IV 
119TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1000 
Commemorating the Akron Urban League’s centennial. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 14, 2026 
Mrs. SYKES submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on Education and Workforce 
RESOLUTION 
Commemorating the Akron Urban League’s centennial. 
Whereas, for 100 years, the Akron Urban League has served 
the community of Akron and Summit County; 
Whereas, in 1918, when Akron was tasked with meeting the 
social needs of its increasing Black population, Attorney 
Thomas E. Green, Rev. R.A. Jones, Rev. E.J. Jackson, 
Mr. and Mrs. Williams Hardy, and Mrs. Elbertha Turner 
requested assistance from the local Young Men’s Chris-
tian Association as a part of this initiative; 
Whereas, in April 1919, the Young Men’s Christian Associa-
tion responded by hiring George W. Thompson to coordi-
nate Black activities; 
Whereas, in 1925, the Firestone Tire and Rubber Company 
pledged $10,000 to be administered by the Better Akron 
Federation for work with Black community citizens; 
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Whereas the $10,000 would be governed by a Board of 
Trustees responsible for allocating the public funds; 
Whereas a 5-member committee was also appointed to study 
and make recommendations on the social needs of Black 
people in the community; 
Whereas this committee consisted of University of Akron 
President, Dr. Park Noble, Vice President of Goodyear 
Tire and Rubber Company, C.W. Seiberling, President of 
Babcox Publishing Company, E.S. Babcox, President of 
Depositors 
Savings 
and 
Trust 
Company, 
Charles 
Herberick, Attorney J.B. Huber, and Assistant Treasurer 
of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Homer C. 
Campbell; 
Whereas, in March 1925, the Association for Colored Com-
munity Work was created during a meeting at Fire-
stone’s home; 
Whereas, in 1944, the Association’s name was changed to the 
Akron Community Service Center after Thompson hired 
University of Akron student Raymond R. Brown to help 
run the Association; 
Whereas, in May 1950, the new Akron Community Service 
Center and Urban League was constructed at 250 East 
Market Street and included amenities that were lacking 
for the Black community such as a gymnasium, a swim-
ming pool, meeting rooms, classrooms, a library, lounges, 
and a kitchen; 
Whereas this community center became a safe haven for the 
Black community, offering recreational programs for chil-
dren and adults when no other facilities in Akron would 
allow them through the doors; 
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Whereas, in the early 2000s, the Akron Urban League moved 
to Vernon Odom Boulevard in Akron and remains dedi-
cated to creating new programs, expanding its reach, and 
investing in the economic success of the community; 
Whereas the Akron Urban League has served thousands of 
people by providing programs and services that empha-
size education, job training, economic development, 
antiviolence, health and wellness, and mentoring; and 
Whereas the Akron Urban League remains one of 88 affili-
ates of the National Urban League and continues to be 
a driving force behind the employment of minority work-
ers in the Akron and Summit community: Now, there-
fore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) honors and commemorates the 100 years of 
work to empower communities, strengthen families, 
and open doors of opportunity by the Akron Urban 
League; 
(2) recognizes the generational impact that the 
Akron Urban League has had on the city of Akron 
and the residents of Summit County; and 
(3) encourages the Akron Urban League to con-
tinue its mission to improve the quality of life of the 
citizens of Summit County, particularly African 
Americans, through economic self-reliance and social 
empowerment for another 100 years. 
Æ 
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