Urban Leadership Academy℠
Our Initiatives
Urban Enterprise organizes its work through eight key community-driven verticals:
The
Urban Leadership Academy is a dynamic youth development program designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders. Focused on equipping young people—particularly those from underserved urban communities—with the mindset, skills, and tools to thrive, the Academy fosters leadership, creativity, resilience, and purpose. Through a culturally responsive, cohort-based approach, participants are empowered to lead in their schools, communities, and future careers.
Program Overview
- Cohort-based leadership and life skills program for youth ages 14–24
- Integrates academic enrichment, personal development, and community engagement
- Emphasizes cultural pride, self-expression, and real-world application
- Prepares youth to lead with vision, responsibility, and impact
Core Curriculum Areas
- Leadership Development: Confidence building, communication, critical thinking, and teamwork
- Life Skills & Resilience: Goal setting, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution, and decision-making
- Educational Enrichment: College and career readiness, study skills, and learning strategies
- Financial Literacy: Budgeting, saving, understanding credit, and responsible spending
- Entrepreneurship: Business ideation, problem solving, and innovation
- Civic Engagement: Community service, advocacy, and public speaking
- Positive Self-Expression: Art, media, storytelling, spoken word, and digital content creation
Participant Benefits
- Transformational Learning Environment that affirms identity and unlocks potential
- Mentorship and Coaching from professionals, community leaders, and peer role models
- Opportunities for Leadership Practice through service projects, presentations, and internships
- Exposure to Careers and Higher Education via campus visits, guest speakers, and field experiences
- Lasting Peer Connections built through cohort collaboration and shared growth
Our Mission
To develop culturally confident, community-minded, and purpose-driven young leaders who:
- Navigate life with vision, resilience, and character
- Lead positive change in their families, schools, and neighborhoods
- Build the foundation for academic, professional, and personal success
Who We Serve
- High school and college-aged youth from urban and under-resourced communities
- Young leaders with a desire to create impact and grow personally and professionally
- Students navigating difficult environments and seeking a path forward
- First-generation college-bound youth and aspiring changemakers
Distinctive Approach
- Culturally Responsive Curriculum: Honors identity, heritage, and lived experiences
- Whole-Person Development: Balances leadership training with personal growth
- Skill-Building with Purpose: Practical tools youth can use immediately and long-term
- Community Integration: Encourages youth to take active roles in real-world leadership
A Launchpad for the Leaders of Tomorrow
The Urban Leadership Academy is more than a youth program—it’s a springboard for:
- Building lifelong confidence, discipline, and vision
- Cultivating voices that challenge injustice and drive innovation
- Creating a pipeline of leaders who will shape stronger, more equitable communities
Urban Business Academy℠
The Urban Business Academy equips entrepreneurs and small business owners with strategic training, mentorship, and access to essential business networks. Through a comprehensive 12-week curriculum, participants gain skills in business development, finance, marketing, and leadership. Our mission is to foster sustainable businesses that strengthen economic mobility and community prosperity.
Urban Excellence Institute℠
Urban Excellence Institute delivers world-class personal growth, leadership development, and coaching through an experiential, cohort-based learning model. Built on today’s most powerful personal development strategies and technologies, our programs are culturally relevant to the unique strengths and experiences of urban communities.
The Institute also houses the International Coach Federation (ICF)-accredited Urban Excellence Coach Academy, equipping individuals to lead, coach, and create transformational impact.
Urban Leadership Forums℠
Urban Leadership Forum champions excellence in civic engagement, public policy leadership, and political participation within urban communities. Through experiential learning, cohort-based training, and mentorship, we prepare emerging and established leaders to shape policy, drive advocacy, and build equitable systems of change. Our programs are culturally responsive, equipping leaders with the knowledge, skills, and networks needed to create lasting impact in public life.
Urban Philanthropy Network℠
Urban Philanthropy Network cultivates nonprofit and philanthropic leadership within urban communities through experiential, cohort-based programs. Our flagship initiative, Launch & Lead, is a year-long program that equips emerging founders to launch 501(c)(3) organizations, promote their work, raise sustainable funding, and maintain legal and regulatory compliance. We prepare changemakers to lead impactful, resilient organizations that drive lasting community transformation.
Urban Health Initiative℠
Urban Health Initiative is a community-based Health Accelerator designed to elevate wellness outcomes in urban communities. Participants engage in interactive wellness labs built on the 8 Foundational Habits of High-Performance Health, including sleep and recovery, nutrition, mobility, brain performance, fitness, emotional resilience, and holistic self-care. We equip individuals to optimize energy, resilience, and well-being for leadership, business, and everyday life.
Urban Housing Solutions℠
Urban Housing Solutions develops innovative strategies to help housing-insecure individuals and families, including the fastest-growing affected population—Black women over 60—secure and sustain stable homes. We advance affordable housing projects, co-living and co-housing models, and themed housing with supportive curriculum. Our mission is to reimagine housing through collaboration, creativity, and empowerment, fostering long-term stability, dignity, and thriving urban communities.
Urban Youth
Leadership Academy℠
Urban Youth Leadership Development Academy equips young leaders with the skills, mindset, and tools to thrive in today’s world. Through a culturally responsive, cohort-based program, youth engage in leadership training, resiliency building, life skills development, educational enrichment, financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and positive self-expression. We prepare the next generation to lead with confidence, creativity, and purpose in their communities and beyond.
Urban Church &
Community Alliance℠
Urban Church & Community Alliance℠ trains and equips church and faith-based leaders to expand their impact within their congregations and across the broader community. Through culturally responsive, cohort-based leadership development, we provide practical tools, strategies, and support to drive ministry growth, community engagement, and social transformation. The Alliance also houses the Christian Coaching Academy, which trains leaders in coaching techniques designed to strengthen Christian growth, leadership, witness, and influence both inside and outside the church. We believe the local church is not just a place of worship—it is a catalyst for lasting change in urban communities.
