History
South Linden: Improving from the Inside Out
It takes dedicated leadership to turn an economically depressed community around. In South Linden, that leadership is emerging through the tireless work of the people at Urban Concern. For more than fifteen years, Urban Concern has been building leadership among the youth and families of South Linden through strong education, family support and employment preparation. Our work has been so effective that it has been recognized with numerous national and local awards, including a White House 'Point of Light Award.
We call it ‘work,’ but Urban Concern’s commitment to the South Linden community runs much deeper than 9 to 5. Four of our staff members have relocated their families to South Linden from outlying suburban neighborhoods. More importantly, these families have remained here for more than a decade. We are neighbors and home owners. And we are fiercely dedicated to improving the quality of life for all the people who live here.
Background
In 1988, Xenos Christian Fellowship researched how to meet some of the spiritual and physical needs of those in central Ohio. After conducting a community needs assessment, Xenos started a grassroots initiative in the South Linden community at a property adjacent to the housing project formerly known as Windsor Terrace. In 1989, the church began a Bible study in partnership with Rhema Christian Center that grew from 17 to more than 200 children in two years. In 1990, Xenos started an After School Program to meet some of the needs of the children for positive out-of-school activities. In 1991, they formed Urban Concern as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation to begin community development work in South Linden.
Over the years we have remodeled and sold homes in the community and turned formerly abandoned dwellings into usable program space. We have served hundreds of families through an After School Program, summer camp, holiday gift programs, community dinners, job training for youth in the summer, Bible studies, and parent support groups.
In September 1998, Urban Concern opened Harambee Christian School to provide a high-quality private education for students. Harambee Christian School has grown to include grades K to 5 and is receiving national attention for its high test scores and unique approach to incorporating economics into its curricula.
Today
Today, Urban Concern is led by the best indigenous leaders in the community. Their mission is to empower others to lead and serve, thereby transforming the community one person at a time. It is a daunting challenge, but one we believe is possible because of God’s unlimited resources, great love for people, and desire to bring justice to the poor.
Our staff and volunteers have received national and local awards for their service to the South Linden community, including recognition as a Daily Point of Light by the Point of Light Foundation, the World Vision Mustard Seed Award and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Humanitarian Award, presented by the Columbus Education Association.
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