Central Florida Urban League

The Central Florida Urban League improves the social and economic conditions of individuals and families across Central Florida through education, employment and entrepreneurship, the Three Es that guide every program it runs. The league was founded on August 5, 1977, as the Metropolitan Orlando Urban League, created by community leaders who believed Orlando's African American community would benefit from professional, economic and social support. It was chartered as an affiliate of the National Urban League in 1978 and has worked toward economic equity in the region ever since.

The heart of its adult work is upskilling that leads to recognized credentials. The Entrepreneurship and Small Business (ESB) Certification builds foundation-level knowledge in opportunity recognition, business planning, operations, marketing and sales, seed funding and financial management. Its latest version adds the CFUL Restaurant Accelerator Program, where participants learn restaurant operations, menu development, food costing, branding, regulatory compliance and growth strategy. A Truist Foundation grant has expanded ESB so that more entrepreneurs and small business owners can receive business training, financial literacy education, mentorship and networking.

Career training goes further. The Microsoft Office Specialist program prepares students to pass exams in Word, Excel and PowerPoint and earn the MOS Associate certification, with instructor-led classes and a self-paced option, plus a track for high school students in grades nine through 12. The Registered Behavior Technician program trains people in Applied Behavior Analysis, the therapy used with people with autism and developmental disabilities, through a five-week hybrid of evening and online classes that prepares graduates for national certification and work in classrooms, clinics and group homes. Scholarships are available for eligible students.

Families are a second focus. The Stronger Families Training Program is free for eligible non-custodial parents in Central Florida who are behind on child support. Participants receive job readiness training, job placement assistance, parenting and life skills classes, financial literacy workshops, access to legal information and referrals to partner services, with program information offered in English and Spanish.

Young people have their own pathways. The Justice Involved Youth Mentoring Program works with youth ages 10 to 18 through age-appropriate workshops on conflict resolution, peer pressure, decision making, anger management and drug abuse prevention, along with gang resistance education beginning at the elementary level and human trafficking awareness sessions. The CFUL Youth Culinary Institute, powered by CareerSource Central Florida and developed with Valencia College's School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts, is a five-week, hands-on program held at Hebni Nutrition, where students learn food safety, menu planning and nutrition and receive mentorship from hospitality professionals.

Getting started is simple: anyone can book an appointment online to talk with staff about programs and eligibility, or call the league. The league serves clients from its Pine Hills Service Center and its Church Street Service Center in Orlando. Volunteers can sign up online, companies can join the Corporate Partners program or give in-kind support, and every donation helps youth and adults with counseling, computer training, job referrals and placement.