BRIEF HISTORY OF THE URBAN LEAGUE GUILD  

In 1942, Lester Granger, Chief Executive Director of the National Urban League, sought out Mollie Moon of New York to raise money for the National Urban League.  Mollie Moon along with a group of women, called themselves the National Urban League Guild.  The first year, the Guild contributed more than $30,000 to the National office.  The Guild proved to be an asset to the National Urban League.  The word quickly spread and some of the Urban League affiliates began to organize Guilds in their affiliates to raise funds for them.  This idea began to take hold and the Guilds began to attend the conferences for 10 years informally at the National Urban League.

In 1952, in Cleveland, Ohio, at the National Urban League Conference, the Council of Guilds was organized under the leadership of Lillian Ballenger, the first President of the Council.  At that time officers and coordinators were appointed, constitution and by-laws were set with the Council acting as an advocacy group to the local affiliates and the Guilds.

The mission of the Guild, under Tucson Urban League, presently is to: strengthen the affiliate and raise money in support of the League’s endeavors.  The Guild serves as Good Will Ambassadors in the community.

The Tucson Urban League Guild holds meetings every 2nd Saturday of the month at 1:00 PM.