Podcast Summary: Mick Unplugged
Episode: Empowerment Through Action: Marc Morial's Strategies for Community Transformation
Date: July 17, 2025
Host: Mick Hunt
Guest: Marc Morial (President & CEO, National Urban League; Former Mayor of New Orleans)
Main Theme & Purpose
The episode centers on the transformative power of “Because” — moving beyond the typical "why" to what truly drives sustained action and leadership. Civil rights leader and community transformer Marc Morial joins host Mick Hunt to explore how finding a deep, personal "because" fuels effective activism, public service, youth empowerment, and organizational renewal. With stories drawn from Morial’s leadership in New Orleans and the National Urban League, the discussion delivers actionable strategies for community uplift, economic justice, and coalition building.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Roots and Motivation: The Power of “Because”
[01:51–04:08]
- Marc shares his upbringing: drawn into civil rights through his parents' activism in New Orleans, “tagging along” to NAACP meetings and voter drives as a child.
- He discusses learning by “absorbing through observation the work of giants, legends, legendary leaders.”
- Mick frames the key question: Not just your “why,” but your “because”—the deeper driver of purpose.
Notable Quote:
"You have to be a public servant. You gotta love people. You gotta love them with all of their, you know, good, bad, and ugly. Because we all have good, bad and ugly."
— Marc Morial [01:51]
2. Defining Purpose: Economic Justice and Opportunity
[04:34–06:13]
- Marc’s “because” is “about economic justice. It's about equality of opportunity. It is about people having a life of dignity, prosperity, and the ability to use their God given talent.”
- Strong affinity for youth development rooted in his experience as a young leader.
Notable Quote:
“You got to nurture young people. You got to give them an opportunity. You gotta let them be who they are.”
— Marc Morial [06:13]
3. Inspiration and Representation: The Impact of Visible Leadership
[06:13–07:33]
- Mick recounts being inspired as a young graduate seeing Marc blend activism, politics, and business:
“You stood to me at the intersection of politics, activism and business. And it was at that moment that I said, there's a bigger purpose for me because I saw somebody that looked like me…”
— Mick [06:33]
- Marc affirms: “You never know if people are watching. You never know if people are listening. You never know if you're having an impact.”
4. Entrepreneurship as Civil Rights: Black Economic Legacy
[07:33–13:10]
- Marc details early entrepreneurial ventures (janitorial services, event planning, apparel) during high school and college, tying business formation to community empowerment.
- He highlights the Black business ecosystem post-slavery, black-owned construction, media, stores — and how these communities thrived despite segregation.
- Discusses shifts after major civil rights gains: movement into government and mainstream corporate jobs, but also the loss of black economic independence.
Notable Quote:
"Truly business formation and entrepreneurship is part of civil rights because ... it's about building economic independence, income and wealth."
— Marc Morial [08:32]
5. Strategies for Urban Renewal: Radical Youth Programming & Policing Reform
[13:15–22:39]
- Marc’s mayoral record in New Orleans:
- Lowered crime rates by tackling systemic police corruption and investing in youth (forty summer camps, 3,000 summer jobs, fair lottery system).
- Introduced new programs for girls, created recreational opportunities, and a community-oriented curfew system.
- Revolutionized police-community relations by recruiting officers from their own neighborhoods, distinguishing police from military.
- Made minority and women-owned business opportunities a priority despite resistance, and ran an open-door, inclusive administration.
Notable Quotes:
"I was the kind of person...give me some ideas, and if people came up with a good idea, I'm like, let's go do it. ...If it doesn't work, we'll chuck it, we'll put it on the side, and we'll go do something else."
— Marc Morial [16:26]
"Police officers are not the military. You know, they're there to protect and to serve. Military is there to protect and defend. It's a different mission."
— Marc Morial [19:41]
- Describes his “Gumbo Coalition” — an intentionally diverse administration, with historic representation in leadership.
