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Belonging is the foundation of human flourishing. Before anyone discovers their worth and purpose,
they must first feel like they have a place to belong.
That’s why our Giving Tuesday campaign is all about Multiplying Belonging. At UPN, our high school StreetLeaders experience welcome, safety, and purpose — and then they turn around and create
that same belonging for our elementary and middle school students. We call it the 10X effect.
Join us in multiplying belonging this Giving Tuesday.
We asked some of our StreetLeaders what belonging means to them and how they have experienced belonging at UPN. Here's what they had to say...
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accepted into a place. And ever since then I've been ever so grateful because I can connect with my fellow StreetLeaders as well as the mentors knowing that here is a safe space where I feel loved. Some elements of belonging is feeling loved. And here your personality is always loved. No matter who you are, you're treated like one of us. And that's just a great way to feel safe and comforted by everyone.
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My job as a StreetLeader is to just be here for the kids. They come from different places., they have different situations, different backgrounds. They come from a long day of school which may or may have not been hard or it may have been great. But what I do is talk to them just as anyone else should do. Like, 'How was your day?' 'What was your favorite part of school?' Maybe a surprise question. 'What's your favorite cookie?' Or your favorite flavor of ice cream. But in the end, what I do is just ask these small questions that add up. If I ask it enough and I always approach them in this way, they'll come and be like, 'Let me go tell Bryan about my day.' Or go tell Nadia about their day. They'll just feel loved here and cared for and as if what they have to say matters. And they'll eventually even seek out someone to talk about it."
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-Bryan, High School Sophomore, 2nd generation from El Salvador
"Belonging is coming to a place and feeling as if you deserve to be there, as if you're cared for.
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I feel belonging at UrbanPromise in many ways. Since I first walked through the doors, I always thought it would be like more tension-based place, but I was met with smiles and laughter. I instantly felt welcomed and
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"Belonging is like when you feel comfortable being with other people or when people make you feel like you belong, ​At UrbanPromise, people always ask me if I feel good, if I'm doing okay, like on a daily basis. And it makes me feel like I genuinely belong because they're always curious about me and worried about me."
-Eh Soe, High School Junior from Thailandv
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"UrbanPromise has given me a safe, welcoming community where I can truly be myself. The diversity here makes me feel like I belong, surrounded by people from many different backgrounds and experiences."
-Ivanka, High School Senior from Ukraine
"Belonging is feeling accepted somewhere, like you are supposed to be somewhere. That's the right place for you. I've been accepted by the other StreetLeaders, by the students, by my coworkers. It just feels like a family that I'm supposed to be in."
-Flo, High School Freshman, 2nd generation from Egypt
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"UrbanPromise is a place where I feel supported, seen, and surrounded by people who genuinely care about me. It has helped me grow as a person and gave me opportunities I wouldn't have had on my own. Being part of this community has made a real difference in my life."
-Joelle, High School Senior from Tanzania
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"UrbanPromise has given me a safe space to work with people who support me. I'm grateful that it allows me to make a positive impact on peoples' lives."
-Marco, High School Senior from Mexico
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​​​​​​​​I've learned a lot of things about myself. The most important thing is I have learned to be much more kind to myself. Before coming here, I didn't actually talk that much, and everybody noticed. I actually had a lot of thoughts on my mind, but I didn't know where to start, or how to start, or is this a good place to express my thoughts or talk about things? But now, I freely can talk about every single thing. This limitless country and this free community leads me to express myself much more and not be afraid to raise my voice..
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I see myself like a bird who can fly now, because I have discovered a lot of things about myself since stepping into this place, and I think that would be a great point to see myself grow- take how this community has impacted me and then give things back for this community.
I want to just copy and paste, because I felt so much belonging here by people who listened to me peacefully and are so patient with me. And I want to do the same thing for the kids. Like, growing a healthy connection and relationship with the kids by listening to them and being patient with them."
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-Shamsia, High School Sophomore from Afghanistan
"If you feel belonging in a space, you feel cared for or seen. But if you don't feel belonging, it means you don't feel seen or cared for.
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I joined UrbanPromise one month after I moved to the US, and when I moved here, I was like, okay, I don't belong to this community, because I didn't know the culture or language. But UrbanPromise helped me a lot to feel like I belonged.. It was the first community I met in the US, and I felt seen and loved and cared for. Like, in my self-confidence and trying to be myself much more. And it actually makes me feel like, okay, so this is somewhere that I can be myself and do whatever I want, like push my boundaries and step out of my safe zone. And all of these things empowered me. Being here has felt like a very natural thing to me.- like I have been part of this community for my entire life.
Want to know what impact your gift will make?
​Our Giving Tuesday Goal: Hire 24 StreetLeaders
= $120,000
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$5,000 = 1 teen employed + 10 kids mentored = 11 lives transformed
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Your gift today:
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$400 = Employ one teen for 1 month (11 lives impacted)
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$2500 = 6 months of employment (11 lives impacted)
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$5,000 = THE FULL HIRE: 1 full year + 10 kids mentored (11 lives transformed)
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100% of your donation goes directly towards serving the refugee youth of Nashville and impacting lives all for the glory of God.
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Invest in the promise of a brighter future
for the incredible youth we serve. ​​
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Want to know what a StreetLeader is?
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"I'm grateful for UrbanPromise because it's a community that makes me feel welcomed and allows me to strengthen my relationship with the Lord. Whether it's the kids, mentors, or other StreetLeaders, I always see God's love reflected in every
single one of them."
Nadia, High School Sophomore from Ukraine
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Why Give To UPN?
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Every Dollar Counts
100% of your donation will be used for programs that support and empower refugee youth, families, and communities in Nashville.
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Every Child Matters
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UPN believes that every child has inherent value, gifts, and identity as image bearers of Creator God. With your help, UPN’s culture of care is responsive to the unique needs of refugee youth with one goal in mind: to ensure our students have the tools and opportunities to unlock their potential and begin to live into the abundant life that Jesus promised.
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All Because of Jesus
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We partner with refugees in Nashville as a demonstration of God’s unconditional love for all people and Christ's example of welcoming the stranger. We partner with God as He raises up the next generation of changemakers amongst the overlooked and underheard to advance His Kingdom throughout the nations.
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