They've Been at UrbanPromise for 31 YEARS!

This is post 2/5 in a series highlighting students on “The 20-Year Journey” at UrbanPromise. UP's holistic, long-term support of students from Kindergarten to college graduation and beyond is what sets our program apart, and we couldn't empower our students without you. Thank you so much for committing to our students for the long haul!

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When six-year-old Steven first walked through the doors of UrbanPromise, he didn't really think he'd stay.

Steven as a camper in 2014

“To be here now... it just feels surprising! I thought UP was going to be a temporary thing in the beginning, like I’d come for one summer," Steven remembers. "I didn’t think I was going to go from being to be a little camper, to, after eight years, being in this spot and actually becoming a StreetLeader myself!"

Sometimes it's not such a bad thing to be wrong, is it?

As we continue to explore "The 20-Year Journey" for UrbanPromise students like Steven, this week we’re excited to introduce you to a very special group of rising ninth graders who have a lot of UrbanPromise experience between them… THIRTY ONE YEARS, to be exact!

Now it's time for these "expert campers" to leave familiar territory behind — they are finally on their way to becoming StreetLeaders, but first they have an important “bridge year” to complete.

These students are launching our brand new “Junior StreetLeader Program”, and we think they’re the perfect ones to bring it to life!

Steven (middle), Jennifer (top), and Alma from our South Boulevard Site

Steven and Jennifer are both eight years in to their "20-Year Journeys" —as two of the original UrbanPromise Charlotte campers, they helped launch UPC back in 2013 as first graders! Alma joined them one year later.

“This is just so crazy, I have wanted to be a StreetLeader ever since I was a little kid!” Alma says.

At UP's South Boulevard site, about 90% of our junior and senior StreetLeaders are former campers like these three. But most of those StreetLeaders started their UP journeys a little later — they first joined camp as fourth or fifth grade students.

UrbanPromise has never had a StreetLeader who started camp as young as Steven, Jennifer, and Alma did!

“It feels surprising, and exciting too," Jennifer says. "Surprising because all these years have already passed, and I’m finally at this time of being what I’ve wanted to be. Exciting because I want to be that one person in a camper’s life that they’ll say ‘I remember this person’. I want to see them grow up!”

“Sometimes I didn’t think I would make it, I didn’t know if I would get through all the struggles," Alma recalls. "But I can’t wait to learn all the campers’ names and learn what they like to do. Especially when you really feel that connection [between campers and StreetLeaders], it is just so fun!”

Jennifer (left, white shirt) and Steven (front, blue shirt) at camp in 2014

UP’S NEW “JUNIOR STREETLEADER PROGRAM"

If you’ve been looking up to UP StreetLeaders since you were a little kid, it’s no surprise that becoming a StreetLeader yourself feels like a milestone!

However, transitioning from the role of a camper to the role of a StreetLeader isn’t always intuitive or easy for students, no matter how many years they've been at UrbanPromise.

This summer UP is launching a new “Junior StreetLeader Program” to help ensure that all rising StreetLeaders adapt and succeed! Students who participate in the Junior StreetLeader Program during their freshman year will have the opportunity to apply for the full StreetLeader Program before they become sophomores.

DJ (left) and Jeremiah from our West Charlotte Site

DJ and Jeremiah are another pair of original campers who will help launch the Junior StreetLeader Program — when the doors opened at UP's West Charlotte Site site back in 2016, these rising freshmen were only fourth graders!

“Being a StreetLeader will be different than what we’re used to as campers,” DJ admits. “We can’t play as much as we used to. I want to be a role model and the Junior StreetLeader Program will help us to practice.”

DJ isn't the only one who thinks the new program is a good idea!

“I am glad they [the UP staff] made the Junior StreetLeader Program, because it’s like practice and helping us get used to it,” says Alma. “Being a StreetLeader is going to be so fun, but stressful some days too. But it’s all going to be worth it hanging out with these kids and making their days better!”

