Marc Morial facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Marc Morial
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| 59th Mayor of New Orleans | |
| In office May 2, 1994 – May 6, 2002 |
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| Preceded by | Sidney Barthelemy |
| Succeeded by | Ray Nagin |
| 59th President of the United States Conference of Mayors | |
| In office 2001–2002 |
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| Preceded by | Brent Coles |
| Succeeded by | Thomas Menino |
| Member of the Louisiana Senate from the 4th district |
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| In office 1992–1994 |
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| Preceded by | Ben Bagert |
| Succeeded by | Paulette Irons |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Marc Haydel Morial
January 3, 1958 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouse | Michelle Miller |
| Parents | Ernest Morial Sybil Haydel |
| Education | University of Pennsylvania (BA) Georgetown University (JD) |
Marc Haydel Morial (born January 3, 1958) is an American leader in politics and community work. He is currently the president of the National Urban League. Marc Morial served as the Mayor of New Orleans from 1994 to 2002. He was the youngest mayor of the city at that time.
He also led the United States Conference of Mayors in 2001. Before becoming mayor, he was a Louisiana State Senator from 1992 to 1994. Morial was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. He studied at the University of Pennsylvania and Georgetown University. After finishing law school, he started his career as a lawyer in New Orleans.
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Marc Morial: A Leader for Change
Early Life and Education
Marc Morial was born to Ernest N. "Dutch" Morial and Sybil (Haydel) Morial. His father was also a mayor of New Orleans. His mother was a teacher and a community activist. Marc was the second of five children in his family. He grew up in a neighborhood called Pontchartrain Park in New Orleans.
He attended Jesuit High School in New Orleans. He was a very good student and a member of the National Honor Society. Marc was one of only 14 Black students at the school. He started a group called the Student Association for Black Achievement. He also organized the school's first Black History Month celebration.
After high school, Marc Morial went to the University of Pennsylvania. In 1980, he earned a bachelor's degree. He studied economics and African American studies there. He then went to Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. He earned his law degree in 1983. At Georgetown, he was chosen to represent his class in the Student Bar Association. He also helped raise money for the National Black Law Students Association.
Starting His Career
After law school, Marc Morial worked for a U.S. Representative. Then, he returned to New Orleans. In 1985, he opened his own law practice in the city. He worked as a lawyer for several years.
Marc Morial first ran for public office in Louisiana. He did not win that first election. However, he was later elected as a Louisiana State Senator in 1991. He served as a state senator until 1994. During his time as a senator, he was the Chairman of the Educational Institution Subcommittee. He was also a member of the Louisiana Legislative Black Caucus.
Mayor of New Orleans
In 1994, Marc Morial was elected Mayor of New Orleans. He won the election with 54% of the votes. He was the youngest Mayor of New Orleans in 50 years. He was also one of the youngest mayors of any major American city at that time. He promised to make positive changes in the city.
Morial was re-elected for a second term in 1998. He won with almost 80% of the votes. During his time as Mayor, the rate of violent crime in New Orleans dropped by 50%. This was a big achievement for the city.
From 2001 to 2002, Morial served as the President of the United States Conference of Mayors. In this role, he was the main spokesperson for cities across America. He also held other important positions within the organization. These included Chairman for the Committee on Arts and Chairman for the Federal Budget Task Force.
Leading the National Urban League
In 2003, Marc Morial was chosen to lead the National Urban League. This is a historic civil rights organization. It works to help African Americans and other underserved people. The League focuses on economic empowerment, education, and social justice.
As president, Morial introduced a new way to measure equality. In 2004, he added the Equality Index to the League's yearly "State of Black America" report. This index helps track progress in different areas.
Presidential Advisory Roles
Marc Morial has also served on several important committees for U.S. Presidents. He was the Chair of the Census Advisory Committee in 2010. He was also a member of the President’s Advisory Council on Financial Capability from 2012 to 2015. President Bill Clinton also appointed him to the Twenty-First Century Workforce Commission.
