On our last episode of the Legal Lens Podcast, I was ecstatic, privileged, and honored to welcome two powerhouse guests onto the show, Marc Morial, the President and CEO of the National Urban League, and Cynthia Mitchell-Heard, the first African American woman and woman President of the Los Angeles Urban League, which is my local affiliate. You may have heard them on other KBLA Talk 1580 shows, and I’m happy to finally have them on the Legal Lens for a long overdue discussion. In this compelling conversation, we dove deep into how the National Urban League and Los Angeles Urban League are actively combating the alarming impacts of “One Big, Beautiful Bill’s” tax cuts for billionaires, alongside critical cuts to Medicaid, HUD, and Job Corps funding. We also discussed the National Urban League Conference 2025, the vital State of Black America Report, and so much more!
For a deeper and more convenient look into these changes and their widespread impact, I strongly encourage you to tune into our most recent riveting 30-minute discussion with Morial and Mitchell-Heard on the Legal Lens Podcast. You can find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Simplecast, and everywhere you get your podcasts for free. Here is a recap of our conversation.
Marc Morial and Cynthia Mitchell-Heard Join the Legal Lens Podcast to Discuss how the National Urban League and Los Angeles Urban League Are Addressing One Big, Beautiful Bill’s Tax Cuts for Billionaires, Medicaid Cuts, HUD Cuts, Job Corps Funding Cuts, the National Urban League Conference 2025, the State of Black America Report, and More!
To fully grasp the scope of their work and the urgent issues they’re addressing, let’s first introduce you to the remarkable individuals at the forefront of this movement. We begin with a closer look at the President and CEO of the National Urban League, Marc Morial, and the President of the Los Angeles Urban League, Cynthia Mitchell-Heard. So, without further ado, let’s get into it!
Related Article: One Big, Beautiful Bill Act Update & What it Means for Our Nation’s Employment Laws
Who Is Marc Morial?
Marc Morial is from New Orleans, and while taping this episode, he was enjoying his time back home, though this homecoming was a little more than a leisurely visit.
If you know Morial, you know there’s always work to be done – especially in the current climate with President Donald Trump’s One Big, Beautiful Bill looming, though he has a different name for it. He was in New Orleans preparing for the Essence Festival, an event he holds near and dear to his heart.
“This event marks the 31st year of this festival,” said Morial, “and it’s a celebration of Black women. I’m proud to have been the founding mayor of the Essence Festival. I’m just completing this last stop of a two-week trip. I was in Charleston, South Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, and Atlanta, Georgia, over the last several days,” he explained.
Rousing and impassioned as ever, Morial wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter.
“In Atlanta, I was speaking to the National Newspaper Publishers Association, and in Charleston, I was speaking to the Alliance of African American CDFIs,” said Morial, “and my goal is to to continue to lead this fight against this Big, Ugly Bill, which will hurt people and represents one of the largest and most massive transfers of money and power in American history. It is a deficit buster. It’s a belly buster in the sense that it will take food away from those who are hungry and healthcare away from those who are needy simply in an effort to finance a tax cut for America’s 900 billionaires, and this bill is more than a policy mistake. For me, it’s a moral outrage and an indictment that this is what we’ve come to in America, that this bill could get so much momentum.”
Morial is nothing if not a tireless and inspiring beacon of hope and change, and this proved to be true almost immediately in this conversation as he encouraged listeners to take action.
“We continue to lead this resistance and encourage people to call 2-0-2-2-2-4-3-1-2-1 – that’s the Capitol switchboard. Call your member of Congress, say ‘vote against the Ugly Bill,’ and then call again and say, ‘vote against the Ugly Bill’ an hour later and keep using your voice because members of Congress need to hear from you. Your voice matters, and it’s needed more than ever,” Morial said.
During our conversation, I noted that he had a t-shirt on that those who choose to watch our podcast will also see. It said, Defeat Poverty, and I asked him to elaborate on it.
