Dear Friend,

“I found it!” a StreetLeader exclaims. He points up at his last name among thousands of freed slaves’ surnames carved into a marble wall at the Legacy Museum and Memorial. Climbing on Mr. Josh’s back, he elevates himself to take a photo next to it.

Andre and Dante experience a similar moment, along with 10 other teens who ventured on the 2025 College Vision Trip. Over 6 days, 7 colleges, 9 Museums/Sites of African American history, 2 alumni visits, and countless fun adventures culminate in teens discovering their names etched in history and garnering a vision for their future.

“I didn’t want to go to college” Dante reflects “but seeing all the colleges” he realizes “I could succeed more getting a bachelor’s degree.” Tuskegee University “made the trip pop,” he remembers, “being there witnessing everyone get along, I want to be part of that too.”

Andre, a college trip veteran, believes his first trip “expanded his brain”, but this time “he wants to see what is out there” for him. At Ole Miss, he finds “community” and an impressive football stadium. At Morehouse College, he sees “boys wearing suits, holding doors, turning into gentlemen” like a “brotherhood.”

For Andre and Dante, visiting each school means experiencing a world that they can see themselves uniquely fit for, but the trip also nurtures them in more personal ways.

“I like learning about Black history,” Andre mentions. He shared that being at the Legacy Museum and actually looking at history helps us understand where we are today. 

“They don’t teach us this in school” Dante comments. He says that “you can change somebody’s heart and make people look differently at us” and “help everybody get along.”

Andre adds “it teaches us to be grateful about what we have, they gave their life to see people equal.” “They did their job,” Dante concludes.

Now, it is their turn. Andre and Dante walk away from this trip inspired to transform their community with the belief in the path ahead.

“I want to be an environmental technician. With more education comes more opportunities.” Dante says.

Andre agrees “I want to wake up in the morning and do my own thing, I want to own my own business, a degree prepares me for that.”

When asked to reflect on why someone should attend the College Vision Trip, Andre replies “Even if you don’t know what you want to do, you’ll find something better than sitting in your room playing , you might meet somebody interesting, and you can bond with staff and StreetLeaders.”

The College Vision Trip offers our teens the opportunity to discover passions and forge deep connections that lay the foundation for their futures. By investing in this trip, you introduce our teens to colleges that expand their worldview, and history that shapes their character and resilience.

In April 2026, we will travel to Atlanta and back visiting many more colleges and African American historical monuments along the way, and you have a part in making it happen:

• $200 pays for teens and staff to visit the International Civil Rights Museum
• $50 buys 4 students authentic college campus lunch
• $600 affords 4 hotels rooms for a night
• $300 fills our tanks with gas to visit Clark University in Atlanta
• $1,000 rents the van teens will travel in
• $10,000 sends 12 teens for the whole trip of vision and transformation

When you give to this trip, you lift our students on your back so they can reach for every opportunity available bolstered by a loving and safe community.

Thank you for your support!

Dionne Xavier Executive Council Head of Schools	Josh Gregor Executive Council Director of StreetLeaders	James Russell Executive Council COO

“I’m ready to start my life!”

Olivia, a Junior at the UrbanPromise Academy, exclaims in anticipation of the coming year. After nearly a decade with UrbanPromise, she is excited about the adventures and challenges to come.

Her best friend, Diana, sits next to her listening quietly and patiently waiting to respond. “I would like to be a surgeon or an art therapist,” she shares “I really just want to help people.”

Olivia and Diana hadn’t always felt equipped for such future vision. Time in the UrbanPromise schools and their family’s support has shaped the trajectory of their entire lives.

“When Olivia first came to the Academy, she often kept to herself,” Mrs. Truax, the Academy Vice Principal, shares. “Now she takes opportunities to lead her peers and speak her mind.”

“At my old school,” Olivia says, “people would get bullied for being an overachiever, but at the Academy, they help you want to do better. After 9th grade, I felt free; I could go all out and try my best.”

Diana embraced the UrbanPromise community, but succeeding in school felt like an uphill battle. “I used to procrastinate and not turn in work, I felt like a failure,” she comments. However, in the face of struggle, Diana remembers her experience on the UrbanPromise Mountain Bike Team. “When I saw my first ever trail, I didn’t want to do it. It was hard, and I had to practice every day; but now when I see an uphill stretch, I say to myself, ‘I got this.’” Now a Junior, Diana applies this mentality to all that she does. “She constantly meets challenges, even when she doesn’t want to, she does it. And she feels joy afterward.” Mrs. Gregan, her science teacher, shares.

