KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The Knoxville Area Urban League was formed in 1968 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. It promoted equal employment opportunities for Black Americans in Knoxville. The National Urban League was founded in 1910.
"Things change, as some folks say, yet they remain the same," said Rev. Harold Middlebrook, a board member at the Urban League. "But there's always the struggle, always does struggle, freedoms are not given. They must be fought for, they must be won. But when you when you've got to be ready to supply all of the needs."
Rev. Middlebrook is from Memphis, but he said he moved to Knoxville in the late 1970s. He said he's seen firsthand the work that it's done to help the Black community. He said while people were out fighting for rights, there also needed to be people at the table, having conversations, which is what the Urban League does.
"The Urban League in Knoxville, I know since 1968, but particularly since 1977, I know has played a key role in this city in ensuring that civil rights were accomplished and that people were given opportunities. Not only given the opportunity but prepared when the opportunity arose," said Rev. Middlebrook. "And so that's why I participate with everybody, because I'm proud of the fight and the struggle, but I'm proud of the end result."
The organization serves Knox, Blount, and Anderson counties. As time has gone on, Dr. Charles F. Lomax J, the President and CEO of the Urban League, said the needs of the community have changed the programs that are offered.
"We offer a number of different programs in the areas of education, entrepreneurship, health, housing, jobs, and justice," he said. "And those are programs that we're going to continue to offer, but we also want to make sure that we are growing and evolving as those needs evolve within our community."
Dr. Lomax Jr. says the programs cover a wide range, across different age ranges. He says there are programs to help get people ready for college, or other skilled trades.
"We have our National Achievers Society, which is an honor society for students within schools in the surrounding areas, and we're helping them and equipping them for college access," said Lomax Jr. "We're preparing them and making sure that they are ready for the ACT and the LSAT, and we're also embarking on college tours to help them to be able to see and understand where they might want to pursue their education. For those that aren't interested in going to college or don't have that desire, we also have skilled trades and apprenticeships that we're offering to help people to really understand that there are other opportunities out there, that are available, that offer fantastic paying jobs and wages. And we're trying to make sure that we have a workforce that skilled and equipped."
He says KAUL is also working on other initiatives from healthcare to owning a home.
"There are a number of health disparities within the African American community as well as other minority communities.," said Lomax Jr. "And so we're working to ensure that we are aware within our communities of the signs of heart disease, of what it is to really have a support community when you're dealing with and experiencing a diagnosis of cancer or something along that lines. We also provide housing."
The organization has grown from being created for the needs of African Americans to serving people of all backgrounds.
"When the Urban League was originally started, it was primarily for people of color," said Rev. Middlebrook. "People who had been slaves, people who were coming out now our programs are expanded to everybody. We have a large number of Hispanics and people can participate in the programs of the Urban League. We still try to urge African Americans, but people of color, period."
Lomax Jr. said a big push for the organization is preserving the past and creating history in the present, all while focusing on the future.
"We make history every single day in this building with the work that we do," said Lomax Jr. "And so as we have generations that are coming up, we want to make sure that they know and understand their history, we want to make sure that we are preparing them and equipping them with the tools and the resources that they need to be successful."
He said everyone is welcome to become a member of the Knoxville Area Urban League and help preserve history while building the future.