Jennifer knows for sure that she wants to be a StreetLeader, but she understands that the Junior StreetLeader Program might help someone who isn’t quite so certain determine whether or not the job is actually a good fit.

“I think it’s going to help a lot, because it will be like a little experience you get before you really sign up to be a StreetLeader for the next three years. You get to see if it’s what you really, really want to do. Because it’s hard for the kids when a StreetLeader quits.”

Jennifer as a camper in 2014

The single year that these students and their peers will spend as Junior StreetLeaders is a short, but pivotal, stretch of "The 20-Year Journey". For this first generation of UP campers, it certainly feels like a major turning point!

“I just want to let other kids experience the same thing I did when I was little,” says Steven. “I want them to do the fun things that we did. I want to be that one StreetLeader for them who really cares.”

If you’ve been supporting UrbanPromise over the years, THANK YOU for helping to mold Steven, Jennifer, Alma, DJ, and Jeremiah into the leaders they’re ready to become! Their biggest motivation to become strong, caring StreetLeaders is the opportunity that YOU helped provide — experiencing many years of love from older StreetLeaders who have inspired them to pass it on!

"I Feel Nervous, But Also Not!"

This is post 1/5 in a series highlighting students on “The 20-Year Journey” at UrbanPromise. UP's holistic, long-term support of students from Kindergarten to college graduation and beyond is what sets our program apart, and we couldn't empower our students without you. Thank you so much for committing to our students for the long haul!

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“The best part of UrbanPromise is the people,” says Jayden, a rising sixth grader at our South Boulevard Site.

Jayden has been at UrbanPromise since he was in Kindergarten, and he has lots of fun memories he could share with you from his past six years as a camper!

But when you talk to Jayden this summer, you’ll notice that he isn’t spending much time reflecting. There is something else on Jayden’s mind.

Jayden (black jacket) and Genesis (far right)

“I feel nervous,” he says. “There will be a lot of new kids, and they will mostly be older than me.”

Jayden is thinking about middle school. 

MOVIN’ ON UP

On “The 20-Year Journey” that a student like Jayden takes at UrbanPromise, the camper years between kindergarten and eighth grade are a period of enormous change and growth. During this time, our primary focus is on helping students develop a foundational sense of belonging, self-worth, and safety that can ground them through the many shifts, big and small, that we know life will bring their way. 

Shifts like the one Jayden is currently facing — a pretty massive one in the life of an eleven year old!

Genesis, a friend of Jayden’s, is another rising sixth grader at our South Boulevard Site. The two have been at UrbanPromise together for three years, since Genesis started coming to camp as a second grader.

"I feel nervous too,” Genesis agrees. “But, also, not. When I think about UrbanPromise, I feel not that nervous because I know the people here, and that doesn’t change.”

It’s possible that Genesis feels less nervous about her transition to middle school because this isn’t the first change that she has weathered as a camper. Several years ago, Genesis relied on her support network at UP to help her get through a difficult season that deeply rattled her world. 

“When my dad left home, Geraldine understood,” Genesis remembers.

Genesis and Geraldine in 2018

Geraldine, a former StreetLeader, was a steady source of comfort for her younger peer as she navigated a huge, scary change. 

“Geraldine was always there for me, even when stuff got hard. She always stuck by my side, no matter what,” Genesis recalls. “It was really nice to have someone to talk your feelings out with and spread them out and not keep them in. She has inspired me to be like her. One day if someone comes to me I can say, ‘It’s okay, I’ve gone through it when I was little too.’”

The consistency of Geraldine’s caring friendship provided Genesis with a sense of security during an uncertain and emotional time. Heading to middle school may not be as disruptive as what Genesis previously endured, but it’s that same promise of consistency that helps her and other students, like Jayden, feel a little less anxious about navigating something new!

“I have friends at UP who also went to [my elementary school]. Because we saw each other at school and at AfterSchool, we’ve gotten to be even better friends,” Jayden says.