Olivia and Diana also experience something eternal in the school year, joining a Discipleship Program started by the Academy. It included a summer internship where they met students from other schools who wanted to serve their local communities.

“I learned a lot from discipleship” Olivia says, “I know that I can’t be a baby Christian forever, I have to make an attempt to reach out to God; I need to know the one who saved me.”

Diana adds “Seeing everyone believe with their whole hearts made me want to believe that way, that once I am a Christian, I am reborn!”

These two young girls grasp the heart of life. In Jesus, they become equipped to serve, to encourage, and to love their peers, their teachers, their families, and their neighborhoods. They inspire us to remember God in all that we do, and to endure all things with joy. The UrbanPromise Academy is an open door to a just education. Students grow as leaders, as individuals, and as disciples of Jesus. Diana and Olivia need advocates like you who stand up to equip them for a life that is full. 

Your donation is an investment in the whole student, teaching them to read and to do math; letting them know they belong and showing them they can achieve. You point to the top of the hill and say ‘ride.’

This fall, nearly 100 youth from our city will attend the UrbanPromise Academy and the Lower School. Children from Pre-K to Senior year will experience unique opportunities, dedicated staff, and inspiring peers building them up. Your generous gifts help pave this path toward success and fulfillment. $50 fuels the students’ ride to discipleship nights and Mountain Bike practice; $300 covers the cost of school events like the Harvest Festival and Geography Day. $100 gives home-made lunches to the Academy. $500 helps send students gain a vision for their future on college tours. Thank you for making a difference in our students’ lives!

Sincerely,

Dionne Xavier Executive Council Head of Schools	Josh Gregor Executive Council Director of StreetLeaders	James Russell Executive Council COO

P.S. We hope you come to the UrbanPromise Banquet on Thursday, October 30th!  You will surely experience joy as you join 500 other community members to support students like Olivia and Diana.

About 30 nervous and excited elementary school children arrive at the Chase Center on a bus. In just a few minutes they will perform “I Am a Promise,” before 500 guests at the annual UPW banquet. As they enter the huge foyer, they see familiar faces across the room. 

“Mr. Elijah!” “Miss Leah!” “Miss Miya!” “Mr. Dajour!” Their voices echo, and they run to spend time with this year’s interns before the show. Smiles, hugs, and laughs fill the banquet hall, and nervousness subsides. 

After five years without year-long interns we feel so grateful for these four. No other role at UrbanPromise is quite like the interns’, and they serve children in ways the full-time staff cannot do alone. Elijah, an intern from Delaware County, PA, who served this past summer, expressed how “every day [he] is curious to see God’s hand move” but without reflection “it is easy to pass it by.” The “crucible,” as Elijah describes, is the UrbanPromise Internship offering space to see and be the hand of God for the children in camp. 

Dajour, who is from Wilmington, believes an intern is “an older person doing something good;” a “bridge between the gap” of “an adult that has it all together, and an adult still growing and learning.” Dajour models the strength to admit mistakes, to respond with an apology and commit to change. Children respond to that model, taking ownership over their actions without fear, knowing they can and will receive grace and truth. 

Miya, from Toronto, understands that camp provides “the reliability of a safe space, always” and if homelife is not so “consistent” this group of caring, dedicated adult leaders provides essential stability for their development and happiness. 

Leah, who grew up in Philadelphia, sees camp as a space where she can be the “middle ground” for each child. Camp is a space to be a friend, a mentor, a listener, and a sacrificial guide. 

Elijah experienced this personally when he met Dylan. He found that most days, in camp, he had to pull Dylan aside to address his behavior, it wasn’t easy. But through hours of spending time with one another, Elijah asked about Dylan’s best friend. To Elijah’s surprise, Dylan immediately responded–Jesus! It took sacrifice and patience, but Elijah finally connected with Dylan. Now when they see each other in camp, Dylan will ask “Who is your best friend, Mr. Elijah?” and Mr. Elijah responds faithfully every time “Jesus!” 

