Judy Reese Morse
President and CEO | Urban League of Louisiana
For Judy Reese Morse, the fight for civil rights and community empowerment is deeply personal. Her father, a member of the New Orleans chapter of the Congress of Racial Equality, had pepper blown into his eyes while integrating the lunch counter at McCrory’s in downtown New Orleans in the 1960s. He also rode a freedom bus to McComb, Mississippi — a ride that nearly cost him his life.
“My father would often recite his version of the famous quote ‘Until all of us are free, none of us are free,’ planting the seeds of collective freedom and opportunity for all in my mind and heart,” said Morse.
Her mother’s work teaching English to adults seeking their GED provided another formative influence. As a child, Morse would accompany her mother to night classes, seeing adults sitting at desks, determined to build better futures.
“I felt a connection to them personally and, more importantly, to what they were trying to accomplish,” she said.
As president and CEO of the Urban League of Louisiana since 2018, Morse channels that legacy into tangible impact. After serving as deputy mayor for the City of New Orleans from 2010 to 2018, she brought her experience in government, communications and community work to lead one of Louisiana’s largest Black-serving statewide organizations.
“The past seven years have been deeply impactful for me,” she said. “There is no other organization like the Urban League, and I have been blessed to serve as its leader.”
The numbers tell a powerful story. In 2025 alone, the league’s entrepreneurship and innovation programs provided 2,750 hours of counseling to 293 clients, created 31 new businesses, supported 802 jobs and facilitated $21.4 million in capital infusion transactions. Additionally, the organization’s workforce development initiatives connected 1,009 career seekers with employer partners, with 75% of adult participants securing employment at an average of $25 per hour.
Morse has led through unprecedented challenges—the pandemic, Hurricane Ida and shifting political landscapes, including the current attacks and rollbacks of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts by businesses and organizations. Her approach has evolved to embrace collective impact models like the SEE CHANGE Collective, which partners with more than 60 organizations to close the wealth gap in Greater New Orleans.
“Today’s challenges call for leaders to be clear-eyed about their organizations and prepared to pivot on strategy if the circumstances require it,” she explained.
Her advice to emerging leaders is simple yet profound.
“Trust the community you serve and be worthy of the community’s trust.”
“Today’s challenges call for leaders to be clear-eyed about their organizations and prepared to pivot on strategy if the circumstances require it.”
