About the
Houston Area Urban League (HAUL)
Empowering Communities. Changing Lives.
The Houston Area Urban League
Founded in 1910, the National Urban League (NUL) is the nation’s oldest and largest community-based organization dedicated to helping African Americans achieve economic and social advancement. Headquartered in New York City, NUL leads non-partisan initiatives through a network of local affiliates.
The Houston Area Urban League (HAUL), established in June 1968, is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency affiliated with both the National Urban League and United Way. HAUL provides advocacy and essential services to underserved individuals across all backgrounds, focusing on those in economically challenged communities throughout Greater Houston. Its work is organized around seven core areas: Education and Youth Development, Workforce and Economic Development, Workforce Training, Housing, Social Justice, Health and Wellness, and Entrepreneurship.
OUR MISSION
To enable Black people and other marginalized communities to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power, and civil rights.
OUR VISION
We envision a community where all Black people & other marginalized communities are clearly at parity with America’s promise of opportunity, equality, and justice.
HAUL History
Empowering Communities. Changing Lives.
In the heat of the civil rights movement, on June 19, 1968—just months after the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.—a group of visionary leaders came together with a shared mission: to create real and lasting opportunity for Houston’s underserved communities. These pioneers, including Quentin Mease, Leo Linbeck, Dan Arnold, Judson W. Robinson, Sr., Gerald Hines, Atty. Aloysius M. Wickliff, Sr., J. J. Susberry, C. G. Hardy, Theodore Hogrobrooks, Edwina Higgins, Carl Walker, and James Middleton, laid the foundation for what would become the Houston Area Urban League.
Their vision was bold—to establish an organization rooted in advocacy, empowerment, and service that would help individuals access housing, jobs, education, and justice. What began as a movement quickly grew into a trusted resource for thousands across the city.
By 1973, HAUL had established a Housing and Social Services Department, which became a HUD-approved counseling agency. The department offered not only guidance but hope—connecting families to safe housing, supporting veterans, and responding to disaster recovery needs in times of crisis.
Momentum continued to build. The HAUL Guild was founded in 1998 to expand outreach and service through dedicated volunteers. In 1999, Houston hosted the inaugural National Urban League Young Professionals (NULYP) Conference, introducing a new generation to leadership, civic engagement, and community action.
When Judson W. Robinson III stepped into the role of President and CEO in 2008, he brought with him a legacy of public service and a renewed commitment to innovation. Under his leadership, HAUL launched Small Business University in 2010, equipping entrepreneurs with the tools to turn ideas into thriving enterprises.
The years that followed brought both challenges and progress. In 2021, HAUL opened the Center for Social Justice & Education, a dedicated space for year-round programming focused on civic engagement, advocacy, literacy, and education. It quickly became a hub for town halls, forums, and community empowerment.
In 2023, HAUL came full circle when Houston hosted the National Urban League Conference bringing together thousands of national leaders, change agents, and partners to spotlight the city’s progress and the League’s work on the frontlines of social and economic change
For more than 55 years, HAUL has remained rooted in its founding purpose: to open doors, uplift voices, and transform lives. From workforce development and education to housing, health, and entrepreneurship—HAUL continues to build pathways to opportunity for generations to come.
