The Urban Alliance Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating in Washington, DC. Often referred to as Urban Alliance, or just UA, their mission is to prepare youth from under-resourced areas for the world of work and a life of self-sufficiency, through meaningful paid internships, training, case management, and mentoring.
UA opened their doors in 1996, after a student attending Anacostia Senior High School expressed a need for positive job experiences to UA founder Andrew Plepler. Andrew, with the support of Mary and Jeff Zients, placed that student and five of his friends at internships throughout the city during 1996. The program was developed according to the best practices implemented by the National Youth Employment Coalition . Specifically, the program:
- Fosters long-term mentoring relationships with supportive and caring adults
- Increases youths’ personal, academic, and financial independence, while supporting them to successfully meet their increased responsibilities through workshops on time management, financial literacy, and conflict resolution
- Documents students’ ongoing success and increased competencies by tracking each internship on a weekly basis and collecting tri-annual ratings from the mentors
The program continued to serve students at Anacostia Senior High School for the next eight years, providing them with positive youth development and employment opportunities otherwise missing in their community. In 2004, UA began to manage the World Bank's summer internship program. The following year, UA expanded to recruit students at 10 other District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) targeting DCPS seniors who were eligible for a half- day class schedule. Monday through Thursday, these students attend school in the morning, work at their job sites in the afternoon and on Fridays attend UA's professional development workshops.
Since its inception, Urban Alliance has served over 15,000 students through the High School Internship Program and offering workshops to community partners. Their students have significantly better outcomes then their peers:
- 96% graduate from high school
- 88% attend college
- 74% increase their mastery of critical job skills
In 2008, Urban Alliance expanded to serve Baltimore City Public Schools. The organization currently partners with 9 Baltimore City high schools. In 2012, Urban Alliance expanded to the city of Chicago. The Organization recruited in schools such as Curie High School, Dunbar Vocational Career Academy, Crane Technical Preparatory High School, etc. Students are very pleased to have internships in places such as working with the Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bulls. They continue to learn everyday and grow as independent young adults.
Urban Alliance has been recently recognized for excellence by TouchDC, the 2005 Catalogue for Philanthropy, 2005/06 Spirit of Giving Guide, and in the 40th Anniversary Edition of the Washingtonian (magazine).
Official Website: www.theurbanalliance.org
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