“It’s the third pillar of the National Urban League’s D-Three Call to Action,” explained Morial, “so our D-Three Call to Action elevates, animates, and really capitalizes our work. The first is Defend Democracy, which is protecting the right to learn, the right to earn, the right to vote, the right to privacy, and the right to the rule of law. The second D is Demand Diversity. We can’t give up an inch in our fight for equal economic diversity, and diversity is really a synonym for economic opportunity. The third one is, of course, Defeat Poverty, because poverty is an economic and social issue, as well as a moral issue. A great nation of enormous wealth like the United States of America should leave no one behind, so we’ve got to defeat poverty – not diminish or suppress it, but defeat it.”
Who Is Cynthia Mitchell-Heard?
A trailblazer, an advocate, a leader, a President, and a difference-maker, Cynthia Mitchell-Heard is many things. When we had our conversation, we were approximately two to three weeks out from the successful Los Angeles Urban League Gala, which was a big hit.
“This was our 50th year with Whitney M. Young, Jr. Award, and we were so delighted,” said Mitchell-Heard with pride. “As I’ve taken the helm of the Los Angeles Urban League, we know the historical practice and involvement with the gay line and how important that is. I mean, we all know the work that Whitney M. Young, Jr. has done to empower the community as we still fight to make certain that we are part of that D-Three, as President Morial stated. The Gala brings back a presence and voice in Los Angeles, and President Morial has worked very hard to make sure the Los Angeles Urban League is not only known for the work that we do, but we also partner and collaborate with all of the corporations, with the legislators, stakeholders, and others, to make certain that everyone understands the voice of the Los Angeles Urban League as we work in conjunction with our President Marc Morial,” she said.
Morial was quick to give Mitchell-Heard her flowers for the amazing work she has done with the National Urban League of Los Angeles, as well as recognizing what makes her such an impactful figure within her community and the organization – her unrelenting spirit.
“I think it’s really important to take a moment to thank and congratulate Cynthia for taking the helm of one of the nation’s most storied community-based organizations,” Morial said, “and one of our greatest affiliates of all time, the Los Angeles Urban League. Of course, she’s standing on incredible shoulders. We always have to mention John Mack and his legend and how, now, Cynthia is, I think, very well positioned to restore that great legacy. Cynthia came into this organization the only way she knows how to come in, and that is with a ball of fire, a lot of enthusiasm, and a no-nonsense mentality. So I want to thank everyone who supported the Los Angeles Urban East Gala and just say we need you to continue to be there with us along the way.”
Related Article: Angela Rye and Jeffery Wallace on the State of the People Power Tour in 2025, ICE Raids, Grassroots Activism, and the Rise of a New Policy Agenda
One Big, Beautiful Bill Tax Cuts for Billionaires, Medicaid Cuts, HUD Budget Cuts in 2025, Job Corps Funding Cuts, and More
Since we had this conversation, the One Big, Beautiful Bill has passed, but Morial’s insights are just as important as ever, especially when considering its impact on Black Americans. Morial discussed key elements: tax cuts for billionaires, Medicaid, HUD cuts in 2025, Job Corps funding cuts, and more.
“So, let me try to break down the bill because it has multiple components,” explained Morial, “and the first thing to know is it’s a tax cut bill that would extend the President’s 2017 tax cuts and make them even deeper. What’s the problem with those tax cuts? The problem is that they’re skewed, meaning huge benefits to the wealthiest of Americans. In fact, 70% of the benefits on the tax side in the bill go to the top 5%, and in that top 5%, you have 900 American billionaires. So, in many ways, this bill revolves around billionaire tax cuts. That’s where 70% of the juice, 70% of the food, 70% of the benefits go – to a small group of people who, arguably, aren’t the ones who really need the assistance and support. That’s on the tax side, but secondly, on the budget side, it makes deep cuts in healthcare programs, not only Medicaid, which many people who need nursing care. Working families, too – 1/3 of all childbirths are paid for by Medicaid. This is on the spending side.”
