An Update From the Tacoma Urban League Board of Directors
Tacoma Urban League
For more than 50 years, the Tacoma Urban League has stood with our community in the enduring work of advancing equity and opportunity. That work is bigger than any one person. It takes community, dedicated partners, and so much more.
After thoughtful consideration, the Board of Directors determined that Desirée Wilkins Finch's tenure as President and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League would not continue. We are grateful for Desirée's leadership. Her contributions to our programs, our partnerships, and the people we serve have left a lasting mark on the League and on Tacoma. We thank her for her service and wish her well in the next phase of her journey.
Our commitment to the Tacoma community remains steady: strong Board oversight and a continued focus on programs, partnerships, and the services you rely on. We are focused on the pillars that have always guided us:
Our pillars
Youth Development and Education
Jobs and Economic Empowerment
Health and Quality of Life
Housing and Community Development
Justice and Civic Engagement
We will also continue deepening our movement building across Tacoma and the South Puget Sound.
The Board will provide organizational oversight through this transition and is preparing a thoughtful search for an Interim CEO. We will share updates with the community as that process develops.
Help us build our strategic roadmap
This moment is also an invitation. Alongside this transition, we are launching a strategic roadmap process. The roadmap will guide our work over the next 18 to 24 months and lay a foundation for our next CEO, and it will be built with our community, not just for it. We want to hear from the members, families, partners, and neighbors who have made TUL what it is. More information on how to participate will follow in the coming weeks.
We are grateful for your trust, your patience, and your partnership as we move forward together.
Thank you,
The Tacoma Urban League Board of Directors
For questions, media inquiries, and partnership opportunities, please contact Phyllis McElroy, Board Chair, at Board@thetacomaurbanleague.org.
Our Mission
The Tacoma Urban League is dedicated to fostering the empowerment of African Americans and fellow community members in the region by ensuring economic independence, social justice, and civil rights protection.
Our Vision
The Tacoma Urban League aspires to be a beacon of empowerment and opportunity for African Americans. It envisions a community where all people are:
A cherished member capable of sustaining their family;
Where neighborhoods are lively and prosperous;
Where everyone partakes in the region’s wealth and well-being; and
Fostering wealth across generations in positive supporting relationships.
Our Strategy
The Tacoma Urban League’s strategy to serve the community is articulated through our steadfast commitment to advocacy and empowerment of African Americans and fellow residents in Tacoma, WA. Our strategic priorities are:
Economic Opportunity: We aim to construct a robust pathway out of poverty by fostering job creation, nurturing entrepreneurship, and instilling financial literacy and responsibility.
Educational Excellence: We are dedicated to providing a continuum of support resources that span from pre-K to college, ensuring that every child and young adult can achieve academic success.
Family Engagement and Empowerment: By establishing a Family Engagement and Empowerment Center, coupled with our Male Involvement Program mentorship, we strive to fortify family units and guide our youth towards positive futures.
Community Empowerment: Our mission includes offering a social safety net designed to stabilize our most vulnerable families, ensuring they have the support needed to thrive.
Civil Rights and Advocacy: We persistently work towards securing fair and equal treatment for all, across every aspect of society and government—be it economic, social, educational, or cultural arenas. Our goal is to uphold the civil rights of every community member, paving the way for a just and equitable society.
Oral History Interviews
In this 2008 interview project, founding leaders of the Tacoma Urban League share stories about the organization’s beginnings and its impact over the years.