Members of the St. Petersburg community discussed the idea of an Urban League affiliate, Charlotte McCoy, Jean Anderson, and the late John Hopkins and Morris W. Milton. The Southern Regional Office of the National Urban League was contacted for assistance in establishing an Urban League affiliate in Pinellas County. In 1976, a group of community individuals met with Ken Crooks, Deputy Director of the National Urban League, to discuss the feasibility of an Urban League affiliate for Pinellas. In the quest for a local Urban League, support was sought from business, industry, labor leaders, the clergy, civic groups, health and social service agencies, and educational and governmental entities.

Initial funding to operate a pre-employment orientation program was secured in 1977 through a CETA contract. At that time, the agency was a four-member, one-program operation, sharing a single office with another agency. Mr. James O. Simmons was appointed as the first President & CEO to lead the sponsoring committee and guide its successful efforts to become the 117th affiliate of the National Urban League. Since that modest beginning, in 2001, the PCUL paid off its mortgage on our administrative headquarters, which houses the staff of its various programs.

In 1978, the PCUL was officially certified as an affiliate of the National Urban League. In 1981, the United Way of Pinellas County recognized the League as a member agency, funding Nikkithe Minority Skills Bank and the Nurses Tutoring Program. Juvenile Welfare Board funding began in 1985 with the initiation of Project Success and the Comprehensive Family Services Program (CFSP), with additional support from the Pinellas County Department of Community Development.

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