The Urban League’s clear vision amid uncertainty

As the terms diversity, equity, and inclusion continue to be scrutinized, the Urban League of Rochester is grounding its work in the voices of the community. The organization is taking a listening-first approach, holding conversations with the community to ensure its efforts—rooted in a legacy of 60 years—remain relevant and responsive.

“We are a civil rights organization and our foundation is diversity, equity and inclusion,” says Seanelle Hawkins, president and CEO. “We have to be conscious of that, and we’re thinking about, how do we make sure that we can continue to do our work?”

These reflections on preserving mission, efforts that aren’t limited to the Urban League, come at a pivotal moment, as the organization considers raising funds to assess the need for a new space. The Urban League is eyeing the site currently occupied by the bus terminal, which is expected to move to the Louise M. Slaughter Rochester Station in the next few years.

This vision was shared at the Urban League’s sold-out gala at the Joseph A. Floreano Rochester Riverside Convention Center in February, a gathering that drew more than 800 supporters.

“Imagine a city reconnected, a city once divided by barriers, concrete cutting through communities, roads that were lines, lines that were walls, walls that kept us apart,” Hawkins voice rings out in a video that was shared with the Beacon. “But now imagine this: Green spaces alive with possibilities, a park where laughter bridges divides, where every corner breathes unity, and just beyond the trees, a glow catches your eye, a sign shines bright, Urban League of Rochester, a beacon of light, a call to gather, a call to rise…”

The project is still in its “soft phase,” Hawkins says, and doesn’t have a price tag yet. The Urban League plans to conduct an assessment and is seeking funding to support this initiative. 

“We believe that there’s a vision and (that) includes not only our building, but the space across the street,” she notes. “We know that the bus station, that’s still a couple of years of work that has to happen, but we’ve been claiming our space because we believe that this could be another Parcel 5 space, bringing communities together, but right here at the true start of downtown. And so we’re excited.”

A long history

Hawkins is only the third leader in the organization’s long history. She started as Urban League president and CEO in June 2019. Before that, the nonprofit was led by former Rochester Mayor Bill Johnson Jr. and William Clark.

Hawkins grew up in a family of four children in a poor section of Brooklyn. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University, a master’s in strategic leadership from Roberts Wesleyan University, and a doctorate of education from the Executive Leadership Program at St. John Fisher University. Before joining the Urban League, she held positions including executive director of Sojourner Home and Wilson Commencement Park. 

Calvin Gantt, immediate past chairperson of the Urban League, calls Hawkins a dynamic leader who was needed at a time when the organization was transitioning from long-tenured leadership. 

“She brought a different energy, a different perspective on things, which I think is needed whenever you are going into a new era,” he says. “You need to have somebody who’s willing to take on some of the challenges, and she’s been up to the task (of) doing that, not to say that there hasn’t been some challenges along the way (for her) to have to work through.”

The Urban League of Rochester was established in 1965, after the racial unrest and riots here. The affiliate of the National Urban League took on the task of addressing the needs of those who live in poverty and empowering the underserved in areas including housing, employment, education, finance and health. Today, the local Urban League offers more than 25 programs, from youth and employment services to education and homeownership.

“I love the Urban League. I love what it stands for. I love its principles. I love its mission, and I love its necessary empowerment of all people, not just Black and Latino, but of everyone,” says Ron Washington, housing director/manager of the Home Store at the Urban League. “We all want equal access to certain things to improve our lives.”

Navigating new rules

The Urban League’s efforts at building equitable conditions for all could be at risk given the Trump administration’s Jan. 20 executive order titled “Ending Radical And Wasteful Government DEI Programs And Preferencing.” Following that, a number of companies and organizations, including big names like Amazon, Google, ad giant WPP, and Disney, quickly rolled back or retooled DEI policies. 

While others might have removed references to DEI, cut related staff positions, or toned down the focus on equity and diversity, for the Urban League, changing words carries a unique significance. 

“Do we need to have different language? That feels different coming from the Urban League, because we are very resolute in our mission to create access for all, to empower this community, to have equitable solutions across our community, and to now say we might have to change our language that feels difficult,” Hawkins says.

The community has reminded her that the work remains the same. Hawkins recalls an elder who asked her not to be dismayed. Even though some of the messaging might change, the mission is constant.

“We’re trying to come to terms with that. What does that mean? And we’re learning that in our listening tours,” Hawkins says. “But we also want to know if there’s still a commitment to equity, if there’s still a commitment to inclusion and access for all across this greater community, I believe it is. (But) we want to hear that. We want to hear organizations say that.

