95 Years of Essential Service & Counting
1930 - 2025
The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle officially opened and launched services on Saturday, November 1, 1930. Since then, the agency has spent the last 95 years working toward a vision of Black equity, education, and economic empowerment within the Greater Seattle community through a growing variety of programs and direct services.
In honor of the agency's 95th year of service and our commitment to empowering an equitable and ever-thriving community, ULMS will be hosting a year-long celebration of events including the launch of new programs, services, initiatives, and more!
This page serves as our official 95th Anniversary HQ. Here you’ll find information about upcoming events, special activities, and ways for you to get involved in the celebration!
Be sure to check back periodically, as this page will be updated frequently!
In January of 1930, the National Urban League (NUL) granted the Seattle affiliate a charter. Joseph Sylvester Jackson, dispatched from New York to become the Seattle Urban League’s one-man professional staff, officially launched services on Saturday, November 1, 1930 with a $4,080 annual operating budget.
- 1930: Becomes the first executive secretary of ULMS
- 1931: Forms Black branch of the Unemployed Citizens League.
- 1931: Creates Negro Health Week, hosting a series of health seminars in the community.
- 1933: Opens secretarial school.
As Executive Director of the Seattle Urban League, Edwin T. Pratt was a key participant in civil rights campaigns against housing discrimination, school segregation, employment bias, and police brutality.
- 1956: Becomes Community Relations Director of ULMS.
- 1961: Becomes 6th Executive Director of ULMS.
- 1964: Creates “Triad Plan” to reorganize Seattle’s public elementary schools. The Seattle School District would adopt the proposal later in the decade.
- 1964: ULMS becomes one of the first agencies in the nation to be awarded Office of Economic Opportunity funds to administer CAMP.
The Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle is currently led by Michelle Y. Merriweather. Michelle is the 13th President & CEO of the organization and has been at the helm of our efforts since 2018.
- 2009: Became Young Professionals President of the LA Urban League.
- 2009: Joined the board of the LA Urban League.
- 2018: Becomes President of ULMS.
- 2020: Helps launch Black Future Co-op Fund.
- 2023: Land acquisition to build the new ULMS HQ.
- 2024: Launches large scale efforts to build affordable housing.
- 2024: ULMS grows from a mere 12 employees in 2015 when Michelle joined, to over 130 staff members — expanding from one office to multiple locations in the CD.
EMPOWERMENT IN ACTION
Corporate Partners for Equity
In honor of the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle’s 95th Anniversary, we invite you to explore the many ways you can partner with the Urban League and help empower a stronger, more equitable community and future together.
If you are interested in taking the next step of transformative change with us, please review the 2025 corporate giving opportunities information and, when you are ready, complete the 2025 Corporate Sponsorship form linked below.
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