The other interns have experienced stories just like Elijah’s. Leah observes, “it is like a family”, and Miya is struck by how “each of us fit together like a unique puzzle piece.” 

Dajour believes that “[the interns] are the hope for new things to come” and children need to see “God moving” through people that “come from all over” to love their city!

Mr. Elijah	Mr. Dajour	Miss Leah	Miss Miya

This group of four young people are hands and feet of Jesus, who came to serve rather than to be served. They embody what it means to radically love children in Wilmington, by sustaining meaningful relationships that bear heavenly fruit.

This Christmas Season, when Love itself came to earth, your gift is a means of God’s love in the lives of children in Wilmington. $35 sponsors a single child in an after-school camp. $100 each month gives warmth, light, and hot showers in the staff house. $500 offsets tuition for children in UrbanPromise School and UrbanPromise Academy. $75 provides transportation for interns as they minister in the city. $1,000 supports one intern for one month. Your contribution is profoundly important as these interns lay down their lives to love Wilmington and the families in the city. Thank you for entering into the community with us!

Sincerely,

Dionne Xavier Executive Council Head of Schools	Josh Gregor Executive Council Director of StreetLeaders	James Russell Executive Council COO

On Nov 11th, 736 athletes came from 11 states to compete at Fair Hill. Our very own Trailblazer was the only girl representing Delaware!

We could not run programs like this without the athletes, their families, volunteers, donors and staff who spend their time pouring into one another.  Thank you for being part of this community!

Click here to learn more about UrbanTrekkers

July 2024

Dear Friend,

The warm sun fills the air during free time at camp Freedom, and for Abby, it signals that finally summer has arrived. When asked about summer camp, Abby exclaimed “I love summer! I can’t wait to go to camp this year, and then the next year, and the next year…”

For Abby, Summer Camp means hundreds of kids together laughing at skits, playing games, singing songs, and going on field trips like Water Day.

Not every day was fun and games, though. On hard days, Abby threw pencils, screamed, and shut down if things did not go her way. On many occasions her grandmother, Ms. Suzette, had to come in to take her home early.

“Abby wasn’t herself. She’s not like that.” Ms. Suzette recalled. “She’s so loving, and she’s the life of the party…that’s why I knew she had to go to UrbanPromise.” 

Ms. Suzette knows UrbanPromise because two decades ago, her children were some of the very first StreetLeaders. From that time, she remembers how good it was for her kids, how they grew to be leaders, and she wanted that for Abby, too. Camp Freedom Summer Camp provided the open door for Abby to get connected.

“And when I heard about the school,” Ms. Suzette reflected “that it was a school that prays, I knew I had to get Abby in!”

Abby enrolled in the elementary school, but still challenged her new teachers with some behavior issues. From camp staff to school teachers, no one gave up on Abby. “They always do what is best for her,” Ms. Suzette said. “They love her.”

And thanks to UPW staff, and the constant dedication of Ms. Suzette, Abby has transformed. She no longer throws fits, she has learned to respect others, to respect property, and she has become the life of the party at UrbanPromise, just like Ms. Suzette knew she could be.

When asked what makes camp and school so special, Abby immediately replied “It’s the Jesus camp! I love Jesus!” and Ms. Suzette replied “It’s the love. Nobody loves like you all do.”

On June 25th, a flood of children from Wilmington’s neighborhoods entered UPW summer camps, some for the first time. Fun games, loud, silly songs, and welcoming staff greeted them. Like Ms. Suzette’s children and grandchildren, they will experience a love that has crossed multiple generations. For others, summer camp will be a gateway to other open doors for full life.

When you donate to make summer camp a fun, safe, and lively environment, you open those doors for children across the city to an experience they will never forget.

There’s an envelope enclosed in this letter. Will you return it with a donation to make UrbanPromise summer camps the best possible experience for children like Abby?

$35 provides pizza for camp night. A bus for a field trip costs $250. $100 fills up a van with gas so we can pick up and drop off campers.  $50 provides snacks and activities for Water Day.  $500 takes all the camps roller skating.

Thank you for opening the door to Abby and children across Wilmington. We look forward to sharing the growth of Abby and others like her for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Dionne Xavier Executive Council Head of Schools	Josh Gregor Executive Council Director of StreetLeaders	James Russell Executive Council COO

Summer Camp 2024 is in full swing! You should Come & See! To book a summer tour

Hi! We are the UrbanPromise Board of Directors – a dedicated group of folks who support UrbanPromise Wilmington just like you! 

