space is not only for meetings, but also for creating momentum.
In today's political climate, as civil rights protections are being rolled back and programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion are being dismantled, the Center for Empowerment is a beacon. It is a declaration that we will not be erased, that our history matters and that our communities deserve investment, not neglect.
The National League of Cities has always been a bridge – between aspirations and achievements, between politics and people. This center strengthens this bridge. It connects Harlem's storied past with its promising future. It connects our national mission with local influence. And this connects generations of struggle with generations of success.
We are proud to call Harlem home. But more importantly, we are proud to have built something that belongs to Harlem. This isn't just our headquarters—it's the Harlem Empowerment Center. It is a place where residents can live, work, learn and lead. This is a place where justice is not just a goal, but a reality.
By opening these doors, we invite the nation to witness what is possible when development is values-based, when history is honored, and when community is at the center. The Urban League Empowerment Center is not the end of the road, but the beginning of a new chapter.
Let's write it together.
Morial is president and CEO of the National Urban League.
