Our Mission in Action
Our Goal
UCM aims to provoke young people to purpose and nurture their potential through faith-centered development. We integrate faith values into leadership, civic responsibility, experiential learning, and community engagement. By breaking cycles of violence and poverty, we help youth build a strong sense of faith, self-purpose, and resilience. We also address social determinants of health to promote a holistic approach to well-being.
Guiding Scripture
"Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity." — 1 Timothy 4:12
Objectives
Cultivate Leadership: By integrating faith-based values, we equip youth to lead with integrity, compassion, and purpose, ready to contribute to a more equitable and just society.
Strengthen Communities: Our programming centers on the interconnectedness of the community, supporting youth as they develop skills in community engagement and civic responsibility.
Empowerment Through Faith: By fostering a deep relationship with Christ, we support youth and their families in lifelong growth.
Advance Justice: We ensure equitable opportunities for youth, especially those most impacted by systemic challenges.
Programs Focus Areas
Community Engagement Programs:
1. WE LEAD (Willful Empowerment: Learning, Equipping, Accomplishing & Developing: This youth empowerment program is a transformative empowerment program for youth ages 14-24, offering hope and opportunity to those facing significant barriers. It equips youth with a sense of overall purpose and empowerment. WE LEAD provides a safe space for young people to discover their purpose, build resilience, and step into leadership roles.
Empower Purposeful Living:
Equip youth with a strong sense of purpose and personal identity by fostering self-awareness, self-worth, and vision for their future, helping them set and achieve meaningful personal and professional goals.
Develop Leadership Skills:
Provide youth with practical, faith-centered leadership training encouraging accountability, resilience, and moral character. Through hands-on activities and mentorship, we prepare youth for community leadership roles.
Promote Academic and Professional Success:
Equip participants with the skills, knowledge, and tools for success in academic, vocational, and non-traditional career paths, including financial literacy, soft skills, and job readiness, building a foundation for economic stability and self-sufficiency.
Strengthen Civic and Community Engagement:
Foster a sense of civic duty and community pride by involving youth in local and global service projects that allow them to practice empathy, servant leadership, and social responsibility. Encourage active participation in community-building efforts.
Foster Health and Wellness:
Educate youth on the importance of physical, mental, and spiritual health, including practical nutrition, fitness, and mental wellness skills. Encourage healthy lifestyle habits and resilience to help participants overcome challenges in their environments.
Promote Creative Expression and Cultural Appreciation:
Offer platforms for creative exploration through arts and sports, empowering youth to express themselves constructively, appreciate cultural diversity, and build self-confidence through positive outlets.
Build Sustainable Relationships and Support Networks:
Establish a network of supportive mentors, peers, and community leaders who provide guidance, accountability, and positive role modeling. This will enable youth to develop long-lasting relationships and a reliable support system.
Encourage Lifelong Learning and Personal Growth:
Instill a mindset of continuous learning and growth by exposing youth to diverse experiences, including local and international missions that broaden their worldviews, reinforce a commitment to lifelong learning, and build adaptability.
Combat Systemic Barriers through Empowerment:
Provide resources, mentorship, and skills that empower youth to break through systemic barriers affecting their communities, such as poverty, under-resourced education, and limited access to positive role models, helping them forge pathways to brighter futures.
Prepare Youth to Be Agents of Change:
Inspire youth to use their skills, faith, and purpose to effect positive change in their communities, equipping them to advocate for themselves and others, create new opportunities, and build a legacy of empowerment for future generations.
WE LEAD is more than a program; it’s a transformative lifeline for at-risk youth facing significant barriers. By equipping participants with critical life skills, a sense of purpose, and a supportive community, WE LEAD empowers young people to break cycles of adversity and become leaders who uplift themselves, their families, and their communities. Through hands-on learning, mentorship, and community service, youth gain the confidence and resilience to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams.
WE LEAD Restore, Renew & Revive Camp Intensive
WE LEAD Camp: Restore, Renew & Revive provides a desperately needed intervention, offering a safe, supportive, and empowering environment where youth can escape daily stressors and immerse themselves in growth-oriented experiences. By removing them from their high-risk surroundings and placing them in a community of care, the program helps mitigate the adverse effects of their environment, building resilience and nurturing positive coping skills. The camp offers structured activities, mentorship, and leadership opportunities, filling critical skill gaps and preparing youth to overcome the barriers they face.
