About Us
The Urban League of Portland is a non-profit, community-based organization headquartered in north Portland and an affiliate of the National Urban League. Since 1945 we have advocated, served and empowered African Americans and other Oregonians to create an equitable place to work and live. This past year we provide direct services to over 1,000 individuals and engage over 8,000 in our community outreach and advocacy work. Visit our volunteer page to see how you can get involved.
Urban League of Portland (Main Office)
10 N Russell St
Portland, OR 97227
503-280-2600
(location on Google Maps)
Multicultural Senior Center
(enter on Garfield side of building)
5325 NE Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd
Portland, OR 97211
503-988-5470
(location on Google Maps)
Urban League of Portland (Southeast Satellite Office)
Available by appointment
ONI East Portland Office
1017 NE 117th Ave.
Portland, OR 97220
(location on Google Maps)
Please contact Inger at imcdowell@ulpdx.org or at 503-280-2600 ext 641 to make an appointment.
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A History of Service
The Urban League was founded in 1910. The National Urban League, headquartered in New York City, spearheads our non-profit, non-partisan, community-based movement. The mission of the Urban League movement is to empower African Americans to secure economic self-reliance, parity and power and civil rights. The Urban League movement carries out its mission at the local, state and national levels through direct services, advocacy, research, policy analysis, community education and mobilization, coalitions and collaborations, and communications.
The Urban League of Portland was founded in 1945 as an affiliate of the National Urban League, and envisions itself as two entities - a movement of people of all colors, creeds and national origins that believe that intelligent cooperation can solve the multitude of problems faced by people of color and empower communities with a professional staff working under the direction of an interracial board. This dual vision has provided the framework for the League's programs and activities throughout its 60-year history.
As an early advocate for fair housing and employment, the Urban League of Portland was instrumental in creating the Portland we know today.
Key Urban League participants have become familiar names in Oregon history: Mercedes Deiz, Oregon's first black female attorney and judge; Dr. DeNorval Unthank, an early founder of the League; and Bill Hilliard, retired editor of The Oregonian. The Urban League has enjoyed the support of such community leaders as journalist turned politician, Governor Tom McCall, Governor Douglas McKay and Oregon's distinguished statesman, the Honorable Mark O. Hatfield, former state representative, Governor and U.S. Senator.
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In 2007 the Oregon State University Libraries' Oregon Multicultural Archives became home to the historical records of the Urban League of Portland. We encourage you to take a look at the League's collection and to assist the OMA in its mission to document and preserve the contributions that Oregonians of color have made to our state.
