We believe irrational hope changes everything and that radical love unlocks opportunities.

The organization now known as Urban Alliance began in 1999. We saw significant barriers between a city rich in resources and individuals so desperately in need of those resources. These individuals were struggling to hold out the belief that change was possible. They were becoming faceless, voiceless, and increasingly hopeless.

Beginning as a small group of volunteers, we ventured out into the community, showing consistency, asking and listening, building trust, and growing relationships with individuals that the world seemed all too willing to ignore. What we heard then and to this day has formed the basis of how we work toward transformation in and around Kalamazoo and beyond.

After years of building a foundation of trust, Urban Alliance achieved its nonprofit status in 2006.

To this day, the Urban Alliance team engages at a deep level to intentionally listen to the needs, challenges, and voices of individuals in our neighborhoods and shape our Programs and Outreach.

We believe radical love and opportunities can unlock potential in anyone. This irrational hope changes everything. From opening doors and changing systems to bridging gaps between the community and local law enforcement, we see ourselves as extended family and restorers of human dignity.

Our ability to serve individuals and our shared community is directly tied to our staff and our space. Learn more about how the people and the place we occupy shape our efforts.