Los Angeles Urban League

Background

Los Angeles Urban League was formed in 1921 as the local chapter of the National Urban League, an organization founded in 1911 to address the needs of African Americans who migrated from the south to urban centers throughout the country for work. ² Over time, the organization began to support more general welfare spending policies, including President Lyndon B. Johnson’s Great Society programs, ³ as well as policies that provided privileged access to resources and opportunities for African Americans. The National Urban League labeled them in 1963 a “more than equal” program necessary to promote “racial justice.” ⁴

Advocacy

Black Lives Matter

Michael Lawson, the president of the Los Angeles Urban League, has stated on the organization’s blog that the organization “stands in solidarity with” the left-of-center Black Lives Matter movement. ⁵ The LA Urban League has advocated that the Los Angeles chief of police take further steps to “demilitarize” the police and implement uniform conduct standards for police officers. ⁶

Abortion

In response to leaks that the Supreme Court would overturn Roe v. Wade, Lawson criticized the decision on the LA Urban League blog, stating that the opinion “reopens the door for conservative states to pass legislation that will limit a woman’s right to control her own body.” ⁷ Lawson also stated that the opinion would disproportionately impact African American, Asian, and Native women. ⁷

Programs

Employment

The Los Angeles Urban League provides programs that assist African Americans in Los Angeles find careers in construction, healthcare, and film/stage production. ⁸ In addition to these specific programs, the LA Urban League hosts a job-bank with job listing from employers that seek to hire through the organization. ⁸

Education

The Los Angeles Urban League has programs targeted at providing educational opportunities for African American and Latino students, these include the Bridge Builders program, Project Ready, and LA Black High School Graduation. ⁹

The Urban Bridge Builders program provides 35 African American and Latino students ages 15-18 the opportunity to attend a fibr-day residential program where participants are exposed to math and science in engaging ways designed to tie the education received to specific careers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). ¹⁰ The residential program is hosted by the University of California San Diego’s Scripps College. ¹⁰

The Project Ready program provides high school students and parents with additional school counseling services to supplement the services provided by public schools. ¹¹ This includes STEM tutoring, essay writing and grading, SAT-prep, financial literacy guidance, job and internship placement guidance, college tours, assistance seeking scholarships, and other opportunities. ¹¹

The LA Black High School Graduation is a city-wide graduation party for African American students in Los Angeles. ¹² The party includes food, giveaways, entertainment and allows graduates to invite friends and family. ¹²

Finances

In 2021, the Los Angeles Urban League received $3,528,586 in contributions, ¹³ $3,576,676 in total revenue, ¹⁴ incurred $3,029,111 in expenses, ¹⁵ and held $1,383,033 in net assets. ¹⁶

Leadership

Michael Lawson is the president and CEO of the Los Angeles Urban League. Prior to leading the organization, he was a partner at the Skadden law firm, ¹⁷ and was appointed by President Barack Obama as the U.S. ambassador to the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). ¹⁸