President’s Desk | May 2026

Al Abdallah, President & CEO

Urban League of San Diego County

As we move through the spring season, our region continues to navigate an economic climate that feels uncertain for many families, workers, students, seniors, and small business owners alike. Across San Diego County, conversations about rising costs, job security, housing affordability, healthcare, and economic opportunity are affecting households of every generation, culture, and income level.

In moments like these, it is important that we remain informed, engaged, and united.

At the Urban League of San Diego County, we encourage our community to look beyond headlines and social media soundbites. Take time to do your own fact-checking and research. Learn how local, state, and national policies impact your household budget, employment opportunities, education systems, healthcare access, and long-term financial stability. Understanding the realities of our economy—including unemployment trends, workforce changes, and the impact of public policy—helps all of us make informed decisions for our families and our future.

Most importantly, we must remember that democracy works best when people participate.

Voting is one of the most powerful tools we have to shape the future of our communities. Whether you are a first-time voter, a young adult preparing to cast your ballot, a working parent balancing multiple jobs, or a senior citizen who has witnessed generations of change, your voice matters. Every election matters. Civic engagement matters. Community conversations matter.

This democracy battle is not ours alone. Across the country, individuals and organizations are working every day to protect access, fairness, opportunity, and representation for all people. There are many ways to help build collective power: volunteer in your neighborhood, mentor young people, support community organizations, attend local meetings, advocate for policies that strengthen families, and encourage informed civic participation among your friends and loved ones.

When we come together with mutual respect and shared purpose, we create stronger neighborhoods, stronger institutions, and stronger pathways toward economic and social equity.

Let us continue to support one another with compassion, truth, ethics, and action. Let us encourage our youth to lead with integrity and critical thinking. Let us remain hopeful while staying engaged. And above all, let us continue building bridges that strengthen democracy, expand opportunity, and uplift every member of our community.

Together, we can move forward with resilience and purpose.

In Solidarity,

Al Abdallah

President & CEO

Urban League of San Diego County

When Fire Meets Vision: A Birthday Tribute to the Legacy of Malcom X

Written By Herman Collins

This truth carries personal meaning for me. My understanding of Malcolm, King, and Cone’s powerful interpretation was shaped profoundly by my mentorship under Rev. George Walker Smith. Rev. Smith, a San Diego luminary, was a classmate of James Cone at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary, carrying with him not only Cone’s intellectual depth but also a spirit of reflection that opened space for bridging differences. Through his guidance, I learned to move away from rigid binaries and toward a more integrated way of thinking, one that honors Malcolm’s fire and King’s vision as complementary, not competing. That mentorship became its own form of conversion, shaping my understanding of liberation as a synthesis rather than a split.

Dear Friends of the San Diego Delta Foundation, Inc., 

We are reaching out to share an exciting opportunity from the San Diego Delta Foundation, Inc., a nonprofit organization that sponsors the Leadership Development Intern Program for young ladies in grades 9–12. We will be hosting an informational meeting for girls entering the 10th grade (2026-2027) on Saturday, May 16th, from 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

We would greatly appreciate your help in distributing this announcement to students and families interested in this enriching leadership experience.  

We would like to refer our community to the following openings in the area:

San Diego Area

• Personal Banker SAFE Act, San Diego County, Officer
• Personal Banker SAFE Act, La Jolla Downtown Branch, Officer
• Part -Time Universal Banker (20 Hours), Pacific Beach Branch
• Part-Time Universal Banker (20 Hours), Broadway Branch, San Diego
• Head Universal Banker, Pacific Beach Branch
• Part -Time Teller (20 Hours), La Jolla Downtown Branch

Once they go to this site, they will see a search bar. They can then type in the position they are interested in and apply. They just need to create an online profile and attach a resume.  

Just Posted – Explore New County Opportunities!

We’re committed to building a diverse and inclusive team and would love your help in sharing these opportunities with anyone in your network who might be interested. For a complete list of current openings, visit our County of San Diego Government Jobs Page.

• Assistant Planner. Anticipated hiring range: $76,731.20 - $94,244.80. Application closes on 05/17/2026
• LITIGATION INVESTIGATOR. Anticipated hiring range: ANNUALLY $100,464.00 - $123,531.20. Application closes on 05/15/2026

Greeting Faith Leaders - we will gather on Thursday, 05/21, from 9:30-11 am. 

At the request of a Faith Leader, we will discuss Substance Use Disorders, their impact, and the support offered to assist us all. This discussion will help us become better prepared when it arises in our community. Please feel free to invite other Faith Leaders, and we look forward to seeing you join us. 

Blessings,

Karen

Are you passionate about the health and wellness of our community? Do you work in the health wellness industry? Do you have a skill that can benefit the advancement of health and wellness equity in our community? If so, we need you! Our community needs you! Sign up today using the link below. If you have questions, please send an email to info@sdul.org.

We want to help you with tools to "Thrive in 2026"!

Do you have a business that provides health and wellness for individuals and families in the County of San Diego, Orange County, or the Inland Empire?

We are creating a Health & Wellness Directory housed on the Urban League of San Diego County website. This will include a behavioral health directory and a general health and wellness directory. According to the attendees of our Fireside Chats, areas in our communities lack health resources and need more urgent care facilities, especially ones open after 5 p.m. Our young families need a directory and a resource toolkit that includes accepted insurance information and medical professionals with cultural sensitivity training for diverse community members. This will be an online business list versus a case management site. Individuals will be directed to contact hotlines if they need to speak to a live person or need case management services.

This can be mental health, medical health, doula professional health, promotoras/ community health worker, physical health, fitness, or nutritional health businesses. This can be small, extensive, private practice, or consulting businesses.

These are some important dates to mark on your calendar!

Thursday, December 3, 2026

Annual Awards Dinner, at DoubleTree by Hilton Mission Valley Hazard Center

Do you have an upcoming event that should be shared with our community? Please use the link below, and we will review and add it to our website calendar.

The Urban League of San Diego County uses specific image sizes to maintain consistency across all viewing platforms. Any event submissions with images not properly cropped will result in immediate rejection.

Submitting your event does not guarantee that it will be posted on www.sdul.org.

Becoming a member of the Urban League of San Diego County does qualify your event to appear on the website. For more information about becoming a member of one of our auxilaries contact info@sdul.org or call 619.266.6265.