Description
Background Statement
Established in 1910, The Urban League is one of the nation's oldest and largest community- based movement devoted to empowering African Americans and other underserved communities, to enter the economic and social mainstream. Today, the National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads the non-partisan efforts of its local affiliates. There are over 100 local affiliates of the National Urban League located in 35 states and the District of Columbia providing direct services to more than 2 million people nationwide through programs, advocacy and research. The Urban League of San Diego County (ULSDC) was chartered in 1953 by a group of diverse business and community leaders to "Carry on programs of social service...improving the economic welfare of Negroes..." In 2013, our Urban League will celebrate 60 years of Empowering San Diego Communities. The Urban League of San Diego County has built a strong reputation for connecting job seekers and employers together for success. We embrace hard to serve populations as well as high skilled, experienced job seekers. Our Urban League has found jobs for thousands and saved numerous families from the plight of homelessness. Since 2008, ULSDC has made positive impacts back into the San Diego economy as a result of successes in connecting clients with employers.
For many years, we have provided housing, financial literacy, and after-school programs for youth. In reviewing the San Diego Workforce Partnership's analysis of fastest growing occupations, the workforce the current workforce will need to prepare for: customer service, foreign language, STEM skills, management, English, clerical procedures, and construction. Other skills identified for growing numbers of jobs include active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, time management, critical thinking, active learning, coordination and writing. Urban League programs and services include academic support services for youth, job searches; resume writing, job counseling, case management, workshops, presentations, forums, speeches, telephone referrals, and literature distribution. The Urban League of San Diego County is uniquely positioned and has a demonstrated track record in being able to address many of the issues that impact the county.
Our Movement
Established in 1910, The National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, is the nation's oldest and largest community- based movement devoted to empowering African Americans to enter the economic and social mainstream. Locally, the Urban League of San Diego County, founded in 1953, provides direct services to more than 7,000 people, annually, countywide through programs, advocacy and research.
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 the children in our programs are well educated and prepared for economic self-reliance in the 21st century through college scholarships, financial aid preparation, early childhood literacy, youth and college leadership programs.
Economic Empowerment: Empowering our constituents in attaining economic self-sufficiency through job training, career planning, career fairs with empowerment zones, 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, HIV/AIDS awareness, healthy eating, fitness, as well as ensuring access and complete access to affordable healthcare for all people.
Civic Engagement and Leadership Empowerment: Empowering our constituents 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.
