About Us - The Knoxville Area Urban League

Mission and values

Founded in 1968 during the civil rights movement, the Knoxville Area Urban League is a non-profit, non-partisan, interracial community-based organization serving Knox, Blount and Anderson counties.

We provide programs and services in education, workforce development, housing and entrepreneurship to advance economic mobility and promote social and economic equity across the Greater Knoxville area.

Our Mission

To enable African Americans, other minority groups and the underserved to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights.
Our Vision

To be a recognized leader and premier non-profit organization in the Greater Knoxville area promoting economic and social equality for all citizens.
Our Strategy

We believe everyone deserves an equal opportunity to achieve the American Dream. We, along with other National Urban League affiliates, are guided by the needs of the communities we serve. We offer programming, advocate for policy changes and partner with local organizations to advance our community.

The Knoxville Area Urban League is an affiliate of the National Urban League.

Headquartered in New York City, the National Urban League spearheads the efforts of its local affiliates through the development of programs, public policy research and advocacy. The National Urban League has 93 affiliates serving 300 communities in 37 states and the District of Columbia, providing direct services that impact and improve the lives of more than two million people nationwide.

National Urban League

From left, Casey C. Jones, who would become a Knoxville City Council member in 1978; Whitney M. Young Jr., executive director of the National Urban League; Woodrow Z. Wilson, the first executive director of the Knoxville Area Urban League; and Dr. Jack O. LeFlore, a Knoxville College and Urban League board member, gather outside the Knoxville office in 1968, the first year of operations in Knoxville.

History

Founded in 1910, the Urban League movement is one of the country’s oldest and largest community-based efforts focused on advancing economic empowerment and opportunity.

The Knoxville Area Urban League was established in 1968, with Woodrow Z. Wilson serving as its first executive director.

From left, Vernon Jordan, executive director of the National Urban League; **Woodrow Z. Wilson, the first executive director of the Knoxville Area Urban League**; and Knoxville Mayor Randy Tyree at the first Urban League Equal Opportunity Dinner, held at the Deane Hill Country Club. (Photo circa 1976)

Gabriel Bolas II

President & CEO

Knoxville Utilities Board

Harry Gross

East Tennessee Market President

Truist Bank

Dr. Laurie Shanderson

President & CEO

Knoxville Area Urban League

Dr. Harry L. Boston

Founder & President

Boston Government Services, LLC

Adam Cook

Chief Development & Marketing Officer

East Tennessee Children’s Hospital

Jeremy R. Cook

Market President

Old National Bank

Cynthia Gibson

General Counsel

Bush Brothers & Company

David Hunt

President & General Manager

WBIR

Renee Kelly

Director of Boundless

Clayton Homes

Gwen McKenzie

Dave Miller

Chief Operating Officer

First Horizon’s Regional Bank

Hancen Sale

Director of Federal Government Relations

Reworld

Joseph Tolbert

Pastor

Foster Chapel Baptist Church

Dr. L. Anthony Wise Jr.

President

Pellissippi State Community College

Who do you serve?

Is KAUL only for certain communities?

How do I sign up for services?

Who qualifies for your programs?

How can I stay updated on upcoming events?

How can I support KAUL?

Empowering Communities, Changing Lives

Join us in advancing economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. Your support helps us provide essential programs for workforce development, education, housing and entrepreneurship.