Summer 2026 – A letter from our Executive Council

Dear Friend,

Dozens of children form a circle at Camp Victory. It’s time for the large group game! Expectant eyes dart back and forth, children jump with uncontained joy, and Ms. Lisa grabs everyone’s attention with a bellowing “Ayyyyoooo!” Her voice echoes through the big room at Ezion Mt. Carmel Church.

In a few short moments, 60 children, StreetLeaders, and staff begin darting across the room in an epic game of Sharks & Minnows. Josiah, in his first summer as a StreetLeader, sits by himself in the corner, gripping his binder and hanging his head.

“He struggled,” Ms. Lisa notes about Josiah’s performance as a StreetLeader in the summer of 2025. He has difficult days where he “is ill-tempered, defiant, and shuts down.”

Josiah grew up attending Camp Victory and UPW’s schools. He loves UrbanPromise and we love him. Reflecting on his childhood at Camp he recognizes that “my friends were here” and that made him feel gratitude.

“I want to do what the StreetLeaders helped me to do,” Josiah says. He brought up Mr. Daniel, a former StreetLeader who often “calmed me down.” Josiah chose to become a StreetLeader because he believes he can “help kids do better; I’ve been in their shoes.”

However, the transition from camper to StreetLeader often comes with challenges. Learning to serve those younger than you with patience and grace takes effort and perseverance.

In the fall of 2025, Mr. Josh and Ms. Lisa let Josiah know his StreetLeader role was not guaranteed for the school year. “He had to come in for four weeks without pay to keep his job,” Ms. Lisa recalls. Determined to grow, Josiah worked a whole month, even cleaning the toilets, without complaint. “Let them help you,” Josiah reflects about his leaders like Ms. Lisa & Mr. Josh. “They help you build your maturity.”

This school year has been “a huge jump,” for Josiah, Ms. Lisa says; “He tries, he makes effort, he has joy.”

“I wouldn’t help with games and leading things,” Josiah remarks about the summer. “Now, I have my own table, I give strikes, I lead games. Now, I feel more comfortable.”

When Josiah comes to camp “kids run up to me,” he notices. Ms. Lisa adds “when he lets himself go, he can really talk to the kids. They can enjoy him in those moments.”

Even with growth, Josiah’s year has not been perfect. During a large group game, as children circle up, Josiah withdraws to himself. Noticing him, Ms. Lisa shares a few words of encouragement. Josiah picks himself up, and moves into the circle. He starts clapping his hands along with the children, participates with his whole heart, and even cracks a smile.

Josiah is still budding as a StreetLeader. With summer on the horizon, he looks forward to his work with anticipation and joy. There will also be many challenges; children will refuse to listen, bathrooms will be messy, days will be exhausting, and conflicts will arise. Each day Josiah will have the choice to shut down or give his whole heart.

“I’d like to be where Ms. Lisa and the other StreetLeaders can depend on me,” Josiah remarks. “I want to have fun while working,” and to “choose a direction that gives me joy.”

This summer, 34 StreetLeaders will serve the children in their neighborhoods, and one another, through leading games, giving strikes, and having meaningful conversations. Each teen will have the choice to persevere, grow, and to walk in the direction that gives joy to all involved. 

• $100 sends a group of teens on an epic water adventure with UrbanTrekkers
• $50 pays one StreetLeader for his day of work
• $600 fills our tanks with gas, as we transport teens to and from fun summer activities
• $35 purchases supplies for Guys & Girls nights
• $250 buys food for the StreetLeader training retreat
• $1,200 pays a StreetLeader for their hard work all summer

Your investment plants seeds of growth in each StreetLeader, like Josiah. Through you, Josiah and his peers can grow in confidence that transformation is possible for them this summer. Thank you!