“I get it,” she continues. “Everyone has to make sure that they have a path for sustainability for their organization or for their business, but we also have to remain committed to the work that we’ve done to better our community. I think we’ve gotten better, and so we don’t want to retreat. We don’t want to go back to what once was and what caused many problems, if we’ve gotten better. So, we’ll see.”

Says Gantt: “Some of our programs are in jeopardy in terms of potential funding. But as a group, we recognize that the mission for the Urban League is greater than one particular thing, and so it’s vitally important for us to stay the course and to continue to do what we do.”

The Urban League has expanded its programming over the years, including support for female entrepreneurs and small businesses. Last year, it donated office space on North Clinton Avenue to the Rochester Police Department to foster relationships with the Rochester community. 

Focus on housing

Washington leads one of the Urban League’s successful programs—housing—which also has to contend with a political environment where initiatives focused on helping minority populations aren’t as welcome as they were in previous years.

In the mid-1980s, the Urban League of Rochester Economic Development Corp. was established as a subsidiary to improve living and working conditions of poor, disadvantaged and underserved populations in the region. ULREDC has successfully developed affordable housing and sold homes over the last two decades. Its Lease-to-Purchase program, for instance, has 14 communities with 330 units. Last year, the Urban League tasked Christopher Community Inc. with managing its portfolio.

“There are many reasons why it’s been successful, and I want to say successful outwardly looking in, because we have people that have maintained affordable housing,” Hawkins says. “They have beautiful housing, it’s affordable, and we prioritize the community. 

“That has been a mission, that’s the goal, that’s the focus, and we know that has to be the outcome, so we’ll do it by any means necessary,” she adds. “Whether it’s the relationships, the powerful relationship of New York leadership, whether it be our banks that support us, we all agree that everybody should have access to affordable housing.”

Even so, Hawkins points to a challenge that organizations doing such work face—a financial one.

“We’ve learned that these affordable housing projects are set up for success up into a period, and there’s this period of decline because the properties have to be reinvested in … they’re getting physically older, and so where are the immediate dollars to support that?” Hawkins observes.

“We’re really coming to terms with what’s our role in this affordable housing space, but we know the goal must be to make sure that the community members we serve have access (to) beautiful options for housing, and there’s still a lot of work to do,” she adds. “There’s still a lot of work to do as we expand in other neighborhoods, and not just keep it confined to low-income communities.”

As the city and other organizations focus on the housing situation, the Urban League’s role is also to prepare people for homeownership and take steps beyond affordable housing. However, cuts to financial aid and programming for affordable housing and homeownership can make this work difficult.

“The political atmosphere definitely makes it more challenging, because there’s an unknown factor,” Washington says. “We just don’t know how many fires we’re going to have to try to put out, and those fires are going to contribute to people’s ability and affordability, as far as homeownership is concerned, and also whether or not their lives can improve if they want to continue to rent.”

He focuses on this question: “What we do know?”

“What can I do to prepare and make ready those who are looking to become homeowners, whether it’s in the city of Rochester, or whether they want to make a move to another place where they feel like they can afford (it),” Washington explains. “It doesn’t matter, right? The whole idea is to find a person’s eligibility economically, to make sure that they’re prepared and ready to get a mortgage, to go look at a real estate agent to buy a house. That’s basically the process. … So, the formula doesn’t change. It’s just that the conditions of purchasing a house have changed.”

High demand for housing and low inventory create an especially difficult market for low- to middle-income families.

“It really makes for a very unfair, competitive market for the constituents that I serve,” Washington says, adding that he focuses his efforts on educating income-eligible homebuyers with credit counseling and financial empowerment. 

“With all the challenges and the unknown factors from the administration, the more that I can provide credit, education and empowerment, financial empowerment, the better prepared a person will be when the time comes for them to purchase a house,” he says.

Empowering youth

Helping the next generation is an integral part of building stronger futures. Early this month, the Urban League celebrated its Black Scholars in a ceremony that marked the program’s 46th year. The program offers college readiness assistance to students who maintain a B average grade or higher throughout high school. Honorees receive access to scholarship opportunities through the Urban League’s network. 

Taurean Uthman, vice president of youth and education, oversees programs in schools. He says youth are interested in opportunities to expand their horizons. This year, the Urban League took students on college tours to “expose young people to different opportunities outside of Rochester,” Uthman says. Nearly 130 students joined those tours. The Urban League serves 1,300 youth.

“It is very rewarding to be able to see young people transform in front of your eyes, and also gives you some inspiration to the work that you do every day,” Uthman says.

He recounts a conversation at an after-school program where the Urban League rewarded youth for their hard work and participation.

