The History of Urban Hope

The dream of Urban Hope began in 2003 as an initiative focused on bridging spiritual and economic resources to urban youth and their families in the inner city neighborhood called Walltown in Durham, NC.  Starting in that year, The Navigators partnered with Walltown Neighborhood Ministries to run a summer camp serving "high-risk" youth in who primarily reside in the Walltown community.  The following year (2004), The Navigators were asked to run the camp and bring in mission-minded counselors from across the nation.  That same year, the camp name was changed to Urban Hope.  The name "Urban Hope" was inspired by the book of Jeremiah (29:11) which focuses on God bringing hope to a people living in despair.  Urban Hope wants to bring hope to a generation of young people that many have given up on.

In 2004, Urban Hope staff and volunteers began to relocate into the Walltown neighborhood.  And then in 2005, things really began to heat up!  Urban Hope's year-round ministries began to develop in response to the felt needs of the community.  From then to now, God has continued to grow Urban Hope's ministry in Walltown:

• 2005 - Bible Jump-Off (teen Bible Study) begins
• 2006 - Walltown Junior NBA Basketball Teams launch
• 2007 - UH Young Leaders Group forms
• 2008 - The first year-round UH Intern-House opens
• 2009 - UH Alumni Connect starts

"Urban Hope is raising up generations of young heroes – who are beating the odds by the grace of God – through creating safe places in our neighborhood to grow together into wholeness."