Urban Strategies Inc. (USI) is a national nonprofit leader and transformative force in community development, championing EQUITY AND INNOVATION across 45 communities in 28 metropolitan areas, including two territories.
Rooted in St. Louis’ history and expanding nationally, USI empowers communities through data-driven, people-centered strategies, fostering self-sufficiency and resilience.
Our approach is multifaceted: engaging residents as co-creators, influencing systemic policies, and embedding our Results Count® framework to drive tangible change.
USI represents a movement towards a future where all children and families will be stable and thriving, supported by our unwavering dedication to being results-based, data-driven, and equity-centered.
OUR VISION
We envision a world where every voice is not only heard but also promoted and where systems work in harmony for the greater good.
We remain steadfast in keeping families at the center of our work, utilizing data to guide our strategies, and employing a team of dedicated professionals who contribute as thought leaders in the field.
We’re committed to ensuring that every community we touch is stronger, more resilient, and poised for a future of prosperity and growth.
OUR CORE VALUES
Integrity
We are honest, transparent, ethical, and just. People trust us to adhere to our word.
Accountability
We deliver our very best in all we do, holding ourselves accountable for results.
Respect
We treat residents, communities, partners, and our staff with dignity and respect.
Innovation
We act with courage, challenging the status quo, and finding new ways to strengthen our work.
Diversity
We know it takes people with different ideas, strengths, interests, and cultural backgrounds to help us succeed.
Collaboration
We recognize that success cannot be accomplished by one person or organization.
OUR PILLARS
Our impact is not just measured in projects completed or funds raised, but in lives transformed and communities revitalized.
Our work is driven by a commitment to holistic, sustainable development across multiple key areas that are foundational to the well-being of individuals and communities.
These pillars – Housing Stability, Education, Economic Mobility, Health & Wellness, Engagement, and Policy & Influence – represent the diverse yet interconnected aspects of our comprehensive approach to community upliftment.
Housing Stability
We believe housing is the foundation for which families can grow. Our work is rooted in meeting residents where they are to provide them with the resources and support to achieve their goals.
“I am so proud of myself for going through the whole process and buying my first home. I love everything about my house.”
— Karima N., USI Resident of Perkins Homes in Baltimore, MD
Education
Focusing on the strategic development of programs, partnerships, and policy recommendations, we provide the support and service connections to change the trajectory of children and families’ education and career opportunities.
“I have gained valuable insight into the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development projects and a greater understanding of underlying issues of system racism, discrimination, and oppression that has contributed to the crisis of housing in black and brown communities. The work USI does is beyond valuable.”
— Dr. Alicia J., Director of Student Support Services, Pittsburgh Public Schools
Economic Mobility
We address financial burdens and hardships, while also providing assistance to shift the economic status of individuals through workforce development, entrepreneurship, employment, job-readiness support, and skills training.
“When the hurricane hit, I was living in public housing at the time. Determined to get back on my feet, I worked with USI to land a job, get promoted, and move into my own home with my sister. My proudest moment!”
— Icezerine P., USI Resident of Magnolia Homes in Galveston, TX
Health & Wellness
Through focused service connections, we provide opportunities for residents to live healthier lifestyles through nutrition and wellness classes, counseling, recovery support, mental health programming, and more.
“My doctor never told me about cholesterol. I’m so glad I took the USI class so I could learn the important things, like changing my diet and avoiding a heart attack.”
— Adrienne V., USI Resident of Bayview in San Francisco, CA
Resident/Community Engagement
We connect residents with nonprofit service providers, public agencies, philanthropies, faith-based organizations, and other local stakeholders to build and support vibrant, self-sustaining communities.
80% of target families report a positive community connection from USI’s LEARN System, 2023.
Policy & Influence
We’re committed to designing equitable practices that inform and influence policy, transform systems, and positively impact families.
“Even if we can’t directly have an impact on every child in the country, we can influence leaders in other cities and organizations to practice in a more equitable, people-centered, and collaborative way.”
— Erika W., VP of Marketing & Communications, USI
We are an organization that is representative of the diversity in the places where we work.
READ OUR FULL EQUITY STATEMENT
We recognize the legacy of systemic racism and cultural oppression that have long served as barriers to success. We develop real opportunities for success in communities regardless of income, religion, race, ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation. We honor the resiliency and self-determination of individuals who have suffered through trauma and harm.
We commit to addressing disparities at individual, system, and structural levels. We appreciate that local residents know their communities best. We target strategies based on data that addresses the root cause of preventing successful outcomes. We collaborate with partners that are willing to stand shoulder to shoulder with us. We commit to creating pathways for all children and families to thrive.
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Central Corporate Office • 100 N. Broadway, Suite 1110 • St. Louis, Missouri 63102
Phone: 314-421-4200 • Fax: 314-279-0067 • Email: info@usi-inc.org
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