The mission of Urban Alliance is to create, foster and promote community development programs within inner cities and be a conduit for individuals, agencies, churches and corporations to contribute to the betterment of their community.

Why is this ministry needed?

Urban Alliance exists to bring about transformation to the inner city. UA serves Kalamazoo, MI, Benton Harbor, MI, Miami, FL, and Freetown, Sierra Leone. Each of these areas is impoverished spiritually, socially, and economically. Although radically different, each of these ministry target areas has the following characteristics:

• Over 40% of population is in poverty
• Over 96% of those in poverty did not work full time
• Over 82% of those in poverty did not own their own home

Every week we engage personally with the residents of these target areas and learn of their needs. We do everything we can to empower and encourage them and meet their social, spiritual and physical need. We are always confronted with a shortage of resources, and a need for more leaders and volunteers.

What is our track record?

Urban Alliance is a newer organization with a strong track record. Urban Alliance became a formally organized 501c3 since November 2006. However, the organization had been operating informally for several years prior to that. Urban Alliance is formed out of a need to see the inner cities transformed and a desire to create a vehicle for that to happen. Urban Alliance has been engaged in street ministry for years and has seen much fruit come from the consistent relationship building and a ministry of love and generosity to the community without expecting anything in return. In 2010 Urban Alliance started its housing ministry targeted currently at the Edison Neighborhood in Kalamazoo. UA has purchased purchased and rehabbed 2 houses. It has also managed a block improvement grant for owner occupied repair and exterior home improvements. Our leadership team of Keith Platte, Nathaniel Bull, Don Glas, and Nathan Mashman has the experience and track record necessary to lead the organization into this next phase of growth.

What is the opportunity?

Urban Alliance is uniquely positioned to have a dramatic impact on these inner city communities. Our regular engagement with the neighborhood has opened doors of trust and communication for deeper relationship. The demand for services, opportunities, and empowerment activities is far greater than our current staff and volunteer capacity. We need to grow the organization so that we can better address the needs of the residents we need to serve.

What is the plan?

UA will continue to grow and expand its’ current street ministry activities. UA will grow and expand its’ low income home ownership and housing services activities. UA will establish a new division for employment opportunities partnering with kingdom minded business owners to offer job training and full time job placement. UA will foster and coach new ministry ideas in their inner city ministry incubator. Empowering others to grow and expand services through their skills and passion areas. UA will carefully grow all of these services in all target areas served by UA. UA has developed a 3 year business plan which outlines this.