Columbia Urban League

Mission: The mission of the Urban League movement is to enable African- American and other underserved communities to secure self-reliance, primarily in education, employment , and economic development.The Urban League is the nation's oldest and largest community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans and others to enter the economic and societal mainstream. The Urban League movement was founded in 1910. The National Urban League, headquartered in New York City spearheads our non-profit, non-partisan, community-based movement. The heart of the Urban League Movement is our professionally staffed Urban League affiliates in more than 100 cities in 34 states and the District of Columbia.

Our Strategy:
The Urban League employs a five point strategy, tailored to local needs, in order to implement the mission of our movement.

Education and Youth Empowerment:
Ensuring that all of our children are well educated and prepared for economic self-reliance in the 21st century through college scholarships, early childhood literacy, Head Start and after care programs.

Economic Empowerment:
Empowering all people in attaining economic self-sufficiency through job training, good jobs, home ownership, entrepreneurship and wealth accumulation.

Health and Quality of Life Empowerment:
Working to build healthy and safe communities to eliminate health disparities through prevention, healthy eating, fitness, as well as ensuring access and complete access to affordable health care for all people.

Civic Engagement and Leadership Empowerment:
Empowering all people to take an active role in determining the direction, quality of life, public policy and leadership in their communities by full participation as citizens and voters, as well as through active community service and leadership development.

Civil Rights and Racial Justice Empowerment:
Promoting and ensuring our civil rights by actively working to eradicate all barriers to equal participation in the all aspects of American society, whether political, economic, social, educational or cultural.