As we gathered for our January Board meeting the sounds of basketball + laughter filled the newly renovated space in Ricks Rock Center for Servant Leadership.

Three StreetLeaders expelled nervous energy as they prepared to share their stories with us. Kia talked about the joy of working with younger kids, leading them in academic + personal growth. Nick is only 3 weeks into his job but mentioned the impact that older StreetLeaders had on him when he was a camper. THEIR dedication fuels our service!

We also took time to Praise God for His many blessings of transformation + grace in 2023. 

• New Leadership Team, Dionne Xavier, James Russell, + Josh Gregor, led staff through a historic leadership transition
• Ricks Rock Center for Servant Leadership – renovated in part by many volunteer hands – opened, creating more space for StreetLeader tutoring, school programming, extracurricular activities, meals, worship + celebrations! 
• Academy student alum earned a 3.5GPA + honor roll in college
• A new middle school camp opened in collaboration with the Resurrection Center
• Teen StreetLeaders – tutored, trained, + employed by UPW – learned valuable life skills and built relationships with younger campers
• UP school students placed in Robotics competitions + an art exhibition 
• Capital Campaign launched for UrbanPromise that uphold Neighborhood Presence, Environments of Excellence, + Relationship Density
• Intern recruiting occurred on 27 college campuses in 7 states
• UP staff laid down their lives daily to increase program capacity + transformational outcomes

UrbanPromise is growing and YOUR support helps! We need your continued advocacy.

As a fellow community member, will you:

• Volunteer at UrbanPromise through tutoring, work teams, providing meals, reading + more?
• Attend the Spring Silent Auction (March 14), Host a table at the Annual Banquet (October 24)?
• Donate to help grow our reach and impact?
  • $30/month = safe, FREE after school program for one child
  • $100/month = employs a teen like Nick or Kia
  • $1,000 = gas to shuttle kids + teens to/from Five FREE After School Programs
  • $6,000 = a full scholarship for one student to attend UrbanPromise Elementary School or the UrbanPromise Academy.
• Network + invite your friends to see what’s happening at UrbanPromise?  Tours take place every Wed./Thurs. @ 10:30 AM + 3:30PM
• Thank YOU for being an integral part of the community in Christ that enables healing, joy, and peace to take hold in the neighborhoods of Wilmington.

Sincerely, 
The UrbanPromise Wilmington Board

Blair Althouse, Chair
Ranie Good, Vice-Chair
Beth Truax, Secretary
Norma Lee, Treasurer
Andy Abraham
Devon Archy
DR Barton
Bessie Evans
Kyle McDuffie
Mary Mirabeau
Laura Woodin
James Whitely

What happens when you put 55 kids together with 55 volunteers?
FUN, ENERGY, IDEAS, INSPIRATION, and most importantly, RELATIONSHIPS.

On January 25th, StreetLeaders and children from UPW’s five After-School Programs were paired with volunteers for SpeakUP Writing Night. The goal? Write a speech about an African-American or Latin-American historical figure to share with parents and judges at the UPW Speech Contest in March!  Giving a speech is hard, but there is a reward!  For children in the after-school program, a trip to Washington, DC over Spring Break! For StreetLeaders, a College Vision Trip and Civil Rights Tour through Georgia and Alabama!  

Most importantly, children and teens get to share what matters to them. They know they have a voice in the community, and that is the MOST important reward of all!

“The snacks were good! The volunteer I worked with was funny and helpful. I’m excited for the speech contest because sometimes I stutter and I need to slow down, and I know I won’t get boo’d.
This is a loving community.”
-Kenton, 5th Grade, Camp Freedom & UrbanPromise Elementary School

Here’s How You Can Get Involved!

You, too, can encourage, mentor, tutor, and support a child or teen in an UrbanPromise Program:

• Check out Volunteer Opportunities
• Fill out a Volunteer Application
• Set up a one-time or monthly donation to support a StreetLeader or a child in the after-school program.
• Be on the lookout for more updates about the UPW Speech Contest and Spring Break Trips!

What Else is UPW?

