Urban youth outreach programs

Our primary goal is to develop the whole child and to prepare each student served to succeed in life. The Leadership Academy is a signature after-school program that provides a continuum of services from kindergarten to 8th grade. Urban Youth Impact offers two unique summer camps that grant youth enriching experiences while in a safe supervised environment.

Our Mentoring program guides the youth in a smaller setting, diving deeper into each child's life. We provide healthy alternatives to the negative influences kid are confronted with every day. Above all, Urban Youth Ministry is a community-church partnership focusing on discipleship and individual development in a safe environment.

Volunteer: if you have a special skill that you would like to pass on and share the love of Christ, please consider becoming a volunteer or mentor with our at risk youth. We are always seeking faith-filled church members who have a passion to serve.

Make an impact for generations to come! For more information about our free after school programs in Aurora for kids, see contacts below. Donate Today. Want To Volunteer? Also, check with the counselors at schools in low-income neighborhoods. It can be very effective to get information from the school counselors on specific sizes of winter coats, etc. It may be that the parent s are not sufficiently caring for the children, and working with the school is a way to directly help those children.

Volunteer at a Local Charity Check if there are local non-profit organizations that the youth group can volunteer for. There are free online charity evaluation websites that will provide this information like Charity Navigator and Charity Watch. Also, make sure the experience will be valid for the young volunteers. Volunteer at Local Schools Get in touch with the principal of local middle or high schools in low-income neighborhoods and check if they need volunteer work.

They probably do. Be prepared for a long-term commitment with them. There are many ways to reach out to students there. Also, remember to pursue relationships and serve the staff and teachers as well. Set up a Prayer Station Organize and set up a prayer station at a strategic location and invite passersby to share their prayer requests. The youth group members will listen to their issues and pray for them.

Make sure there is a church elder or youth pastor with them in case someone brings up a situation that requires a more experienced counselor. The church can use prayer stations in combination with other special events, like during a worship service at the park.

Thank First Responders There are many ways to thank the police officers, firefighters, and paramedics for their dedication to the community. The youth group can adopt a local fire or police station. They can bring food homemade meals or baked goods , give thank you notes or cards, gift baskets, etc.

Start a Book Club Organize a book club for your youth group and invite their non-Christian friends. Select one book to read together during a month, then schedule a meeting to discuss it. You can let them choose which book they will read from three or four options. The book club leader or one of the volunteers should be prepared to start the debate and ask questions to keep the conversation interesting.

Organize a Movie Night You can use movie night sessions to discuss relevant issues with young people. Choose a clean and age-appropriate movie that raises subjects for debate and offers life lessons. Prepare questions in advance to invite comments. Encourage church members to bring their non-Christian friends as well. Perform a Stage Play Encourage your youth ministry to create a drama group and use their talents in evangelistic theater plays and skits.

They can play the characters, build the scenery, work backstage, promote the event, etc. Invite family members, friends, and the local community to watch it. Serve refreshments after the play so the church community can interact with the guests. Host a Car Wash A car wash in the church parking lot is a simple way to get the youth ministry to serve the church and the local community. Depending on the purpose, it may be free or not.

A free car wash is a great way to bless the church members or the local families. Or it can be used as a fundraising event to raise money for a local cause. The other church members can help by raising money or donating supplies. Organize a Service Day Offer a free workday to serve people in need in your community.

It may be an elderly couple or widow, a disabled person, a family in need, and so on. The youth group may recommend people they met in other outreach activities and how the young volunteers can help them. They can provide simple services like doing household chores, yard work, minor repairs, grocery shopping, mowing the lawn, etc.

Help in Moving Day Another great opportunity to serve the community, especially as a testimony to non-Christians, is helping families on their moving day. The youth group can help the family pack, carry boxes and furniture to the truck. Welcome New Neighbors Besides helping a family on their moving day, the youth group can help new neighbors get acquainted with their whereabouts and the new city. They can show the new family around, introduce them to other families from the church, give them tips about the neighborhood.

They can also prepare welcome gift kits with a welcome card, a list of useful addresses and contacts, a map with handwritten suggestions of local businesses and services, etc. Host a Block Party A block party is an excellent community event that you can use to reach out to non-Christian families in your neighborhood.

The whole church can be involved. There can be food, drinks, sports, competitions, live music, etc. Make sure to get the young people involved in all stages, from planning to each activity on the big day. Raise Funds for a Cause First, identify a specific need in your community that needs monetary funds. The youth group can bring good ideas and suggestions, so listen to them. You can team up with a local charity for better accountability. Then, the youth ministry can organize fundraising events and drives to raise funds for that cause.

Organize a Community Picnic Food is a great way to get people together. The youth ministry can organize a picnic at a city park as a get-together for the church families or as an outreach event for the community. Make sure to include activities that can help people bond, like games and sports.

Choose activities for all ages, from children to the elderly, so that everyone will have a good time. Host a Super Bowl Watch Party Some people prefer to watch the Super Bowl at home, but this can still be a fun way to gather church folks and invite non-Christian friends and neighbors.

The youth leaders can choose volunteers to be responsible for finding a good location, setting it up, bringing snacks and drinks, or maybe have a barbecue. Plan it so people can talk and connect after the game. Organize a Yard Sale Invite all church members to bring items to sell and have a yard or garage sale at the church. The young volunteers will be responsible for organizing the event, promoting it, collecting donations, setting up the tables and racks, putting the price tags on the items, and interacting with buyers.

The youth ministry can use the funds raised to help a cause, sponsor a mission trip or other special events. Organize a Prayer Day Every community has critical needs. Through your outreach efforts, it becomes easier to identify those needs.