Urban League of Rochester

The Urban League of Rochester is the flagship civil rights, community development, and human services organization dedicated to enabling African Americans, Latinos, and disadvantaged individuals in the Greater Rochester area to achieve economic self-reliance, equal opportunity, and civil rights. Founded in 1965 following the 1964 Rochester civil rights uprisings, the affiliate has served as a catalyst for systemic change, racial justice, and neighborhood empowerment throughout Monroe County and the Finger Lakes region for six decades.

The agency delivers a wide spectrum of more than 30 community programs addressing the root causes of poverty and economic inequality. Youth advancement is anchored by the renowned Black Scholars program, which has celebrated and rewarded the academic achievements of high-achieving high school graduates for decades, providing scholarship opportunities and college connections. The organization also operates YouthBuild Rochester, an intensive education and vocational training program that enables young adults to earn high school equivalency diplomas while mastering certified construction trades and building affordable community housing.

Economic development and small business creation are prioritized through comprehensive entrepreneurial and workforce divisions. Operating the Small Business Assistance Center and the Urban League Economic Development Corporation, the agency provides microloans, business incubator space, procurement counseling, and financial literacy education to minority-owned enterprises. The workforce division delivers digital skills training, customer service credentials, commercial driving preparation, and direct job placement partnerships with major regional healthcare systems, universities, and corporate employers.

Housing stability, family preservation, and independent living services provide critical safety nets for community members. As a HUD-approved housing counseling agency, the organization assists first-time homebuyers with credit rehabilitation, mortgage qualification, and down payment grants, while delivering foreclosure prevention counseling to protect generational homeownership. The agency also operates dedicated programs for individuals with developmental disabilities, offering person-centered service coordination, day habilitation, and supported community living.

Racial equity training, organizational consulting, and systemic advocacy are led through the INTERRUPT RACISM initiative, which delivers anti-racism summits, corporate diversity assessments, and educational curriculum to regional businesses, school districts, healthcare systems, and municipal bodies across Western New York. Through these regular community convenings and regional policy forums, the affiliate mobilizes grassroots leaders, neighborhood advocates, and regional partners to champion systemic solutions and legislative reforms that build enduring economic prosperity for all families and future generations throughout New York State.

Community members can access services, housing counseling, and youth development programs by visiting the central headquarters on North Clinton Avenue in Rochester or contacting staff online. Dedicated case managers assist families across multiple program facilities throughout the city. Community members, alumni, and corporate partners can advance the mission by serving as volunteer tutors, mentoring YouthBuild students, sponsoring the annual Black Scholars gala, or making tax-deductible financial donations to sustain vital community empowerment initiatives across the Rochester region.