Plenary II: Courage Under Fire: Organizing in an Age of Retaliation

Time:
July 31, 2026 - 8:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Room:
Music City Center (Convention Center) // Grand Ballroom C

Day 5, Friday, July 31

To view the Young Professionals Schedule Click Here

Today begins with another powerful plenary, Courage Under Fire: Organizing in an Age of Retaliation — a timely conversation on leadership, advocacy, and resilience in challenging times.

The day continues with the Legacy Leadership Awards Luncheon, honoring trailblazers whose impact continues to shape our communities and movement.

It’s also the final day to experience Urban League Connect: Experience & Lounge — our must-visit activation exclusively for conference attendees, featuring culture, innovation, networking, and interactive experiences.

This evening, we close out the day with the prestigious Whitney M. Young, Jr. Awards Gala, a signature celebration recognizing outstanding leaders and changemakers.

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Karl F. Dean Grand Ballroom C // 4th Floor

Doors open at 8:00AM

Across the country, the space to speak, teach, report, and organize is shrinking. As attacks on voting rights, protest, education, and economic opportunity intensify, we confront a defining question: how do we build power in a moment designed to silence us? In this urgent plenary, hear from legal advocates, journalists, educators, and frontline organizers who, in the face of censorship, intimidation, and political backlash, are choosing courage over retreat. Together, they will explore what it takes to organize, strategize, and fight back, and why this moment demands not fear, but disciplined, collective action.

Preceding: Rhonda Spears Bell, SVP & Executive Director, National Urban League

Presiding: Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League

Remarks: Tim Murphy, Vice Chair, Mastercard, Chairman, Board of Trustees, National Urban League

Remarks: Ken Martin, Chair, Democratic National Committee

Moderator: Marc H. Morial, President & CEO, National Urban League

Fireside Chat
The Honorable Andy Beshear, Governor of Kentucky
Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Former U.S. Secretary of Transportation (2021–2025) and former Mayor of South Bend

Moderators:
Ed Gordon, Emmy Award-winning Broadcaster, CBS News contributor and Special Correspondent for the BET/CBS News program, America in Black

Panelists: 
Jotaka Eaddy, Founder & CEO, Full Circle Strategies, LLC; Social Impact Strategist, and Advocate
Melanie L. Campbell, President & CEO, National Convening for Black Civic Participation; Convener, Black Women’s Roundtable
LaTosha Brown, Co-Founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund and the Black Voters Matter Capacity Building Institute
The Honorable Joanne E. McClinton, Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives

 

Speaker(s)