Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts

The Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, (a community-based movement devoted to empowering African Americans and other people of color to enter into the economic and social main stream), began its work in 1917 when a group of citizens led by Eugene Kunkle Jones met to discuss ways to help the growing number of black migrants from the South and immigrants from the West Indies find housing and employment in Boston. Once established, it became an affiliate of the National Urban League and incorporated in 1919 as the Boston Urban League. When the League first opened, it offered the same services as settlement houses; however, its focus quickly shifted to education and employment opportunities. In 1973, the organization was incorporated as the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts, and it continues to offer programs and services that are designed to promote economic and social self sufficiency among African Americans and other communities of color in Boston. As an affiliate of the National Urban League, it administers the programs and services that are designed, implemented, monitored, and evaluated by the Office of the Vice President of Programs of the National Urban League.