“One young person raised her hand and she said, ‘Hey, Mr., don’t you think this is too much?’ Uthman recalls. “’What do you mean by too much?’ And she says, ‘We have never had anyone ever reward us like this. Don’t you think this is too much?’”

That comment has stuck with Uthman as he works to uplift youth.

“We have not made our young people feel honored enough (for) the time and the commitment that they’re putting into school, after school, different things that they are doing in the community,” he says. 

If Uthman could, he would make sure that these young people feel appreciated and supported in their life decisions. He hopes to incorporate STEAM activities into the Urban League’s offerings to help youth adapt to new technologies and learn the therapeutic nature of art.

He views the present political climate as a teaching opportunity.

“I can (only) teach young people how to keep pivoting with life,” Uthman says. “This has happened for years. This is one reason why the Urban League (was) founded. … I hope people can see us as a beacon of light and support and guidance to deal with tough situations and tough times.

The road ahead

Making thoughtful adjustments while staying on mission is the top priority for the Urban League. In the fiscal year ended March 31, 2024, the nonprofit reported $6.4 million in revenue and expenses of $6.8 million, according to its latest Form 990. That compares with $9.2 million in revenues and expenses of $6.4 million the year before. Government grants in the latest 990 totaled $3.2 million, or roughly half of total revenues.

Gantt, who applauds Hawkins’ ability to raise funds, observes the need to find unrestricted dollars. He says it is an area the Urban League needs to strengthen.

“What we are more in need of is unrestricted dollars that allow us to then put the money into places that we see where the need is the most,” he says. “The more we have of (those) unrestricted funds, then the less we have to even be worried about what’s happening from the federal level. We would be in a better position to manage what we want to do and not be kind of dependent upon reimbursements (and grants), which is the primary way in which the Urban League earns its money.”

He believes that getting donors into the Urban League’s physical space will help them better understand its work.

“When you walk in and you see the people and the passion, I think it sends a very different tone to people,” Gantt says.

This year’s gala, which returned after a 16-year hiatus, was a testament to the Urban League’s work and also demonstrated the community’s support. 

“We wanted people to love back on the Urban League,” says Hawkins of the Feb. 14 event. “It was also Frederick Douglass’ birthday, and it was almost the day the Urban League was incorporated on March 11 in 1965.”

Since the anniversary, Hawkins says donations have been trickling in.

“I’m so grateful that every morning since the anniversary, I could open my email and there’s a donation; whether it’s $14 or $14,000, we’re grateful,” she says. She adds with a smile, “We’re still waiting for that $1.4 million donation, but we’re grateful for (every donation) because it just fuels us to say our work is necessary and needed, and people see the great work that the Urban League is doing.”

Even with the momentum, Hawkins remains clear-eyed about the hurdles ahead. Like Gantt, she emphasizes the importance of unrestricted donations that will allow the Urban League to continue its work. Like Panera Bread’s $100,000 gift, which does just that—supports the Urban League’s entire mission.

In addition to concerns about federal grants, retaining talent is also a challenge for the nonprofit, which has roughly 60 employees. Four years ago, the staff count was about 100.

“One of the things that I’ve learned is that when people come to the Urban League, people start to see the great work that (employees are) doing,” Hawkins says. “They say, ‘You know what? They might be great at our organization,’ and (some employees) move on to another organization, they get recruited. And that hurts, (though) it feels good to know that someone has been seen and recognized.

“So, how do we make sure that we have competitive salaries, so that we keep the talent at the Urban League, that they want to stay and be fueled by the mission?” 

Hawkins, who says she still has Clark and Johnson on speed dial, has earned community trust and the appreciation of agency directors. At the outset, stepping into her position, she said her job was to leave the community in a place where the Urban League’s services are no longer needed. 

“My hope is that we don’t need the Urban League in the same way (or) the community’s dependency on our work decreases,” Hawkins says. “But I’m learning that, now that I’m six years in, right now, our work is more important than ever before because of the time that we are in, and it’s important that we remain resolute to our mission, our community.”

As for adapting to a new climate without DEI, she says the Urban League will have to do what’s necessary to advance its mission. 

“I don’t want to be fooled that it’s language that makes the impact. It’s the work,” Hawkins says. 

“I still want to remain resolute that our work is to interrupt racism,” she adds. “Yes, behind all of that is to make sure that everybody has access, everyone has the opportunity to advance, and that’s the mission. If our language has to change to make everyone feel that, ‘Yes, I can get behind this,’ but the work is still the same, the mission is still the same and the end result will be access for all, then so be it.”’

Smriti Jacob is Rochester Beacon managing editor.

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