However, he said that the budget cuts in the bill don’t stop there, as Morial illustrated, starting with HUD funding cuts and continuing to what this signifies about the current climate.
“The HUD budget would be cut by 50%,” Morial continued with notable severity, “and workforce programs and job training programs would be emasculated – Job Corps would go away. Those cuts are going to hurt working Americans, and most Black Americans are working Americans, so it’s going to be really devastating – the funding lost by those cuts can’t be replaced by most states or by the private sector. This is the other component. When you look at this bill as a whole, what you have is a massive shift of resources that benefit poor and middle-class Americans to resources that are going to benefit the wealthiest Americans. It’s morally wrong. These are cuts to people programs.”
Morial also gave some insight into the hopeful end-goal of his unremitting work and activism. Namely, he answered the question: What happens if the bill gets defeated?
“Best case scenario is Congress has to go back to the drawing board and work on a better bill,” said Morial, “because there is definitely a much better bill that can be crafted that gives more tax cuts to working people, preserves the integrity of all the programs, and makes billionaires and the most wealthy pay their fair share.”
Still, while he may be an idealist, at his core, Morial is a pragmatist, noting that while there are things in the bill he likes, the National Urban League has to make a practical approach to address these issues.
“No one’s trying to soak anybody here because it’s about people paying their fair share,” said Morial, “so that’s why at the National Urban League, when we look at this, you have to make a value proposition, and inside the bill, there may be things I like, such as no taxes on tips, no taxes on overtime, no taxes on Social Security, but that lipstick on the face of this pig doesn’t camouflage the fact that this bill is a great big pig.”
As for the potential impact of the One Big, Beautiful Bill based on what we’re seeing in the federal government on local affiliates like Los Angeles, especially when California is already having its own struggles and budget issues, Mitchell-Heard provided some great insight. In fact, she said that the federal government budget has a bigger impact on us than the state and local budget.
“Well, for us at the Los Angeles Urban League, several years ago, we noted that we were going to diversify our funding sources,” explained Mitchell-Heard with the fiery passion Morial described, “so it’s very multi-didactic in our approach. First and foremost, I want to say President Morial shared some really important insights in terms of what’s happening, and on the local level for us Black folks, we really have to understand that this is no joke – this is something that will impact everyone. Healthcare, HUD, job training, Job Corps, it will impact countless people locally and nationwide. What will this mean in Los Angeles? We know that at 1020 South Olive, there are 600 beds of Job Corps Students, so what will that mean? What is the impact on our healthcare? The reality is that Black and brown folks are going to be the ones hit the hardest, so it’s important that your voice is heard. Please, I implore everyone to not just sit on the sidelines.”
Mitchell-Heard explained that, naturally, Los Angeles Urban League is in an especially precarious position given the approaching cuts.
“Obviously, it’s a no-brainer,” elaborated Mitchell-Heard, “and the reality is that it will affect the Los Angeles Urban League significantly as we have funding programs that are attached to these cuts. We will have to calibrate to see where we can still keep our communities whole, and where we can still provide them services. But this is where most of the funding comes from in many spaces for the main communities. This is really a time like which we’ve never seen. This is not a time to be weak for Black and brown folks – it will affect Los Angeles, it will affect all our affiliates across the country, and we are already looking to see and try to plan how we will recalibrate and switch the paradigm. Because the reality is that once that money goes, it goes.”
I noted it’s important to consider President Morial’s observation about the funding gaps corporate America and private donors can’t cover, even if they all come together, and this applies to more than just the National Urban League and will affect the entire nonprofit and advocacy landscape, which has a domino effect on all facets of society, like small businesses.
Related Article: Darryl Vincent and Stephen Peck on Ending Veteran Homelessness with U.S. Vets
What is the National Urban League?
This, of course, raises an important question that President Morial was able to answer – what is the National Urban League, and how does the National Urban League help African Americans?
