If you’ve heard of the Urban League of Nebraska, but you’re not sure what they do, exactly, you’re not alone. CEO Wayne Brown, self-proclaimed reformed lawyer that graduated from Creighton Law in 2009, is often asked to speak at events on behalf of the organization.  He finds that when he’s in rooms, there are often two audiences. People who have a deep history with the League and know all about it…and those who never have heard of it.

There’s no reason to believe that those same two audiences aren’t reading this article right now.

The Urban League was founded in 1927 by a group of African American community leaders who recognized the need for economic development and social justice in their community. The organization was initially called the Urban League of Omaha, but it was later renamed the Urban League of Nebraska to reflect its statewide focus. The organization’s early work focused on job training and placement, but it quickly expanded to address other economic and social issues facing the African American community.

During the civil rights movement, the Urban League took a different approach than other civil rights organizations. While groups like the NAACP and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference focused on demonstrations and protests, the Urban League focused on building economic opportunities and social capital in the African American community. This approach was exemplified by the work of Whitney M. Young Jr., who served as the national president of the Urban League from 1961 to 1971. Young believed that economic empowerment was the key to achieving racial justice, and he worked tirelessly to build partnerships between the Urban League and the business community.

Prior to leading the national organization, Whitney M. Young Jr. was the CEO of the Urban League of Nebraska.  He led the organization from 1953, during a pivotal time in the Civil Rights Movement, and was able to uniquely incorporate direct services into civil rights advocacy. Young built partnerships with local organizations and businesses, such as Lloyd Skinner, Roman Ska, and NP Dodge, to get people of color jobs in various sectors, including the Metropolitan Utility District, municipal offices, private companies, and more.

The Urban League’s budget grew significantly under Young’s leadership, from $12,000 to $28,000 a year. Thomas Warren later became CEO in 2008 and was able to bring the organization back to financial health, taking it from a deficit of $800,000 to a $2.6 million a year organization with the help of community partners.

Today, the Urban League of Nebraska continues to provide economic and social opportunities to the residents of North Omaha. The organization’s current CEO, Wayne Brown, has been with the Urban League for over 20 years and has played an instrumental role in the organization’s success. Under Brown’s leadership, the Urban League has continued to focus on providing social capital, transformative experiences, hope, and agency to the residents of North Omaha.

One of the Urban League’s signature programs is its historically black college tour. The organization takes young people from the Midwest to the South to visit historically black colleges and universities. This transformative experience gives young people the opportunity to see colleges and universities that look like them and have professors that look like them. It also exposes them to a community of young people who are going on to post-secondary education. This experience builds hope and agency in young people and encourages them to pursue their dreams.

Another program offered by the Urban League is its mock interview program. This program provides unemployed and underemployed individuals with the opportunity to practice their interview skills with business professionals. The program gives participants feedback on their interview performance and helps them build confidence in their ability to secure a job.

In addition to these programs, the Urban League offers a range of other services to the residents of North Omaha. The organization provides job training and placement, financial education, and affordable housing. It also works to build relationships between the North Omaha community and other communities in Nebraska through its bridging capital program.

The Urban League of Nebraska has a rich history of serving the community and coming up with unique solutions to problems facing the citizens for which it serves. Under the leadership of CEO Wayne Brown, the Urban League continues to provide valuable services to the community and work towards economic and social justice.

If you’re interested in getting involved with the Urban League, you can either volunteer or donate to support their important work.  You can reach them through their website at urbanleagueneb.org, call them at (402) 453-9730 or follow them on Facebook at Urban League of Nebraska.