Urban League of the Greater San Francisco Bay Area

The Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area is a civil rights and direct service organization focused on economic empowerment, knowledge, access and equity for African Americans and other underserved communities. Based in Oakland, it reaches across nine Bay Area counties, organizing its work around five pillars: workforce development, civic engagement and advocacy, leadership and entrepreneurship, education and youth empowerment, and health and housing.

Leadership programs are a signature. The Bay Area Executive Leadership Accelerator, offered with the UC Berkeley Haas School of Business, trains emerging Black leaders in career growth and business impact, and the Bay Area Municipal Fellows Program places people who aspire to public service in city and county departments. Entrepreneurship 101 teaches aspiring and early-stage owners business planning, financial management and marketing, with mentorship, networking and grant opportunities. The workforce team connects job seekers through mentorship, job fairs and entertainment-industry access cohorts.

For young people, STEM Career Paths, in partnership with Kids Teach Tech, brings coding, robotics and digital design to youth through peer-led classes and summer camps. Senior Wellness events with Omatochi offer health screenings, Medi-Cal workshops and aging-in-place guidance, and the Anita L. Maxey Scholarship helps students pay for college. The Get That Vote In bus tour has carried the voting message across all nine counties.

The annual Empowerment Gala honors community leaders, and members join from $10 a month. Supporters can give, sponsor events or become members.