Photo: Among the evening’s featured speakers was Dashaun Howell, an alumnus of UrbanPromise’s after-school camps and StreetLeader program. Image created on 10/27 using AI.

Annual gathering draws 440 supporters as alumni and volunteers demonstrate how mentoring, education and faith-based programs can shape lives beyond the classroom.

WILMINGTON, Del. — UrbanPromise Wilmington used its annual banquet last week to celebrate not only the young people it serves today, but also the lasting impact its programs have on students, families and the broader Wilmington community.

About 440 community members, supporters and local leaders attended the Oct. 22 event at the Chase Center, where students, alumni, volunteers and board members shared stories about the organization’s work with Wilmington children and teens.

Among the evening’s featured speakers was Dashaun Howell, an alumnus of UrbanPromise’s after-school camps and StreetLeader program.

Howell told attendees that his experience with UrbanPromise helped shape the direction of his life. Today, he works as a union bricklayer and leads a nonprofit that mentors young men.

His work focuses on helping young men explore their identity and faith, set goals, manage money, care for their health and build respectful relationships.

For UrbanPromise, Howell’s story offered an example of what the organization hopes happens when young people receive sustained academic support, mentoring and leadership opportunities.

UrbanPromise Wilmington describes its mission as equipping children and young adults through Christ with skills for academic achievement, life management, personal growth and servant leadership.

The organization serves more than 300 young people each year, ranging in age from 4 to 18, through educational programs, enrichment activities, mentoring and Christian discipleship.

Board member and volunteer Justine Kinnaird also spoke about the educational challenges facing many Wilmington students.

Before retiring, Kinnaird spent 15 years as a special education teacher. She said her experience exposed disparities between urban and suburban schools and strengthened her desire to make sure UrbanPromise students have access to strong academic support.

At UrbanPromise, Kinnaird works on literacy instruction, student assessment and improvement planning.

“My partner teachers are very committed to helping their students achieve academic success,” Kinnaird said.

UrbanPromise cited a 2024 survey showing a 19% English language arts proficiency rate among Wilmington students, underscoring what the organization views as the continued need for intensive literacy support and mentoring.

The banquet also featured a student celebration program, giving supporters a chance to see some of the young people participating in UrbanPromise programs.

The organization works with families, volunteers, donors and community partners in an effort to provide students with academic support while also building leadership skills and personal confidence.

The annual banquet serves as an opportunity for UrbanPromise Wilmington to bring those groups together and demonstrate how its programs extend beyond after-school activities.

For Howell, that impact is now being passed to another generation through the young men he mentors.

UrbanPromise said stories like his illustrate the organization’s broader goal: helping young people develop the skills and relationships they need to build stable, productive futures and eventually invest in others.

To Go Box

• Organization: UrbanPromise Wilmington
• Mission: Provides educational programs, mentoring, enrichment activities, leadership development and Christian discipleship for Wilmington children and teens.
• Who it serves: More than 300 young people annually, ages 4 to 18.
• How to participate: Volunteer, donate or learn more about the organization’s programs.
• More information: urbanpromise.org

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