In April 1919, the YMCA responded by hiring George W. Thompson to coordinate Black activities. Alas, for the next few years, the effort bore little to no fruit. In 1924, Assistant Treasurer of Firestone Tire and Rubber Company, Homer C. Campbell, met with T. M. Fletcher, who at that time was advocating for Black youth.
Campbell brought the problems to Harvey S. Firestone. In 1925, The Firestone Tire and Rubber Company pledged $10,000 to be used for work with the Black citizens of the community. These funds were administered by the Better Akron Federation and governed by a Board of Trustees.
In March 1925, a meeting was called at Firestone’s home to reveal the committee’s work. George W. Thompson from the YMCA attended the meeting. On that night, the Association for Colored Community Work (the Association) was born. At first, the Association operated under two separate boards. The Board of Trustees was in charge of the agency’s finances and controlled the titles of the property. Meanwhile, The Board of Directors was in charge of producing and managing programs that would meet the needs of the community’s Black population.
During those years, the Association functioned as a clearinghouse to aid Black people with all sorts of problems. They assisted in the adjustment of difficulties in industries with racial issues, supported the development of projects such as the Elizabeth Park, and advocated for Blacks in workplaces like public schools and rubber factories.
Before the emergence of the Akron’s Association, a policy-driven organization was founded in 1910 in New York called the National Urban League. The Urban League’s guiding principle was “Let us not work as colored people nor as white people for the narrow benefit of any group alone, but together as American citizens for the common good of our common city, our common country”. In March 1925, Akron became the newest addition to the National Urban League affiliate.
In May 1950, a new Akron Community Service Center and Urban League were constructed at 250 E. Market St. These new facilities included a gymnasium, swimming pool, meeting rooms, classrooms, a library, lounges, and a kitchen. In the 1960s, an auditorium was added to the building. It offered recreational programs for children and adults in Akron and became a haven for the Black community.
The facility has served the community well for over 50 years. It has continued to help thousands of people by providing programs and services that emphasize education, job training, economic development, anti-violence, health and wellness, and mentoring.
Their mission is to improve the quality of life of the citizens of Summit County, particularly African-Americans, by advocating and facilitating programs that are economically and educationally transformational, impacting their lives and the lives of future generations.