By Michelle Merriweather, President/CEO, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle
Ten years ago, today, I said yes to Seattle.
I said yes to the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, not knowing just how deeply this work, and this city, would shape me. I didn’t grow up here, but this is home now. Not just where I work, but where I’ve rooted myself in purpose, in partnership, and in community.
I joined an organization that had already been doing the work for 85 years. For decades the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle was doing the work of fighting for justice, for equity, for opportunity. This year, we celebrated 95 years of that legacy with a powerful, joy-filled gala. Surrounded by family, friends, and fellow Urban Leaguers, I was overwhelmed with pride and gratitude.
The next morning, I woke up early, looked out over Lake Washington, and realized the date: ten years to the day since I packed up my little SUV, drove up I-5 from Southern California, and crossed into the unknown. I never imagined what we would accomplish. But I know this much: there is still so much more to do.
Over the past decade, I’ve had the honor, and the responsibility, of leading during one of the most complex chapters in our city’s history. A global pandemic reshaped how we care for each other. A national reckoning on race demanded we move beyond words and into action. And here in Seattle, a booming economy created new opportunities—while deepening disparities that continue to leave too many behind.
Through it all, the Urban League showed up. We expanded housing programs, delivered emergency assistance, helped Black businesses stay open, and kept families in their homes. We didn’t just respond—we reimagined. And in the wake of national heartbreak, I was proud to stand alongside three other Black women to launch the Black Future Co-op Fund—a historic, Black-led, Black-centered investment in healing, innovation, and abundance.
This work is not easy—but it is joyful. And it is personal.
I come from a family that believed in service, in dignity, and in community. My parents were married nearly 50 years and taught me that love and responsibility go hand in hand. I carry that with me in every meeting, every decision, every tough day.
And even on the hardest days, the joy carries me too. The joy of seeing a young person walk across the stage at graduation, knowing they made it. The joy of a new homeowner holding their keys for the first time. The joy of Black entrepreneurs thriving, not just surviving. The joy of gathering together at our Annual Breakfast, or dancing together at our Anniversary Gala and Community Resource Fair: moments where we feel seen, celebrated, and connected.
Because the truth is: there is so much beauty in being Black in Seattle. It’s in our brilliance. Our creativity. Our innovation. Our resilience. Our joy.
And that’s why the Urban League still matters. That is why I am still here combining my passion with my occupation, my “occu-passion”. We are not just a nonprofit. We are a movement. A connector, a convener, a builder of futures. We’re here to ensure that as Seattle grows, so does the opportunity for those too often left behind.
I am proud of how far we’ve come, but I didn’t do it alone. I’m grateful beyond measure for the team I have the honor to work with at the Urban League. For our partners, our funders, our elders, our ancestors. And for every person who continues to believe in this work—and in me.
So today, I offer my deepest thanks—and a heartfelt invitation.
If you’ve served with us, meet us at the table. If you believe in equity, invest in it. If you’ve been part of this journey—thank you. If you’re just joining us—welcome. There’s room for you here.
Ten years in, Thank you, Seattle. I’m still saying yes. Yes to this work. Yes to this city. Yes to the joy, the challenge, and the promise of what’s still to come.
Let’s keep building. Together.