“The National Urban League is unique among civil rights organizations and unique among African American-focused organizations because we provide direct services to people,” explained Morial. “These services are after-school programs, job training, youth services, home buyer education, housing counseling, workforce development, health education programs, and small business assistance programming. We provide those to 3.8 million people a year across the nation through 36 states and 92 affiliates. We’re not just an advocacy organization, and we’re not just doing activations and dinners. We are in the community with our sleeves rolled up with paid professionals working to help people climb out of poverty, get a job, get a better job, build a business, become a homeowner, and I’ll put the work of the National Urban League against the work of anyone, and that’s not to disparage or knock anybody else. We do what we do, and what we do is unique, and if we’re not there, no one’s there to fill the breach,” he said.
Related Article: Congresswoman Linda Sanchez Unpacks Capitol Hill: The Polarization of Congress, “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” Trump Tariffs, and the CHANGE Act
Where Does the National Urban League Stand with Other Issues?
While the One Big, Beautiful Bill has dominated headlines and been one of the more recent sources of partisan contention and controversy, we acknowledged that it is just one in a litany of events since President Trump’s inauguration, such as a rollback on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), federal government workers being laid off, immigration and ICE raids, and the Supreme Court empowering our president to go to war. So, where does the National Urban League stand with these other issues?
“We have been in resistance to this anti-democratic, totalitarian, and divisive set of initiatives that are, in my own view, an effort to repeal 70 years of civil rights progress,” said Morial. “In my opinion, it’s anti-Black, anti-immigrant, anti-Latino, and anti-anyone that these folks think is not American. We’ve been active. We held a Demand Diversity Roundtable press event at the National Press Club. Two days after the President’s inauguration, we brought litigation. We are now running a very, very extensive campaign against the One, Big, Beautiful Bill. I call it the Big, Ugly Bill because of what it will do and how it will impact people. And we’re running a campaign and are encouraging people to be engaged in that campaign. Go to our website at www.nul.org to learn how you can weigh in or, as I said earlier, call your member of congress at 2-0-2-2-2-4-3-1-2-1. So we are involved in this coalition building. How do you push back? You push back through protests, you push back through litigation, you push back by talking to lawmakers candidly and directly. You do this by mobilizing. Is this easy? Is this quick? No, this is a fight, and this is a consequence of losing an election,” he said.
Related Article: Darryn Harris on Proposed Medicaid Cuts in 2025 | What Does it Mean for You?
National Urban League Initiatives and Support for Local Chapters Around National Issues
Our conversation turned toward how the National Urban League and local chapters like the Los Angeles Urban League are coming together to push back against the current administration and Congress, notably how they have partnered around some very specific initiatives to support the pushback, and how common it is for them to partner with local affiliates to address national issues.
“That’s just how we work best and when the affiliates are at their most successful and influential,” said Morial, “so there’s always a desire there to have a partnership with the National Urban League and demonstrate that, as a strong local organization, they have a national partner. So, Cynthia organized a great and very important visit to Altadena for me to look at the fires and aftermath, and then she convened a number of round tables, one with elected officials, and the other with bankers and economic developers to discuss some of the most important things about the rebuilding process. She also organized a business diversity roundtable where we hosted the legendary John Rodgers, who was leading such an effort in Chicago and wanted to look at exposing Los Angeles to the same idea to create more opportunity for African-American businesses that are really in need.”
President Morial was quick to give the local affiliate and the work that Mitchell-Heard has done their flowers, which he is always quick to do.
“There are two things that have happened in the last 90 days,” said Morial, “and they reflect the Los Angeles Urban League’s determination to be at the forefront on key issues and the understanding that Los Angeles is the second-largest city in America. It’s got an incredible legacy for the Black community, and it is a special place because of that. You have to keep in mind that Los Angeles’s Black community comes from Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, Georgia, and all over, so we have connections in Los Angeles families and friends, and that’s why Los Angeles is so connected to the nation and shouldn’t be just seen as the largest city in California or a great western metropolis, but a city that’s connected. This is why Los Angeles can be a leader on issues – it’s important that people understand the importance of helping Black communities, and all communities, of course, in Altadena rebuild their homes, communities, and lives.”