6. Revitalizing the National Urban League
[23:44–27:13]
- Transitioned from mayor to CEO of the National Urban League; initially saw an organization “operating in almost in the past tense.”
- Led a generational “makeover”: expanded programs, workforce development, housing, entrepreneurship, and national advocacy.
- Emphasizes “sui generis” (unique) role: blending civil rights advocacy with direct services—job training, homeownership programs, COVID-19 vaccination outreach, and small business support.
Notable Quote:
"Urban League's unique in that we do civil rights advocacy, but we also do direct Services, programming, and that direct programming is really what defines us.”
— Marc Morial [27:14]
7. Building Coalitions & Shared Progress
[29:56–31:29]
- Works not just within Black civil rights spaces but for deep coalition with Latino, Asian-American, women’s, and labor groups.
- Rejects personality-driven rivalries in favor of "swimming in the same direction."
Notable Quote:
"In a coalition building mindset, everybody swims in their own lane, but we're swimming in the same direction."
— Marc Morial [30:22]
8. A Call to Action Against Complacency
[31:47–35:07]
- Describes current dangers from assaults on civil rights by political actors—urging vigilance, participation, and voice.
- Stresses long-term damage comes from inaction and warns against complacency and despair.
- Practical advice:
- Get involved with organizations like the Urban League (visit nul.org).
- Use social media for advocacy, not just personal content.
- Engage in faith, community, and service efforts.
Notable Quote:
"Despair is not a strategy. Being pissed off and angry is not a strategy, except to the extent that it energizes us to do something. That's where we are today."
— Marc Morial [34:46]
Memorable Moments & Quotes with Timestamps
- On standing on the shoulders of giants
"I stand on the shoulders of others. I always want people to know that that animates my spirit and it has ruled my life..."
— Marc Morial [01:51] - On entrepreneurship as civil rights
"While I was doing this, I was in college or in law school...our ancestors, forefathers, foremothers...built businesses, they built funeral homes...They would build the type of house they couldn't buy."
— Marc Morial [08:01] - On direct leadership style
"If you come down and talk to me, you're gonna get an answer. It might be a yes, might be a no, but you're gonna get an answer. Right?"
— Marc Morial [21:03] - On coalition building
"There was too much petty personality rivalries, you know, among African American leaders...It makes nice talk, nice gossip, but it doesn't get you anywhere."
— Marc Morial [30:55] - On the present challenge
"In the short run, you hear noise, but you don't feel the damage. In the long run, the noise will subside, but the damage will be done."
— Marc Morial [33:10]
Important Segment Timestamps
- Morial on Roots/Leadership Spirit: [01:51]
- Defining “because” purpose: [04:34]
- Entrepreneurship as empowerment: [07:33–13:10]
- Strategies in New Orleans as Mayor: [13:56–22:39]
- Revitalizing the Urban League: [23:52–27:14]
- On coalition building: [29:56–31:29]
- Call to action / challenges today: [31:47–35:07]
- Legacy, family, and ongoing advice: [35:30–37:08]
Conclusion & Final Takeaways
- Morial repeatedly urges both personal action and systemic thinking—find your deepest motivator (“because”) and leverage it for lasting community empowerment.
- Effective leadership is rooted in both honoring the past and driving fearless innovation, whether in city halls or national advocacy organizations.
- New threats to civil rights and justice demand renewed engagement at every level, especially using our voices and platforms for advocacy and coalition-building.
- Listeners are encouraged to “be active and involved, be part of the work of community,” making social engagement an everyday commitment.
Additional Resources Mentioned
- Morial’s Book: The Gumbo Coalition (available on Amazon)
- HBO Max Documentary: On Marc Morial and Janet Murguía
- National Urban League: nul.org
- Upcoming Urban League Conference, Cleveland, July
Final Call to Listeners (Mick):
"Your 'because' is your superpower...go make impact and go do it today." [37:24]
For anyone looking to create community change, lead with integrity, or make activism a daily practice, Marc Morial’s insights offer both the historical context and the practical strategies to take action now.