Our Mission
Urban Impact’s mission is to offer youth from the Bridgeport PT Barnum public housing complex educational opportunities through ‘in-school’ & ‘after-school’ activities. These include one-on-one and small-group tutoring and mentoring with the purpose of helping youth achieve academic success, develop positive character traits and lead a fulfilling life.
Urban Impact runs 5 weekly programs (no cost for the participants!) for the at-risk youth of PT Barnum. Over the last 12 months, we have reached 479 different kids and engaged with these kids for over 13,128 hours. There are 397 active kids (some kids go to all our programs) at our weekly programs.
Those We Serve
The PT Barnum Apartments of Bridgeport are one of four public housing complexes in the city. The Apartments consist of 18 three-story buildings with 20 apartment units per building for a total of 360 units.
Bridgeport is the 7th worst city in the United States in terms of people living with financial hardships, and PT Barnum is one of the most impoverished areas within the city. The impact of this economic reality on family structure, stability and education is overwhelmingly negative.
Urban Impact of Black Rock intends to become a pillar for the this community to lean upon.
Our History
Urban Impact of Black Rock was founded in the wake of a Mission trip to New Orleans in April 2008. Nearly 2 ½ years after the area was devastated by hurricane Katrina, only 20% of the area was rebuilt, leaving many in need. Families, communities, schools and homes that struggled even before the hurricane, were devastated afterwards. Today, many are still in need of hope.
Brought together by Black Rock’s Church’s mission trip, an initial group of strangers from southern Connecticut banded together in the name of God to help our desperate brothers and sisters in New Orleans. Among the volunteers, a bond formed during that trip. The group questioned the need to travel across the country when a nearly identical need existed less than five miles from the church. To answer this call, Urban Impact of Black Rock was created to target this local area in great need of God’s attention and love: the PT Barnum Community in Bridgeport, CT.
Serve & Make An Impact!
Now is the perfect time to join our team! Consider volunteering as a mentor, a tutor, or sponsoring a meal for one of our programs! The kids and adults of PT Barnum appreciate your service. We have serving opportunities Monday through Thursday! Click the link to learn more!
Your Donation Changes Lives!
Every week we work with over 150 kids and adults. Your donation allows us to continue to serve everyone in PT Barnum and change lives for the better!