Mark Your Calendars:

• UrbanPromise Silent Auction Event: Thursday, March 14, 2024
• The Annual Paddle for Promise: June 8, 2024

Calling Summer Interns!

• We are now accepting applications for the UrbanPromise Summer Internship, an eight-week, immersive ministry opportunity in which you will learn, grow, and experience the amazing children and teens of Wilmington.

Here are some highlights to their very muddy weekend through the eyes of Carolyn, our UrbanTrekkers Director and Mountain Bike Coach.

Two of our bikers got to preview the race course on Saturday. The route was winding, rocky, rooty, grassy, and hilly, but our riders were well prepared and had done tougher courses in practice, so it was definitely very doable in the sunny weather we had that day. Both rode well and finished strong over two laps, which gave them a boost of confidence about the following day’s race.

Camping with the whole Delaware Dirt Destroyers team was a lot of fun. Cooking and eating outdoors, circling around the campfire, exploring the campgrounds, and sleeping in tents… these mountain bike race weekends are definitely not just about biking!

We had the opportunity to visit Gettysburg Battlefield – a fascinating and solemn experience. We visited the two ridges where the Union and Confederate armies were encamped just a mile or so apart from each other, and history really became real when we looked out over the site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War. We’re blessed that Coach Marc (one of our volunteers) is not just a talented mountain biker and coach, but a knowledgeable history enthusiast. It was a memorable visit.

And… race day! It rained all night and on-and-off all day, making the course a muddy ride in the best parts, and a swampy “hike-your-bike” in the worst parts. One of our bikers raced in the JV2 category, and finished strong even when many other riders could not finish. It was amazing to see him pushing and pedaling for well over an hour, and then crossing the finish line completely caked in mud – the exertion and relief and pride of which, I’m sure he’ll never forget. Our second biker’s race was cancelled mid-way through the day, which was disappointing, but by that point the course had gotten to be unrideable. He was fired up and said he was ready to carry his bike the whole way if necessary, which probably would have been the case!

This weekend felt like the culmination of half a season’s worth of consistent growth for our athletes, and I am inspired by their grit and positive attitudes. Furthermore, it was clear to see fruit borne from all the labor, commitment, and vision of so many people in UrbanPromise and Delaware Dirt Destroyers who have brought this program off the ground. God has truly blessed us abundantly.The season is far from over though! We have a couple of more races coming up and are looking forward to conquering the next course!

UrbanTrekkers activities like these, and the support of our Mountain Bike Team are possible through volunteers and donors, like you!

If you would like to volunteer, you can fill out the application HERE

If you would like to donate to make help make these programs possible, click the button below.

Recently, UPA students got to visit and tour Lincoln University, the nation’s first historically black college and university, on what was a beautiful day.

Lincoln University was founded in 1854, and has since attracted a large interracial and international student body. The main campus is built in the heart of southern Chester County in Pennsylvania, where UPA students got to spend the day.

UPA students explored LU’s campus, experienced a college dining hall style lunch, and enjoyed presentations from on-campus clubs. This trip also allowed UPA to see what Servant Leadership looks like on a college campus, and give them the ins and outs of graduating from such an institution as Lincoln. 

“We were especially struck by the student that toured us around,” said Joel Orr, UPA Director. “Many of our students’ main take away was ‘time management,’ and the ability to stay focused on being a student and completing work that is assigned in higher education.

“We felt very loved by Lincoln U and the staff of LU was strategic and partnered us with students that aligned with the mission and vision of UPA,” said Joel. “Our whole community in Christ has a deeper understanding of what it will take to ‘graduate from a 4 year institution’ and we were able to feel the heartbeat of LU.”

Thanks to the team at Lincoln University for hosting UPA! It was a great trip that aligned with UPA’s goals and strategies. UPA hopes to tour the university again in the future and build on these new horizons.  

About UrbanPromise Academy:

UrbanPromise Academy was founded in 2010 to seek a full life for the students in our communities. Our mission as a school is to equip our students, through Christ, with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, personal growth, and servant leadership. Through partnership with students, parents, and committed staff and volunteers, UrbanPromise Academy offers a rigorous, Christ-centered educational experience for students from 8^th-12^th grade. To achieve this, we provide small class sizes, one-to-one tutoring, and a well structured, safe learning environment. https://www.urbanpromise.org/academy