UrbanPromise History:

UrbanPromise got its official start in 1988 as a spin-off of the Evangelical Association for the Promotion of Education (EAPE). EAPE was founded by Dr. Tony Campolo, a sociologist and well-known Christian speaker and author widely known for his passionate call for Christians to take seriously Christ's demand that we seek justice for the poor and liberation for the oppressed. Tony recruited Bruce Main to launch an outreach to children and teens in the city of Camden. Starting with one summer camp run out of a struggling Baptist Church, the outreach quickly grew to include multiple summer camps and afterschool programs.

Because of rapid programmatic growth and a need for a more localized board of directors, in 1993 UrbanPromise Ministries was established as a Christian-based, New Jersey, 501 C3 organization. Bruce Main was hired as the founding director. With an initial budget of $12,000 and one full-time staff, UrbanPromise now has grown to an annual budget of 3 million and employees over 55 full-time workers. UrbanPromise also is the largest private employer of teens in the city of Camden, with close to 100 teenagers on its payroll each year. EAPE and Tony Campolo have continued to provide support and encouragement since the inception of UrbanPromise.

The mission of UrbanPromise is to equip children and teens with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and leadership rooted in the principles of Christian faith. As a non-denominational organization, the UrbanPromise community seeks to fulfill this mission through after school programs, summer camps, alternative schools, job training initiatives and a host of other programs that challenge youth to develop their academic, social, creative, spiritual and leadership potential. Unique to the vision of UrbanPromise is a commitment to involving local teenagers (StreetLeaders) in the tutoring, mentoring, and coaching of younger children in the community. By involving teens in the leadership process, UrbanPromise is creating a new generation of young, visionary leaders who embody a commitment to change their own community.

In 1997, UrbanPromise in Camden helped to launch UrbanPromise programs in Wilmington (Delaware), Toronto (Ontario), and Vancouver (British Columbia). Each of these cities is governed by an independent board of directors and is financially self sufficient. UrbanPromise Wilmington, Camden, Toronto, and Vancouver are legally connected through the UrbanPromise International Board of Directors. The UrbanPromise International Board meets annually for the purpose of mutual accountability to the implementation of the mission and fiduciary integrity.

The UrbanPromise Mission:

To equip Camden's children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and Christian leadership.