ABOUT US · OUR HISTORY
Rooted in Civil Rights.
Here for the Upstate.
Since 1972, ULUS has carried a local commitment to equal opportunity within a historic national movement for Black advancement and economic empowerment.
OUR BEGINNING
Local People.
a Shared Purpose.
In 1970, Greenville residents gathered in the basement of Springfield Baptist Church to discuss equal opportunity in housing, education, employment, and economic development.
Those conversations led to the establishment of the Greenville Urban League in 1972, with Theo Mitchell serving as its first president. In 1997, the organization became the Urban League of the Upstate, reflecting the region it served.
That local organizing reflected a central Urban League belief: lasting progress requires both individual opportunity and stronger community institutions. The work has continued through changing regional needs while keeping Black advancement and equal opportunity at its center.
MILESTONES
A Local Legacy Within a National Movement.
- 1910
The National Movement Begins.
The National Urban League is founded, establishing a movement centered on economic empowerment, equality, and social justice.
- 1970
Greenville Residents Organize.
Community conversations at Springfield Baptist Church help lay the groundwork for a local Urban League.
- 1972
The Greenville Urban League Is Established.
A local commitment to equal opportunity takes organizational form.
- 1997
A Name Reflecting the Upstate.
The Urban League of the Upstate name recognizes a broader regional identity.
THE WORK CONTINUES
A National Movement.
Local Action in Upstate South Carolina.
The National Urban League’s work connects economic empowerment with equality and social justice. Its affiliates bring that purpose into the communities they know and serve.
ULUS carries that commitment into Upstate South Carolina through education, health and wellness, workforce development, and advocacy. SAFE connects these priorities around students and families, translating a shared purpose into a local approach.
Learn About the National Urban LeagueBe Part of the Next Chapter of Our Work
Help carry a historic commitment to opportunity into the Upstate’s future.