“I know they’ll still be here. I know UrbanPromise will stay the same. ”

I WOULDN’T BE MYSELF

Joanna, a student at our East Site who began her UP journey in fourth grade, is facing her own big transition this summer: she is heading to high school!

As Joanna reflects back on her time as a camper, she also points to UrbanPromise as a grounding force in her life. Additionally, Joanna recognizes that the special relational atmosphere that she has enjoyed at camp is not something you can find just anywhere!

“In school there are more people who might judge you,” Joanna says. “The relationships you have here are so different! At UP there are less people and you get to build a relationship with each one. Also, you get to interact with older people. When you are the youngest, it’s like you have an older sibling. If we are going through something, StreetLeaders can give examples from their own lives and be there for us.”

Middle school is often a time when students are focused more on conforming than on cultivating self-worth, but at UP Joanna has experienced a sense of belonging that has allowed her to recognize and celebrate her own unique personality.

“This is a place where you can really open up. If I had never come to UrbanPromise, I wouldn’t be this open, I wouldn’t be myself,” Joanna says. “I am unique in my own way.”

Joanna

This summer Joanna is facing another change — she is excited to make the transition from camper to StreetLeader!

“It feels like a big, new responsibility!” she says. “But I get to do things that, as a camper, I couldn’t. As a camper I didn’t get to build relationships with younger kids. I am excited to get to know the little kids more and build bonds with them.”

At lot has changed for Joanna in the five years that she’s been a camper, but we know that the strong, positive sense of self she has established during her time at UP will make her a great StreetLeader in the years to come. She is more than ready to serve as a guide for our younger students as they grow!

“A lot of other places, you can only be there for a certain amount of time. At UrbanPromise, it’s an advantage that other people get to see you grow up and see how each phase [of your journey] impacts you,” she says. “They get to see how you change over time.”

“The 20-Year Journey” for UrbanPromise students begins when they’re little, and developing a sense of belonging, self-worth, and safety during their early years is crucial for what’s to come.

When you join UrbanPromise’s monthly Promise Partner community, you’re committing to helping students like Jayden, Genesis, and Joanna develop strong roots during their camper years — a gift that matters deeply to each of them, and one that ultimately multiplies far beyond what we’re able to currently see!

THANK YOU for believing in the importance of a strong foundation for our students. We could not come alongside of them for the long haul without your support!

It Made Me Question My Identity

Lexi, an 11th grade StreetLeader at our UrbanPromise East Charlotte Site, was managing her responsibilities well. 

When COVID altered the world last March, Lexi was an A/B student who had little issue juggling her school work, job responsibilities, and social commitments. So when Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) announced last summer that they would be shifting the 2020-2021 school year to a fully virtual model, Lexi wasn’t all that concerned. 

“When I was little and the doctor gave me a note saying not to go back to school [because I was sick], I would cry!” Lexi recalls. “I used to be in love with school. I was always happy to be learning new things. The biggest challenge that I have always had was procrastination, but I was good at prioritizing school over other things.”

How different could a virtual school year really be? Lexi assumed she could rely on her usual coping strategies to help her navigate this new situation.

“I thought I was prepared; I went in expecting it to be good,” Lexi said. “I lost track of how I was doing very quickly.”

In a year of near-constant stress and change, how many of us can relate?

Lexi realized she was in trouble when the first round of progress reports came out last fall and she scrolled through the results — she was failing all eight of her courses. For an A/B student, the news was devastating.

“It honestly made me question my identity.”

After first quarter grades were finalized last fall, CMS reported that 14.4% of all students had failed at least one course or subject. That percentage doubled the number of students who had a failing grade during the first quarter of the previous school year.

So Lexi found herself in a deeply discouraging situation amongst many other CMS students (1 in 7, to be precise) — how could she possibly bounce back?