What is the Los Angeles Urban League Doing for Altadena, and What Is Its Significance?
When it comes to Altadena specifically, Mitchell-Heard provided some important insight into the significance of this city for the Black community, and how the Los Angeles Urban League has managed to get boots on the ground to address the fires.
“The moment the fires hit, the Los Angeles Urban League was deployed to Altadena,” explained Mitchell-Heard, “and Altadena is a city near Pasadena that is rich in Black and African American culture and family legacy. It is a place where many Black middle-class people moved to because, at one point, they were not able to purchase homes in Pasadena. So, they went to the neighboring city of Altadena to purchase property. From there, they began to build their legacy, small or large, of attaining property, and then passing it on to their children and their children’s children. They even began to create these villages of legacy and acquisition of property where one family would own four or five homes on a block. It also gave them the opportunity to start small businesses. So you can imagine that his fire absolutely devastated the community. Obviously, we all have concerns about how the Black community was left behind. The National and Los Angeles Urban League has done a lot to bring presence and visibility through our lens and through the optics of media and other avenues, partnering with federal, state, and local agencies and banks.”
Mitchell-Heard said this visibility and presence of the National Urban League are an immeasurably important asset that helps to bring a sense of stability during such a time of turmoil, chaos, and crisis.
“The voices that we convened let everyone know that the Los Angeles Urban League is under the umbrella of the National Urban League,” added Mitchell-Heard, “and we’re watching. We are looking at the disparities between the cities – they are all devastated, but one is a little richer in dollars than the other, so we want to make sure that one is not given more opportunity than the other. That goes from rebuilding to refinancing for small businesses, getting all the dollars needed. I’m so proud to say that we have a partnership that I help chair as one of three chairs, the Black Collective Partners, and we have brought together a coalition of the Black Business Association, the Brotherhood Crusade, the Community Build Incorporated, Destination Crenshaw, the Greater African American Chamber of Commerce, Black and Vermont Slauson, and the California Black Women’s Collective Empowerment just to name a few.”
As ever, Mitchell-Heard is unwavering in her dedication and a shining example of perseverance despite seemingly insurmountable odds.
“We’re on it,” said Mitchell-Heard, “and we will be here after those organizations come together specifically to support initiatives surrounding the Altadena Fires and Eden Fires. We have convened to make sure not only that the governance but also Los Angeles Urban League, as well as some others, are recipients of funding so we’re able to provide dollars in great numbers of scholarships to small businesses, to make certain that some of their needs are still adhered to while they are awaiting other funds and insurance payouts and other means of funding. So we are keeping businesses afloat in Los Angeles, and we’re providing resources – we are not just an advocacy organization. We are on the ground, and when you say you’ve got a problem, you know that the Los Angeles Urban League will rise to the occasion. This was the largest fire in California history, but we were right there, along with other individuals and federal institutions and support, and President Morial came and stood right next to me to face it, and we haven’t left each other’s side since. And we won’t leave until we know all has been taken care of in our efforts to rebuild and restore Los Angeles.”
What is the National Urban League Conference 2025?
We then turned our attention to a very exciting moment in the National Urban League movement – the conference that took place during the week of July 14th in Cleveland, Ohio. We are happy to say it was a great, impactful, and hopeful yet candid conference.
“We’re excited to be in Cleveland,” beamed Morial, “and I might add that we’ll be in Cleveland with one of our strong affiliate leaders, Marsha Maccabee, who’s led the Cleveland Urban League now for over 15 years. This year’s conference will be a conference where we will release the 2025 version of the State of Black America Report, which really focuses on the state of emergency we face as Black Americans and Americans today. Secondly, it will be chock full of discussions around the issues that animate our D-Three Call to Action discussions around democracy: diversity, poverty, and economics. It will also be a place where our young professionals will gather. A very important component of the Urban League movement is over 10,000 young professionals between 20 and 40 who make up the backbone of our advocacy work and really represent our future, as well as a youth summit. We have a youth summit with about 500 teenagers who come from all over the nation for a number of days of activation on a college campus, so they get that experience and put them in that mindset of going to college. Then, we also tap off every National Urban League conference with Family and Community Day, which is when we throw the doors of the Cleveland Convention Center wide open for the Cleveland community and give away backpacks to help kids go back to school. We have a number of activations in technology, health, and beauty, and there will be a virtual and live component.”
