Our Community Matters
The Urban League Bay Area champions economic equality and social justice for all communities.
Our Mission
The Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area is focused on the economic empowerment, knowledge, access, and equity for African-Americans and other underserved communities. We aim to join other leaders, organizations, and corporations in the Bay Area in the development and continuation of social, financial, housing, health, and professional programs, as well as policies that enhance and improve equity. Our vision is to spearhead and promote programs and events that improve the lives and opportunities of the people we serve.
Welcome to the Urban League of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area
Dear friends, partners, and community members,
For over a century, the Urban League has stood as a beacon of hope and progress for African Americans and underserved communities. Here in the Bay Area, our story is interwoven with the region's own dynamic history. Since 2020 we have championed a more inclusionary future, providing critical social services and advocating for policies that enable all to thrive.
Our past is our foundation, but our eyes are fixed on the present and the future. The Bay Area remains a land of stark contrasts, where innovation and wealth coexist with systemic inequities. While historic injustices have been outlawed, their legacy persists in disparities in housing, employment, education, and economic mobility. Our mission is as vital today as it was at our founding: to ensure that the promise of the Bay Area is accessible to everyone.
At the Urban League Bay Area, we are committed to closing the racial and economic gaps that hold our communities back. We do this by focusing on three pillars of empowerment:
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Economic Empowerment: We provide job training, workforce development, and entrepreneurial support to empower individuals so they can build sustainable livelihoods and careers. We also address the high cost of living with first-time homebuyer programs and financial wellness workshops.
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Education and Youth Development: We equip the next generation with the resources and skills they need to succeed in the competitive STEM world, including mentorship, resume-building and interview skills. We are making smart "cool" through our STEM after school programs, weekend coding programs and summer camps with the goal of ensuring AI, Robotics and Machine Learning career pathways.
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Advocacy and Community Development: We engage in policy research and advocacy to ensure affordable housing, economic opportunity, and social justice for all. We are a bridge between our community and the leaders, corporations, and organizations who can help create lasting change.
This work is not ours alone. It is powered by a network of dedicated staff, passionate volunteers, generous donors, and corporate partners. Together, we are writing the next chapter of the Urban League's story in the Bay Area of social parity, economic self-reliance, and civil rights for all.
In solidarity,
Kenneth E. Maxey II
President & CEO
Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area
What We Do
The Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area delivers impactful programs and events that uplift African Americans and underserved communities.
Our initiatives span mentorship, career accelerators, and fellowships in government and other sectors. We engage youth in technology, celebrate community leaders and women, and promote equity in financial and health access through education and conversation.
Driven by a mission of empowerment, opportunity, and service, we reach across nine counties with programs in education, job training, housing, workforce development, entrepreneurship, and wellness—strategically building a more equitable Bay Area for all.
Programs and Services For You
Empowering you with tools, mentorship, and resources to thrive personally and professionally.
Meet The Team
The passionate people behind our mission and impact.
Meet Our Board
Karen Horne, Chair
Affiliate Partner
3CG Ventures, LLC
Deka Dike, Treasurer
CEO & Founder
Omatochi
Deborah Cooksey
Vice President, General Counsel
WestEd
Dr. Donald Evans
Superintendent
Albany School District
Zeydi Gutierrez
Vice President Human Resources
Mcguire & Hester
Dr. David Isom
Retired Pastor
St. Stephen CME Church
Sandy Nunez
Vice President Talent Management On-Air
National Football League (NFL)
Dr. Amelia Ashley Ward
Editor
SF Sun Reporter
Founded in New York City in 1910, the National Urban League (NUL) is a historic civil rights organization dedicated to economic empowerment, equality, and social justice. The NUL strives
to enhance the standards of living for African Americans and other historically underserved groups. The NUL works with community leaders, policymakers, corporate partners, and more at the national and local levels to accomplish its vision.
The NUL has 90 affiliates that serve 300 communities in 37 states and the District of Columbia. The Urban League is a prominent leader in developing social programs, providing authoritative public policy research, and advocating for policies and services that close the equality gap. At the community level, the National Urban League and its affiliates provide direct services that improve the lives of more than two million people annually.
