Urban League of Lexington
Empowering Communities since 1968.
“
In this work, do the right things...for the right reasons...and right WILL prevail.
- P.G. Peeples
Former President, Urban League of Lexington
OUR AFFILIATE
A Legacy Rooted in Lexington
The Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County is YPinLex's parent affiliate and one of the most enduring forces for social and economic equality in the history of Lexington, Kentucky. As an auxiliary of the League, everything YPinLex does is rooted in the mission and legacy that the Urban League has carried forward for over five decades.
The Urban League of Lexington-Fayette County was founded in 1968 after Lexington activist Harry Sykes heard National Urban League executive director Whitney Young speak at the University of Kentucky. Young's vision was clear: the Urban League was not just another protest organization. It was built on practical ideas about what communities needed most, education, housing, and employment.
Founded nationally in 1910 and headquartered in New York, the National Urban League is dedicated to economic empowerment, equality, and social justice to raise the standard of living for African Americans and other historically underserved groups. The Lexington chapter brought that mission home, and has been advancing it ever since.
BUILDING A COMMUNITY
From Housing to
Whole-Community Impact
P.G. Peeples, Sr. joined the Urban League as assistant director of education in 1969 and became only the second director in the League's history, serving as its defining voice for generations. The League's early work focused on fair housing and economic opportunity.
Working with local businessmen, the League raised $18,000 in seed capital to purchase four homes on Chestnut Street that could be resold to Black families. As of 2018, that initial investment had grown into more than $28 million worth of housing secured for Black homeowners in Lexington.
Over the decades the League expanded its focus beyond housing, working toward safe environments for working families, academic advancement, scholarships, and counseling and mentoring services for middle and high school students. That commitment to the whole community is what has made the Urban League of Lexington a cornerstone institution in this city for more than fifty years.
THE WORK CONTINUES
A Vital Force for Equity and Empowerment
Today the Urban League of Lexington offers programs that assist African Americans and disadvantaged citizens in the achievement of social and economic equality, continuing its work in economic development and opportunity, affordable housing, and community initiatives focused on youth development and access to education. Under the leadership of current CEO Annissa Franklin, the League remains a vital force for equity and empowerment in Lexington.
THE WORK CONTINUES
A Vital Force for Equity and Empowerment
Today the Urban League of Lexington offers programs that assist African Americans and disadvantaged citizens in the achievement of social and economic equality, continuing its work in economic development and opportunity, affordable housing, and community initiatives focused on youth development and access to education. Under the leadership of current CEO Annissa Franklin, the League remains a vital force for equity and empowerment in Lexington.
OUR CONNECTION
Established Since 2002
On August 26, 2002, YPinLex was established as an auxiliary of the Urban League of Lexington to engage the next generation of leaders in the League's mission. The work we do, from the LIFT Conference to our civic engagement initiatives, is a direct extension of the foundation the League has built over more than five decades. We are proud to carry that legacy forward.
OUR CONNECTION
Established Since
2002
On August 26, 2002, YPinLex was established as an auxiliary of the Urban League of Lexington to engage the next generation of leaders in the League's mission. The work we do, from the LIFT Conference to our civic engagement initiatives, is a direct extension of the foundation the League has built over more than five decades. We are proud to carry that legacy forward.