The Architect

First ULGC President

Claudie Clark

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“[The Urban League] is a volunteer organization open to all people who believe that America shortchanges itself by wasting human potential without equal opportunity for all Americans.” - Claudie Clark

  • 1978 - Claudie Clark attempts to start UL

  • 1981 - Initial board of directors elected

  • 1982 - Chattanooga Area Urban League gains affiliation and first director elected

The Early Years

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Lewis L. Goss

(1982 -1983)

  • Board felt he emphasized organization and establishment before growth and results

Jerome Page

(1983 -1991)

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  • Initially hired to train Goss

  • First EOD Dinner (1983)

  • Youth Achievement and Motivation Project (1984)

  • Move into 730 MLK Jr Blvd in 1984, supposedly buy building but didn’t materialize

  • Word-processing training center opened (1986), begins move into education space

The Love Years

A Bumpy Transition

Charles Love

(1992-1994)

A painted portrait of a Black man with a beard, wearing a beige suit, a striped shirt, and a patterned tie, sitting at a table with a red background.

  • March 1992 Charles E. Love named to replace Jerome Page, moving from Little Rock Urban League

  • Goals to develop housing and employment programs, and computer literacy program, and hopes by board for ties to Clintons

  • “For every two good things he accomplished he did three crazy things” - Faith Edwards

The “Godfather” Visionary

The Logan Years

Warren E. Logan Jr.

(1995-2020)

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  • Longest-serving President & CEO in ULGC history (25 years) member, NUL Quarter Century Club

  • Selected in February 1995 to lead CAUL, later rebranded as ULGC (2002), stabilizing and renewing the organization

  • Launched early workforce and digital skills training through the Eastgate Town Center facility (2001)

  • Championed facility expansion efforts, including plans to renovate Park Place School for ULGC leased offices (2003) — launched a headquarters feasibility study through Lyndhurst support

  • Launched ULGC’s first Health Empowerment Initiative and Youth Workforce Initiative UYEP (2005)

  • Founded the Young Professionals Auxiliary to engage emerging leaders (2009)

  • Opened ULGC’s first Entrepreneurship Center and launched the SpringBoard business program (2011)

  • Initiated Next Level Streetwise MBA program and inaugural Entrepreneur Power Luncheon (2015)

  • Launched and fully funded Inclusion by Design, a nine-month executive leadership development program advancing diverse business leadership (2017)

  • Served as the chair of National Urban League (NUL) Association of Executives (AOE) for 2 years and as a member of the NUL Board of Trustees and Executive Committee. He led a national African-American Leadership Delegation to Beijing, China in 2012, a relationship-building and collaboration visit established by the NUL-led Trade and Cultural Mission to China.

  • Secured a historic, multi-year investment for Tennessee Urban League affiliates—nearly $1M per affiliate over three years & Launched the ‘Building Futures’ Construction Pilot (2019) to support minority entrepreneurs and contractors certification

The Johnson Years

The Reframer

Candy Johnson

(2021-2025)

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  • First woman appointed as President & CEO in ULGC’s history and led the organization through a historic period of growth and revitalization, garnering more than $10 million in ‘new’ investments to further its mission during her 4-year tenure.

  • Launched ULGC’s first individual giving circle, The President’s Society, raising $50K in year one from $1K+ donors

  • Secured funding for ULGC’s first permanent headquarters, a $3.8M community hub (only $650K remaining at end of tenure)

  • Secured the largest unrestricted gift in ULGC history, $2.6M from the MacKenzie Scott Foundation

  • Launched the Family Prosperity Workforce Initiative, leveraging City ARPA funds to return nearly $1M to low-income households while also supporting participants earning industry-recognized credentials and wraparound supports (2022)

  • Reestablished and expanded ULGC’s entrepreneurship ecosystem through fully funded dedicated leadership & initiatives, cross-sector partnerships, education, seed grants and other targeted resources supporting minority-owned business growth.

  • Secured a significant Tennessee Dept. of Education grant in 2022 for a historic 3-year literacy initiative partnership with Hamilton County Schools helping to improve literacy proficiency for K-3rd graders

  • Launched the inaugural State of Black Chattanooga Report (2022 & 2024), establishing a trusted, data-driven community resource and Black/White Equality Index

  • Publicly challenged politically motivated ARPA funding clawbacks in 2023 initiated by the county mayor, and as a result, strengthening community advocacy and support

  • Awarded Affiliate of the Year (John W. Mack Award) by the National Urban League (2024)

  • ULGC’s Project Ready High School Leadership & Academic Program earned national recognition winning 1st place at the national Urban League Competition