For nearly 100 years, the Springfield Urban League has stood as a pillar of advocacy, opportunity and empowerment for central Illinois. From the earliest days in the fall of 1926, the Springfield Urban League has been a steadfast companion to families navigating the tides of history.
“We’ve stood strong through the civil rights movement and the fight for the Voting Rights Act of 1965. We championed women’s rights and never wavered in our mission to ensure that every person, regardless of their socioeconomic background, could access education, find meaningful work, receive free health screenings and claim the opportunity to rise up,” said Zhavier Harris, marketing and communications manager.
The Springfield Urban League is a human service corporation and direct service organization that serves over 23,000 people each year. “The work we do truly matters,” Harris said. “Every day, we serve our community across health, education, workforce development, child care, justice and advocacy, meeting people where they are and walking alongside them through every stage of life. From the moment you enter the world until your golden years, the Springfield Urban League is there with programs, resources and support designed to uplift and empower.”
For Harris, working for the Springfield Urban League means being able to highlight the stories of impact and witnessing change in the community. “As head of marketing, you get exposed to so much positivity and opportunity,” he said. “I’ve witnessed the Urban League’s impact firsthand.” In high school, Harris received the G.B. Winston Scholarship and attended the 2013 Historically Black College and University tour which led him to attend Hampton University.
During its near century of existence, the Springfield Urban League has enjoyed a number of accomplishments. In 2025, it was recognized as Springfield’s “Best Local Nonprofit” by Illinois Times. In 2024, the organization’s Children’s Defense Fund Freedom Schools program was awarded “Best Kids Summer Day Camp,” highlighting the powerful impact made in literacy, leadership development and youth enrichment. In addition, the Head Start and Early Head Start programs earned the title of “Best Daycare Center” in 2024 and 2025.
“Earning the Head Start awards was a testament to our unwavering commitment to early childhood education and family support,” Harris said. “These recognitions belong not only to our leadership and staff, but also to our volunteers, partners, families and supporters who have helped carry the movement forward for 100 years.”
“Empowering Communities. Changing Lives” is the organization’s tagline, but according to Harris, it is so much more. “It will be a promise to actively live out every single day through the work that we do,” he said. “It will serve as a guiding vision, shaping how we uplift families, invest in opportunity and build stronger, more connected communities for generations to come. The most special aspect of the organization is how the people we empower also empower others. There’s something powerful about knowing your work changes lives.”
Looking ahead, the Springfield Urban League is committed to protecting early childhood education, strengthening workforce opportunities, navigating health crises and responding to the ever-evolving needs of the community. They are also anticipating a special 100-year anniversary dinner celebration in September.
“We will continue pressing forward with urgency, focus and determination as we move beyond our 100th year, knowing the work is far from finished and too important to slow down,” Harris said.
This article appears in Best Places to Work 2026.