Proud of what this conference represents, he added that it is the “hottest and most impactful civil rights conference of the summer.”
What Is the State of Black America Report?
The conversation then turned to an intriguing component of this conference that Morial mentioned: The State of Black America Report. President Morial gladly provided some insights.
“I can give you some insight into what’s important about it,” said Morial, “and it’s important to recognize the state of emergency and the assault on Black America through executive orders, layoffs, and policy shifts and changes. Just think about the insult associated with the Department of Defense putting Confederate names back on army bases and the Secretary of Defense defending that on national television as being part of history and tradition, suggesting that this is what servicemen want. Servicemen and servicewomen do not want that – they want to step away from slavery and the ugliness of the Confederacy, so this is like poking us in the eye and insulting us for no reason.”
With the stage set of the state of emergency at hand, Morial went on to explain what the State of Black America Report includes in greater detail.
“We compare and contrast in terms of what we’re up against,” said Morial, “and I would encourage people we have a number of important reports – the State of Black Medical Report, a George Floyd Five-Year Report, and a Mainstream Tax Plan, which talks about how we could create a better tax plan than the Big, Ugly Bill. So the National Urban League’s on the move – we’re a thought leader. We’re a policy leader, and we are trying to encourage people, and we hope local elected officials, state elected officials, and community leaders will not only follow this report but use it to prompt discussion and prompt action in their communities – it is meant to galvanize action.”
It’s worth noting that there is also a State of Black LA Report that came out earlier this year that we are eager to have Michell-Heard back on to discuss in the near future!
What Does the Future Look Like for the National Urban League?
As always, we tried to close out our discussion with a message of hope, even in dark times. We turned to President Morial to provide some words of hope and encouragement.
“History teaches us,” said Morial. “We’ve got to learn the lessons of our elders and ancestors and the wise people in our community, but we’ve also got to activate and channel the energy of our young people. And we can’t do it alone – Black America must always lead its own movement and its own struggle, but we must build allies. It simply means that the hopes that unite us are greater than the fears that divide us,” he mused.
Do You Want to Learn More About the National Urban League’s Fight Against “The Big, Ugly Bill” and More? Listen and Subscribe to the Legal Lens!
This week’s compelling conversation with Marc Morial and Cynthia Mitchell-Heard, who have an open invitation to return to the program, on the Legal Lens Podcast offers a crucial and timely examination of the National Urban League’s relentless fight against what they call “The Big, Ugly Bill”—President Trump’s sweeping legislation that slashes vital programs while favoring the wealthiest Americans. Their insights shed light on the profound impact these cuts have on vulnerable communities, particularly Black Americans, and underscore the unwavering dedication of leaders working to protect and empower them. It’s clear that while civil rights and social justice face significant threats, the resilience of communities, actively championed by organizations like the National Urban League and its affiliates, is more vital than ever.
Staying ahead of the curve on these critical issues and understanding how you can make a difference is more important than ever. You can ensure you are informed and equipped with the knowledge you need by listening and subscribing to my podcast on Simplecast or by clicking below!
To follow me and the Legal Lens show, please do so at @iamangelareddockwright or click here.
To learn more about my mediation practice or my work as an employment and Title IX mediator, reach out to me on LinkedIn @Angela J. Reddock-Wright, Esq., AWI-CH, or click here.
Also, learn more about my book – The Workplace Transformed: 7 Crucial Lessons from the Global Pandemic – here – https://angelareddock-wright.com/book/.
For media inquiries, please reach out to josh@kwsmdigital.com.
This communication is not legal advice. It is educational only. For legal advice, consult with an experienced employment law attorney in your state or city.