Esther Bush is Back at the Helm of the Urban League of Greater Pitts­burgh

Who’s got what it takes to be the next President and CEO of the Urban League of Greater Pitts­burgh?

When Carlos Carter re­signed as the organiza­tion’s President and CEO on May 13, 2025, there was no one on the inside to immediately take over the reins. And there was no one on the outside to immediately take over the reins on a permanent ba­sis, either.

It’s not a job for the weak-minded. It’s a high-profile position, most likely for a person who has that outgoing, larger-than-life persona as its longtime President and CEO, Esther Bush, who served in the role for 27 years before retiring in 2021.

And speaking of Bush, the New Pittsburgh Cou­rier has learned that Bush was tapped a few weeks ago to serve as the Urban League of Greater Pitts­burgh’s interim President and CEO while a national search is conducted to find the permanent individual.

“The board (of directors) is actively, professionally looking for a replacement, so I invite any and all who believe they have the mis­sion of the Urban League in their heart and are ready to turn it into action to apply,” Bush told the Courier exclusively, June 23.

Bush said she was con­tacted by Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Board Chair Bryan Iams soon after Carter’s exit about serving as interim Presi­dent and CEO.

“It typically takes a few months for a search,” Bush told the Courier. “It will be a national search, that’s the way the Na­tional Urban League does things, and I’ve agreed to be here for a few months.”

Bush getting the call isn’t a surprise. Many companies and organzations look to a pre­vious, proven leader to stabilize a situation when there seemingly is no one else (or at least, no one that’s fully de­sired by the board) to do so.

One thing Iams didn’t have to do is give Bush a copy of the job descrip­tion. First things first —the entire region (and parts of the country) —identify the Urban League of Greater Pitts­burgh with Bush. But more specifically, Bush said during her longtime stint as the leader, the Urban League of Great­er Pittsburgh had re­ceived a “5 out of 5” top rating from the national chapter in its assess­ment of the Pittsburgh affiliate. Very few affili­ates receive a “5” rating, and Bush told the Couri­er that her staff played a vital role in that top rating, not just her.

She also told the Cou­rier that another great accomplishment during her tenure as Urban League of Greater Pitts­burgh President and CEO was the formation of the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School in 1998.

Carter, in his state­ment to the Courier, didn’t give a specif­ic reason for his deci­sion to leave the Urban League. He did say in part, however, that, “af­ter an incredible three-and-a-half-year journey, my time with the Urban League of Greater Pitts­burgh has come to a close. I’m stepping away to explore new opportu­nities—and I’m excit­ed to see what unfolds next.”

Carter had served in the role since November 2021. Prior to that role, Carter was executive di­rector of the Homeless Children’s Education Fund.

On its website, the Ur­ban League of Great­er Pittsburgh said its mission is “to enable African Americans and other underserved com­munities to secure eco­nomic self-reliance, par­ity and power, and civil rights.”

Bush, who officially re­joined the organization as interim President and CEO on June 16, told the Courier that the Urban League of Great­er Pittsburgh is a “mem­bership organization” and that “everybody is invited to join.”

When it comes to lead­ing the entire organiza­tion, however, Bush told the Courier the ideal person to become Presi­dent and CEO would be someone with “a passion for the mission and a love for our people.”

Is that hard to find?

“I think that there are many people out there that feel that way,” Bush told the Courier, “but again, your actions have to be supportive of your feelings. You’re talking about running a non-for-profit organization, which means you have to raise money through foundations, govern­ment, individuals, etc. Put together programs that will have an impact and those programs can address the needs of youth, adult men, wom­en, any constituency that you can put togeth­er. We are here to serve everybody.” ­