10/15/2026
A Message from the Tacoma Urban League Board of Directors
For more than 50 years, the Tacoma Urban League has stood with our community in the enduring work of advancing equity and opportunity. That work is bigger than any one person. It takes community, dedicated partners, and so much more.
After thoughtful consideration, the Board of Directors determined that Desirée Wilkins Finch's tenure as President and CEO of the Tacoma Urban League would not continue. We are grateful for Desirée's leadership. Her contributions to our programs, our partnerships, and the people we serve have left a lasting mark on the League and on Tacoma. We thank her for her service and wish her well in the next phase of her journey.
Our commitment to the Tacoma community remains steady: strong Board oversight and a continued focus on programs, partnerships, and the services you rely on. We are focused on the pillars that have always guided us: Youth Development and Education; Jobs and Economic Empowerment; Health and Quality of Life; Housing and Community Development; and Justice and Civic Engagement. We will also continue deepening our movement building across Tacoma and the South Puget Sound.
The Board will provide organizational oversight through this transition and is preparing a thoughtful search for an Interim CEO. We will share updates with the community as that process develops.
This moment is also an invitation. Alongside this transition, we are launching a strategic roadmap process. The roadmap will guide our work over the next 18 to 24 months and lay a foundation for our next CEO, and it will be built with our community, not just for it. We want to hear from the members, families, partners, and neighbors who have made TUL what it is. More information on how to participate will follow in the coming weeks.
We are grateful for your trust, your patience, and your partnership as we move forward together.
For questions, media inquiries, and partnership opportunities, please contact Phyllis McElroy, Board Chair, at [email protected].
Thank you,
The Tacoma Urban League Board of Directors
