History
Prior to 1945 Portland was known for having a hostile racial environment, which led Reginald Johnson, Secretary for the National Urban League, to visit Portland to examine the conditions. With such a hostile racial environment, it was encouraged by the local citizens to organize a board of directors for Portland. In 1945, candidates were selected and the Urban League of Portland was formed. The Urban League of Portland was established in 1945 as an affiliate of the National Urban League. It is one of the oldest African American civil rights and advocacy organizations in the region. With the start of World War II, the need for constructing new ships for the US Navy increased. In Portland, the Kaiser shipyard needed a large number of new workers to meet these demands; thousands of African Americans migrated to the area. While Portland welcomed the economic boom, there was resistance from some residents to the workers living in their neighborhoods. As a result, many workers were limited to living in theEducation and advocacy
The Urban League of Portland has emphasized the importance of providing equality in housing and education for African Americans. They have advocated for fair housing laws and meaningful civic engagement opportunities, and continue to offer employment assistance, vocational education, community health services, summer youth programming, and senior services.References
External links
* {{authority control 1945 establishments in Oregon African Americans' rights organizations African-American history in Portland, Oregon Civil rights organizations in the United States Non-profit organizations based in Oregon Organizations based in Portland, Oregon Organizations established in 1945