BETTER TOGETHER

Fortunately, Lexi wasn’t the only one who took notice of how the unique challenges of a fully virtual school year were impacting her academic performance and her mental health.

Will, her UrbanPromise StreetLeader Director, noticed too.

“We all realized pretty quickly that normal academic interventions were not going to work during this unconventional school year, “ Will said. “CiCi (the StreetLeader Director at our South Boulevard Site) was the inspiration to bring on extra support. She hired an extra facilitator at their site, and we decided to do the same.”

Will hired Salma, a recent college graduate with previous tutoring experience who is also a CMS alum (South Meck ’16). Together, they began digging in.

“Will and I starting by talking about what was going on with each student individually, because we knew every case was unique,” Salma recalled. “I felt the best thing to do was to focus on positive reinforcement and on building relationships so that the StreetLeaders would see me as a mentor and a friend, rather than as a strict facilitator.”

Establishing relationships isn’t a quick strategy, but Salma’s intuition was spot on.

“The first few weeks I really just observed. I knew that, because of the pandemic, these students’ whole schedules had changed. On top of that, many of them were going through difficult private struggles,” Salma said. “It took some time to build those relationships, but, as I did, students were more comfortable talking about their grades with me.”

As Salma was working on getting to know each StreetLeader, Lexi was working on opening herself up to receiving more support. As she got to know Salma, she felt more confident sharing some of her concerns and asking for help.

CMS stated that “missing assignments” was one of the most prevalent reasons why students were failing at such high rates. For Lexi, that assessment rang true.

“It got to the point where I felt desensitized, like I was living in a haze,” Lexi recalled. “All of the notifications [in Canvas, the virtual platform where students submit work] were a constant stress.”

Imagine emails piling up in your inbox, each one alerting you about a new task to complete or, worse, reminding you of all that you haven’t done. The system overwhelmed Lexi, and she found herself checking out mentally and emotionally from the constant notices, causing her to miss assignments.

“We realized that virtual school just doesn’t have some of the natural structures that in-person school does — like teachers reminding students in class about what’s due soon or asking students to stay after to finish things,” Will said.

So, after meeting with StreetLeaders and their parent(s) individually, Salma and Will put together customized weekly assignment trackers for each student based on their Canvas accounts. Salma printed trackers before “study halls” on Thursdays, and the StreetLeaders used that time to make a concrete plan for their assignments for the week.

From there, Salma checked in to provide accountability, encouragement, and support. She also planned “reward parties” and sought personalized ways to help students celebrate their progress.

Out of the 20 StreetLeaders at UP’s East Charlotte Site, half were failing one or more of their classes in the fall. At the end of third quarter, only 2 are still failing one or more courses, and the majority now have A’s, B’s, and C’s across the board!

MORE THAN A GRADE

Academic achievement is an important value at UrbanPromise, but it’s only one piece of the holistic sense of health we seek to foster in our students’ lives. Salma's and Will’s reminder to students that they are capable certainly affected their report cards, but the investment went further than simply impacting their grades!

“The students’ moods completely shifted once they saw their grades improving,” Salma said. “They gained confidence once they were turning in their assignments. I think they were proud of themselves and the work that they did.”

Lexi, whose grades have now returned to mostly A’s and B’s, confirms Salma’s observation:

“Right now, I am very proud of myself! I lifted myself up from where I was and did not stay in that dark hole. And I didn’t do it alone either, I had the help of Salma and Will.”

Lexi’s sense of identity has been restored, now with even deeper dimensions than before.

“I feel more able to manage failure now. I was shaming myself for not being able to balance so many plates at once, and the pandemic overall forced me to realize that, even though I am a really independent person, I do need help.”

What’s more, as Lexi continues to pour into our younger UrbanPromise students in her role as a StreetLeader, she can pass this hard-won wisdom on to the next generation!

Many students have struggled this year with being hurdled into a brand new style of schooling. Many adults have struggled with the new situations we’ve found ourselves in, too. 

