Mission

The mission of the National Urban League movement is to enable African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.

The Greater Stark County Urban League’s mission is to aide in the elimination of racial discrimination and segregation in this country and achievement of parity for African Americans and other disadvantaged persons in every phase of American life.

Vision

The Greater Stark County Urban League’s vision is to be a national, interracial, non profit, non-partisan community service organization which uses the tools and methods of social work, economics, law, business management, and other disciplines to secure equal opportunities in all sectors of our society for African Americans and other minorities.

The Greater Stark County Urban League strives to improve the living conditions of African Americans and other minorities. The League works within the system to create job opportunities, find safe and sanitary housing, and provide access to needed services for our youth to provide the kind of education necessary for them to enter the main stream of America.

History

The Urban League was established in 1910. It is the nation's oldest and largest community- based movement devoted to empowering African Americans 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 Massillon Urban League and the Canton Urban Leagues were both established in Ohio during the 1920’s. As individual entities they successfully served the community with economic, educational, health and wellness and civic engagement to foster continuous movement of empowering its community. In January of 2006 the Massillon and Canton Urban League Chapters merged to form The Greater Stark County Urban League serving Alliance, Canton and Massillon population and surrounding areas within the county.