The Winston-Salem Urban League was founded in 1947 through the efforts of Mr. James G. Hanes who was concerned about negative race relations. Originally name the “Community Relations Project,” the organization became the Winston-Salem Urban League in 1953 and was chartered in as an affiliate of the National Urban League in 1955. The Urban League Guild was created and charted in 1955. S.D. Harvey, the Urban League’s first director, focused on creating more job opportunities for Blacks and implemented a successful job training program. A downtown store hired its first Black as stockroom clerk, Western Electric hired its first Blacks for technical jobs and the city hired its first Black fireman. Businesses began to look to the Urban League for qualified applicants. The League created a Skills Bank which listed individuals with the required education and training to fill the jobs. The Urban League made history by taking the lead in moving qualified African-Americans and other minorities into jobs traditionally held by Whites.
