Fort Wayne Urban League

The Fort Wayne Urban League enables African Americans and underserved community members to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights throughout Fort Wayne and Allen County. Tracing its historical origins to 1920 with the establishment of the Phillis Wheatley Social Center in the East Central neighborhood, the organization has served as a cornerstone of civil rights, educational progress, and community empowerment for more than a century. As an official affiliate of the National Urban League, the agency addresses systemic disparities through direct service, youth education, workforce readiness, and community advocacy.

Education and youth development form the heart of the organization's daily work. The After School with the Urban League program delivers an empowering, tuition-free out-of-school environment for students in third through eighth grade. Operating four afternoons each week during the school year, the program pairs certified educators and community volunteers with students for individualized homework assistance, math tutoring, and reading remediation. Enrichment activities include visual arts workshops, cultural heritage projects, Girl Scout troops, team-building sports, and computer literacy modules, ensuring children cultivate creative talents alongside academic proficiencies. Each student receives a hot, nutritious meal and evening snack, addressing food insecurity for working families while reinforcing healthy nutrition habits. Family engagement nights provide parents with practical strategies to support student learning at home.

Workforce readiness and economic self-sufficiency initiatives assist adults seeking career advancement and stable family livelihoods. Employment specialists provide comprehensive career assessments, resume crafting assistance, mock interview coaching, and direct referrals to regional commercial and industrial employers. Digital computer laboratories offer adults hands-on access to job applications, certification courses, and practical software training. Financial empowerment workshops guide participants through credit rebuilding, personal household budgeting, banking fundamentals, and preparation for first-time homebuyer financing, helping families build enduring generational wealth.

Community health and wellness represents an expanding priority for the agency. Operating from its multipurpose facility on South Hanna Street, the Urban League is developing an integrated neighborhood health clinic in collaboration with regional medical partners to address chronic disease management, preventive care screenings, and primary healthcare access in historically underserved neighborhoods. Health navigation specialists offer community health education, mobile health screenings, and nutritional guidance. The organization also hosts public forums, voter education drives, youth art exhibitions, and civil rights community dialogues that mobilize residents around social justice priorities.

Individuals and families can access programs by contacting the administrative office by phone, submitting an online inquiry, or visiting the South Hanna Street center during business hours. Community members can get involved by volunteering as after-school tutors, serving as youth mentors, partnering as corporate employers, or contributing tax-deductible financial donations online to sustain lifelong community empowerment.