None of us may have felt prepared for this pandemic, but with extra support, innovation, and encouragement, we may just come out stronger than we were before.

THANK YOU for believing in StreetLeaders like Lexi at UrbanPromise, and THANK YOU for making it possible for us to hire people like Salma on their behalf. We could not do this work without YOUR support and encouragement, and we’re so grateful to you for the part you play in our community!

UP's Senior StreetLeaders are Defying Statistics!

"We risk losing an entire generation of underrepresented students on college campuses. Low-income students, students of color, and first-generation students are much more likely to be derailed from this process, and if we don't support them early on in their senior years — it's unclear if they'll ever get back on track."

Those were the words that Bill DeBaun from The National College Attainment Network shared back in November after Common App reported a startling 16% decrease in college applications received from economically disadvantaged students during the fall of 2020, likely due to the myriad of challenges caused by the Coronavirus pandemic.

At UrbanPromise, we empower our students and StreetLeaders to "break the script", and this school year's uniquely challenging college application process has certainly been no exception!

Our senior StreetLeaders DEFIED STATISTICS last fall by submitting a least SEVEN college applications each, and today we invite you to celebrate with them as they have begun to reap the rewards of their hard work!

29 SENIORS...
EACH SENIOR HAS RECEIVED AT LEAST ONE COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE SO FAR...
FOR A TOTAL OF 105 ACCEPTANCES TO DATE!

A few of the seniors at our South Boulevard Site are pictured below!

Toni, a senior at our West Charlotte Site, is especially grateful that she got one particular college application submitted early.

We're keeping the name of her dream school a secret for now so that she can announce it herself later this spring at our Senior Signing Day, but we wanted to share Toni's story of acceptance!

“It was very challenging to get the early action application in by November 1st. It was so long, I had to figure out how to use CommonApp, and I had to get the essays done. On top of that, I also had to keep getting my schoolwork done and continue to work at my two jobs at UrbanPromise and Walmart.”

With determination and support, Toni didn’t give up.

UrbanPromise's West Charlotte Site 2021 senior class!

“There was so much information I needed, but UrbanPromise gave us deadlines for everything and helped with essays. They helped us make priorities, and they set aside 'college time' to work on things every week. Then, right before the deadline, there was a storm and our internet went out, so I had to go to a friend’s house. I was so stressed out. I submitted the application one minute before it was due.”

To say it was all worth it would be an understatement for Toni!

"For me, I was in shock. I was nervous opening the email, and just seeing that I had been accepted... I was in amazement! It is a big accomplishment and I never thought I would get into such a prestigious school!”

Our UrbanPromise team never doubted Toni’s ability to earn acceptance to her dream school, but we know how crucial and nerve-racking it can feel for our students as they wait on such big news!

"Honestly I am so grateful I got the application done ahead of time. I am so glad UrbanPromise pushed us, because now other students are still waiting on acceptances, while UrbanPromise StreetLeaders are getting acceptances back! It makes the rest of senior year so much better, knowing it’s done. And now we can focus on getting scholarships too.”

Toni got accepted into her school’s Psychology program, and she hopes to use that degree to eventually work in mental health.

“I want to help those around me. Psychology is so beneficial for mental stability and can be for everyone."

So much of what has occurred within the walls of UP during this unusual school year has mirrored the work of previous years, but with extra obstacles, challenges, and uncertainties.

That makes the accomplishments of this senior class feel all the more meaningful, and we are so grateful to you for supporting our StreetLeaders though such a crucial academic season! We can't wait to see what the future holds for this very special group of students!

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You may remember Toni from her speech at last fall's virtual Evening of Promise event. If you missed it, you can get to know her better below!

This StreetLeader Alum Is Impacting Charlotte's COVID Strategy

“I’ve been asked to sit on two taskforces regarding The Hispanic/Latinx spread of COVID-19 in Charlotte. These round tables include people from local business, healthcare professionals, and representatives from outreach organizations. I am the youngest person on both.”

