The Urban Institute for Strengthening Families focuses on mentoring, (financial, nutritional, historical, emotional) educating, community engagement, civics, critical thinking and life skills offer families expanded opportunities. Our mission is to inspire families to actualize their dreams and achieve economic independence by providing hope, empowerment, support, and sustainable strategies that revitalize and renew Communities. At the Institute, we provide a comprehensive network of services and support to help people living in poverty become economically self-sufficient. Our model, with lifelong mentoring at its core, delivers evidence-based results and impacts all areas of a person’s life. Within the Institutes Model, we stand and walk with our neighbors, mentoring them as they transition from poverty to economic independence. Our commitment and focus is directed to providing hope, teaching people to remove barriers while empowering communities to realize that know box exist for their dreams. We serve communities with people transitioning from generational poverty, incarceration, domestic violence and other challenging and disadvantaged situations. We meet people where they are, helping them to complete an individual life plan to help develop sustainable strategies for the accomplishment of personal goals, then we assign a Urban Institute case manager and volunteer mentor to each individual ensuring that they have the support they need to accomplish those goals. Our Personal and Professional Development workshops offer workforce readiness skills, cognitive skill building, job placement and retention, health and wellness, financial education, literacy and GED, educational programs, occupational skills and transitional employment. While also cultivating them to “Embrace their Truth” and show up in life with confidence and superior leadership skills. Once the basics are learned, participants may go on to specific skills training within our model.