A Letter from Our Executive Director

Apr 22, 2021 | UA News

Dear Friends of Urban Alliance,

I am thrilled to have joined the Urban Alliance family as the new Executive Director in March 2021. I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself and to advance the vision of UA’s Better Together philosophy.
After serving for over thirteen years at another non-profit foundation in Pennsylvania, I was introduced to UA’s organization, programs, and ministries.  UA’s call to leverage strengths and change lives speaks to the practical application of meeting needs and deeply resonates with me.  I am so appreciative that God has called me here to further this work.

UA’s commitment to the Greater Hartford community is a reason for celebration.  In 2020, UA helped to meet the needs of over 324,000 individuals through our network of 128 organizational and ministry partners.  Through five key initiatives, the UA network:

  • provides food, clothing, and housing needs
  • addresses the underlying challenges that lead to social and economic inequity
  • fosters nurturing and supportive environments for young children
  • provides enriching learning experiences for youth and young adults
  • increases access to healthcare and emotional support services

These services have been made possible due to the training, resources, and supplies provided by UA that enable our network partners to be better equipped.  The principle of being Better Together has been a part of UA’s DNA since its inception and the same standard will continue to be the driving force of change into the future.  As much as we have realized together, the need is now even greater and there is much more to do.

There are several ways to work with UA to ensure that lives are improved and that God’s love is evidenced throughout our communities.  Explore ways to partner and support us, both in testimony and financially, as we seek to improve lives together.  Better Together.

Sincerely,
 
Rev. Perkin Simpson, MBA, MSFS, CAP®
Executive Director

The staff at Urban Alliance are familiar with Pastor Frank because he is a regular attendee to many of the trainings Urban Alliance provides on subjects like domestic violence, addressing childhood trauma, and better counseling techniques. โ€œThatโ€™s been so valuable to me to be able to bring that back, not only in my counseling but also in my teaching and preaching ministries, โ€œ shared Termine.

Pastor Frank was also one of the original members of the Micah group, a group of pastors that meets at Urban Alliance to discuss and strategize about challenging issues that face the church today. One of those earlier discussions on justice, incarceration, and returning citizens was particularly memorable. โ€œWe all lamented the fact that these men and women were coming out of prison into our churches and just kind of being thrown there,โ€ said Termine, โ€œWe could do better than this.โ€ That discussion planted the seeds that eventually led to the creation of Second Chance Churches – an opportunity for churches to provide support and mentoring to returning citizens that continues today.

When we asked Pastor Frank what he would say to another church that was unaware of Urban Alliance, he said, โ€œIf you are looking to get out in the community and make a difference in the community, Urban Alliance is a super way to do it. Weโ€™re a small church โ€ฆ we canโ€™t do everything. Urban Alliance is a pathway to get our people involved in ministries that are already doing it, doing it well, and just need extra volunteers.โ€

Pastor Frank Termineโ€™s story embodies many things we are trying to accomplish at Urban Alliance: supporting organizations in the communities they serve with training, resources, and opportunities to make a difference. Pastors and non-profit leaders face a wide range of challenges and, therefore, need a wide range of help and resources. Your support can help turn stories of struggle into stories like you find at Calvary Church.

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