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Fueling the Future
FUELING THE FUTURE: UYWI IS DRIVING CONNECTION AND ENGAGING YOUTH LEADERS FOR CHANGE Jay English, Co-Campus Pastor at Journey Church Beach Park It was Jay English’s bright and bold personality, boisterous laugh, and deep desire to serve both the youth and youth workers of Milwaukee, Wisconsin that sparked the connection between Jay and Tommy Nixon,…
Read MoreThen and Now: UYWI a living testament to “whole person” ministry
THEN & NOW: UYWI A LIVING TESTAMENT TO “WHOLE PERSON” MINISTRY Jeremy Del Rio, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Thrive Collective I was eight years old, walking the streets of New York beside my parents and two younger brothers to bring the love and freedom of Jesus Christ to anyone who would listen. I was…
Read More30 Years, Decades of Impact
“We believe that it is through the efforts of urban youth workers — who lead and disciple urban youth — that the tide of disinterest in following Christ will change.” 30 YEARS, DECADES OF IMPACT To quantify how many hearts have been healed, mindsets transformed and stereotypes challenged after an encounter with the UYWI movement…
Read MoreWhat’s Happening in the Certification Program
The UYWI Certification program, formerly known as 90 Degrees, after a brief hiatus in 2020, relaunched in the Fall of 2021. The program is a year-long journey for leaders and offers both leadership development and personal development designed to equip high-capacity urban leaders with key elements of effective leadership in ministry. The certification was created…
Read MoreTrauma-informed care and focus on mental health in youth ministry
The Church has been a central component in the lives of youth for generations, and for good reason. As research shows, a young person’s faith can be a protective factor against negative behaviors and outcomes. However, despite one’s faith and the church, trauma-informed care is often not emphasized enough or even talked about within the…
Read MoreYouth and ministry 411: Why is youth ministry so important for our collective future?
Urban areas are growing quickly, and with the growing population comes a larger demand for good leadership and discipleship, which is why youth and ministry go hand-in-hand. Youth and ministry, hand-in-hand Fortunately, many volunteers and paid workers have answered that call due to their passion for helping others through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, those…
Read MoreAre You an Urban Ally?
ARE YOU AN URBAN ALLY? Urban Youth Workers Institute “UYWI has been a game-changer. It was the reason why I was able to serve youth in crisis well, because as an urban youth leader I felt believed in and empowered. I went from attending the UYWI National Conference as a youth to becoming an urban…
Read MoreSet Free: What Juneteenth Means For ALL of U.S.
Today we celebrate. But we also grieve that it’s taken 156 years for African Americans to be included, truthfully, within the history of America and the American Dream. TEARS WELL UP IN MY EYES As I sit here watching the signing of Juneteenth as a national holiday, tears well up in my eyes. I think…
Read MoreNetworking Center
NETWORKING CENTER Urban Youth Workers Institute “UYWI brought me into a community of leaders that wanted to share resources, share stories, and save generations of youth. I was on the edge of quitting when UYWI provided the energy, tools, and community to do what I love and to become better.” WILL CUMBY Instagram – @willc27…
Read MoreTraining Center
TRAINING CENTER Urban Youth Workers Institute “I am a Los Angeles-born powerhouse speaker, poet, husband, and father. I have shared my heart on countless stages over my ten-year career and I am passionate about issues of justice, love, marriage, fatherhood, and faith.” ALEXANDER JAMES Instagram – @bhonest_ UYWI’s Resource Developer Every year, 1.2 million young…
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