Merry Christmas from Urban Ventures

Dear friend,

The Christmas season, with its joy and cheer, is one of my favorite times at Urban Ventures. Our campus buzzes with a special sense of hope and delight: children at the Cornwell Early Learning Center decorate for the holiday, students in our Reading Plus program receive new books, and families in our neighborhood and programs gather to celebrate together.

Yet, the essence of this season lies in understanding the full Christmas story. We are privileged to know Jesus’ life beyond his birth – stories of healing, radical love, and the expansion of heaven’s gates. His life, culminating in a death that wasn’t an end but a crucial step in his divine mission, gives us every reason for great joy.

However, if we only knew of Jesus’ birth, we might see it as tragic. Born on a journey to resource-strapped parents in a setting far from ideal, his arrival was unnoticed by most in Bethlehem. If it were today, we might sing carols about a birth in an alley amid an indifferent city’s bustle. Jesus’ entrance into the world was under challenging, stressful, and seemingly impossible conditions.

This Christmas, the dichotomy of celebration and struggle seems particularly poignant. In our work at Urban Ventures, we constantly witness the tension between the overwhelming challenges our neighbors face and their extraordinary hope and resilience.

This year marks our 30th anniversary. Reflecting on a generation of supporting South Minneapolis families, we’ve served over 100,000 people, aiding them in their pursuit of better lives. We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to make a real impact in our community.

Yet, much remains to be done. Our neighbors still confront significant challenges. But, in these needs, we find opportunities to continue our mission and love our neighbors wholeheartedly.

We’re celebrating our progress too. Our literacy intervention program is expanding, aiming to serve twice as many students. Our violence prevention initiatives are setting new standards for cities nationwide. And soon, Urban Ventures will launch its inaugural vocational training program, offering high school seniors paid training in trades alongside life skills coaching.

All these achievements, and much more, are possible thanks to your support. While the transformations on Lake St. might not be immediately apparent to all, you recognize God’s work here and have joined our mission to spread joy, celebration, and hope throughout our community.

Thank you for supporting Urban Ventures. May you and your loved ones have a blessed Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, and a joyous holiday season.

With thanks,

Dave & the Urban Ventures team