— Ismael, 2016 UrbanPromise Charlotte StreetLeader Alum

When Ismael graduated from high school in 2016 and enrolled in Davidson College to study Public Health, he had no idea that four years later he would be graduating again... into a world that deeply needed his leadership.

“At the root, I really wanted to help people in need. Public Health catered to my interest in overall health, while also allowing me to focus on social health disparities — specifically mental health disparities in historically marginalized people." 

2015: Ismael as a StreetLeader with an elementary student who is now a Sophomore StreetLeader at our South Boulevard Site!

Ismael was a part of the first generation of StreetLeaders at UrbanPromise’s South Boulevard Site, eventually serving as a StreetLeader Captain. At UP, he began his own mental health journey and developed a heart for supporting children.

“When I was at UP, mental health was definitely addressed, just not in ways that were interventional yet. But [the staff] created safe spaces, and that was important for everyone. As a StreetLeader, seeing the innocence in the children made me really passionate about protecting that. The real world can be ugly, and [childrens’ happiness] shouldn’t be robbed. But knowing you can be there to help them process any traumas at the appropriate time is very important.”

UrbanPromise began our official mental health counseling partnership with Christ-Centered Community Counseling (C4) in 2018, two years after Ismael graduated from high school.

Now all of UP’s junior and senior StreetLeaders have access to free, on-site mental health counseling.

"If access to C4 had been available [when I was a StreetLeader], I think it probably would have helped me realize some things earlier that I couldn’t figure out on my own. I’m thinking about experiences that can be defined as trauma, but aren’t always realized as trauma because you might come from an environment where those experiences or behaviors are so ingrained. For example, inequalities like food insecurity — I didn’t even take notice to that [as a traumatic experience] until further on, because it was so common in my community.”

Even though Ismael wasn’t able to receive the benefits of mental health counseling with C4 as a StreetLeader, his journey and expertise have led him to a unique opportunity as a StreetLeader Alum!

“UrbanPromise connected me with C4 after graduation. Now I serve as the Practice Manager — overseeing C4’s operations.”

That’s an important job... and it’s not all Ismael is up to these days.

At the time of this writing, more than a third of COVID cases in Mecklenburg county were reported from the Hispanic community, even though the Hispanic population in Charlotte only totals about 14%.

This type of social health disparity is exactly what Ismael hoped to address when he chose to study Public Health, and he has wasted no time putting his passion and leadership to work.

"I’ve been asked to sit on two taskforces regarding The Hispanic/Latinx spread of COVID-19 in Charlotte. These round tables include people from local business, healthcare professionals, and representatives from outreach organizations. I am the youngest person on both.”

Ismael may be young, but his voice is powerful.

“I offer a lot of really great insight because of my background. I was raised in Charlotte on the west side, in a mixed immigrant family. Now I’m educated on public health, and I can speak directly as a member of my community.”

In addition to lending his voice, Ismael is also lending a hand. He’s connecting families in his community to assistance with utilities, rent, and medicine, and he’s helping healthcare agencies locate accessible COVID testing sites in west Charlotte. He’s also been advising the Charlotte Health Department and the CDC on issues related to the spread of COVID-19 in his community, particularly the spread amongst young people.

The long-term goal of UP’s StreetLeader program is to invite students into a lifetime of servant leadership geared towards restoring their communities.

Ismael’s unique blend of life experience and training is exactly what Charlotte needs in this moment, and we are proud to support him as he steps into his role as a city leader!

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Through our Counseling Program, UrbanPromise provides all of our 11th and 12th grade StreetLeaders with free year-round counseling from licensed professional counselors. The ultimate goal of the counseling program is that StreetLeaders will improve their emotional, psychological, and social well-being and build healthy and resilient lives.

Get to know C4, our counseling partner, in the video below!