Urban Spirit

UrbanSpirit's vision is to imagine a world where everyone has enough; imagine a place where people-of-faith and people-of-no-particular-faith-at-all feel what poverty feels like, claim a new vision of justice, learn to confront systems and renew communities, and desire to end poverty; and to imagine people who are bold enough to believe it can happen.

UrbanSpirit is changing the world by changing the way we see the world.

They began in 2001 with the awareness that the biggest need in the Louisville neighborhood wasn't another church to collect members. They rebelled against the notion that churches have to have members. They serve as a destination for groups searching for something more than a work camp or mission trip. As a Christian outreach with an interfaith understanding, they believe that poverty is an impediment to the common good and inconsistent with most faith traditions. Through a variety of retreats, simulations and leadership labs, mostly held here in their neighborhood, UrbanSpirit helps well-meaning people of faith see the ugly roots of an American system that keeps people poor.

UrbanSpirit believes poverty can be ended. They believe God still calls prophets, and they want to lift up voices that don't often get heard. They want to change the system. They value folks who build houses, collect food, donate clothing, and share resources for home heating and cooling. Those people address an immediate need. UrbanSpirit wants to help by eliminating the need. They'll ask why are people without clothes, food, homes, dignity. And they'll help you get to the root of the problem. They want nothing less than to mend the world.

For more information, read their Welcome Edition of the Urban Spirit Times.