A Safe Space for Healing and Growth: The camp removes participants from the stressors of their daily lives, creating a peaceful environment where they can explore their identities and aspirations away from the challenges they face at home.
Holistic Development: Through a blend of faith-based teachings, creative activities, skill-building, and mentorship, youth are equipped with both soft and hard skills. This holistic approach supports mental, emotional, and spiritual growth, preparing youth with resilience and confidence for real-world challenges.
Positive Role Models and Community Building: The camp allows youth to connect with mentors and counselors who model positive behavior, empathy, and leadership, fostering connections that can last well beyond camp. These relationships offer guidance and support in ways that may be absent in their day-to-day environments.
Leadership Training and Skill Development: For older participants, serving as junior or senior counselors allows them to build leadership skills, helping them recognize their potential and purpose. This instills responsibility and prepares them to influence others, becoming role models in their communities positively.
Faith-Based Resilience and Hope: Grounded in faith, the camp strengthens resilience and fosters hope, showing youth that transformation is possible. For many, this spiritual foundation provides an anchor, helping them navigate life’s challenges and remain connected to their sense of purpose.
WE LEAD Restore, Renew & Revive Camp Intensive creates an environment for deepening identity, discovery, resilience, and leadership, offering at-risk youth the tools to envision a future beyond immediate challenges. When participants return to their communities, they bring with them not only personal growth but also a sense of responsibility, ready to contribute positively and inspire hope.
We LEAD (Rooted & Radiant)
WE LEAD Rooted & Radiant exists to bridge the gap between congregational youth and their potential to influence church and community. This program seeks to cultivate faith-centered leadership, empowering young people to understand and embrace their roles within their congregations and neighborhoods. By fostering skills in communication, relationship-building, civic engagement, and spiritual growth, WE LEAD Rooted & Radiant equips youth to be advocates for positive change, building more vital congregations and deeply rooted community ties.
Identify and Address Youth Needs - Understand the challenges, strengths, and needs of youth within congregations.
Develop Faith-Centered Leadership Skills: Equip youth with the skills and confidence to take on leadership roles within their congregations and communities, informed by their faith and values.
Build Civic and Spiritual Engagement: Deepen youth understanding of civic and spiritual duties, fostering a sense of responsibility toward community and congregational life.
Foster Relationship and Identity Building: Provide spaces for youth to explore their identities, understand their purpose, and build meaningful connections within their congregation.
Establish Mentorship and Support Networks: Connect youth with mentors who offer guidance, accountability, and models of faith-led leadership, forming lasting bonds that encourage spiritual and personal growth.
Strengthen Congregational Footprint in Communities: Empower congregations to expand their influence in their local neighborhoods through youth-led service and engagement projects.
Rooted & Radiant focuses on spiritual and civic roles, empowering youth to live out their faith, connect with mentors, and prepare to serve their communities with compassion and purpose. By promoting supportive relationships and leadership, Rooted & Radiant prepares youth to navigate life with a sense of identity and purpose grounded in their faith.
WE LEAD Rooted & Reach Mentor Training Component
In today’s fast-paced world, many young people feel disconnected from faith, community, and self. They often express a lack of positive role models who can guide them through life’s challenges and the journey of spiritual growth. Congregational mentorship bridges this gap, fostering intergenerational relationships that offer wisdom, encouragement, and accountability. Youth equipped with caring mentors are more likely to remain engaged with their faith communities, cultivate their spiritual and leadership potential, and positively impact their congregations and communities. However, impactful mentorship requires training, intentionality, and alignment with faith-driven values. WE LEAD Rooted & Radiant addresses this need by empowering congregation members to serve as mentors who model faith, trust, and resilience.
Create a supportive network of trained mentors who provide spiritual guidance and encouragement.
Increased youth engagement, where young people feel recognized, appreciated, and equipped to serve.
Cultivate a culture of growth and mutual support among mentors, youth, the broader congregation, and the community.
Enhance congregational impact as empowered youth actively participate in community and church initiatives.
WE LEAD Rooted & Reach empowers congregational members to serve as impactful mentors, creating a self-sustaining mentorship model that strengthens the congregation, faith community, and youth engagement. This approach develops supportive relationships and ensures mentors are prepared to lead, support, and inspire youth in their faith journey and community impact.
Urban Christian Ministries
Business Email
Business Address
967 Jefferson Avenue Buffalo NY 14204
Business Number
716-882-9472
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