Urban Alliance

Urban Alliance Every young adult will thrive in an equitable workforce. We fight for equity by empowering students to dream big and achieve economic mobility.

Urban Alliance is building a diverse next-generation workforce by providing job skills training, mentoring, and paid internships to high school youth from under-resourced communities, predominantly youth of color. Since 1996, we’ve provided over 6,000 internships to youth across greater Washington, DC (including Montgomery County and Prince George’s County, MD, and Northern Virginia), Baltimore, C

hicago, and Detroit. Our work supports the development of diverse talent pipelines while preventing disconnection from school or the workforce. ​

In partnership with over 200 employers, we level the playing field for young people in the workforce by equipping them with the tools to overcome the systemic barriers that prevent equal access to economic opportunity. Our signature High School Internship Program provides skills training, mentoring, and paid internships to underserved high school seniors who are at risk of disconnecting from school or the workforce.

This Thanksgiving we are thankful for all of you.Happy Thanksgiving from the crew at Urban Alliance.
11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving we are thankful for all of you.

Happy Thanksgiving from the crew at Urban Alliance.

11/04/2025

Our work with our students doesn't stop once they graduate from our program. We have a robust Alumni network we stay connected to so they can continue on their path forward.

Last weekend, we celebrated Urban Alliance Greater DC alumni with a Homecoming event filled with food, connection, and camaraderie. Special guest speaker Vanessa Moriarty from Virginia Heart joined us to share valuable tips on building a strong résumé and acing a job interview.

We asked a few of our alumni why they stay connected with us and the answer was simple:

They know they will be supported, they will be encouraged, and they will be guided to build the economic future of their dreams.

DM us to learn how you can get involved with Urban Alliance Greater DC or any of our other regions: Urban Alliance Baltimore, Urban Alliance Chicago, Urban Alliance Detroit

10/21/2025

Meet Marshay.

She's part of our 2025-2026 class and has just started her journey with Urban Alliance Detroit learning key skills like communication, public speaking, resume building to prepare her for the workforce and her first paid internship!

That's what we do here.

We bridge the gap between exposure, education, and experience for students like Marshay so they can be put on the path to economic independence for themselves, their families, and their communities.

DM us for more info on how you can become an Urban Alliance parnter.

Join us in welcoming Breylon A. Smith, MPA as our new Executive Director of Urban Alliance Greater DC!Breylon comes to u...
10/09/2025

Join us in welcoming Breylon A. Smith, MPA as our new Executive Director of Urban Alliance Greater DC!

Breylon comes to us with 15-years of experience in education, youth development, partnerships, and strategy, with a career dedicated to creating pathways of access, opportunity, and equity for historically underserved communities.

Prior to joining Urban Alliance Greater DC, Breylon served as Director of Partnerships at Thrive Scholars, managing a national portfolio of institutional partners and driving a 22% increase in program reach. He also served as Director of High School Placement and Alumni Programs at Higher Achievement, overseeing programming across 14 sites in four regions and strengthening mentoring quality while aligning outcomes across the organization.

A proud husband, father, and man of faith, Breylon finds joy in small moments, strong coffee, and supporting others to lead with purpose. His leadership is anchored in authenticity, stewardship, and collaboration—values that continue to shape his commitment to youth empowerment and community impact.

We are so excited to have him on our team!

Welcome Breylon A. Smith, MPA!

10/07/2025

For the young people we serve giving them exposure to the world of work shows them what's possible.

It's why Exposure is one of our three main pillars and why we focus so deeply on holding events like our recent career panel.

Our 2025-2026 students in Detroit had the opportunity to hear from staff from the Breithaupt Career Career and Technical Center and Randolph Technical Career Center to learn about various career paths that are available to them and what it's like working in those fields.

These seemingly simple experiences spark curiosity, excitement, and hope for these young people who are so often disproportionately affected by the job skills gap.

Special thank you to our guests: Lawrielle West, MSW, Jaazmine Parker, Crystal Ackins, Adrian Davis, Elita Holloway, Justin Dunn, Lauren Woodson, and Darius Jackson.

Our Teacher Training Institute equips Chicago Public Schools educators with resources to help them facilitate UA’s workf...
09/15/2025

Our Teacher Training Institute equips Chicago Public Schools educators with resources to help them facilitate UA’s workforce readiness curriculum and reinforce students' social and emotional skills leading to short-term academic benefits and long-term workforce success for students.

Every teacher who joins makes it possible for 25–30 high school sophomores to access our workforce readiness curriculum, building academic confidence today and workforce readiness for tomorrow.

So:

✅ Sign up for our info session on September 30th (Scan QR code below)
✅ Share this post with a Chicago Public Schools educator you know
✅ DM us with any questions

We look forward to welcoming our next cohort of educators!

Together, we are building the workforce of the future.

Remember what it felt like when you got your first job? Your first paycheck?You felt pride, excitement, and independence...
09/09/2025

Remember what it felt like when you got your first job? Your first paycheck?

You felt pride, excitement, and independence.

Meet Tanya.

A graduate of Cass Technical High School in Detroit, she came to Urban Alliance Detroit on the advice of her guidance counselor and landed a paid internship at one our employer partners Bank of America.

She spent her days greeting customers, helping them with their banking needs, and learning the basics of the banking industry.

Her experience left her certain that her future career was in banking, and even shared her knowledge with her family on what she had learned and her dreams for her future.

Tanya's story isn't possible without support from employers like Bank of America and people like you who understand that when we put young people at the center, the world is a better place.

DM us to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.

08/27/2025

Our 2025-2026 program year is off to a great start!

As we prepare our students for another year of exposure, education, and experience in today's workforce seeing the enthusiasm of students like Noah makes us hopeful for the future of our workforce.

Hear from Noah himself on what makes him so excited about joining our program.

Want to learn more about joining Urban Alliance as a student or employer partner? Send us a DM!

08/27/2025

Our 2025-2026 program year is off to a great start!

As we prepare our students for another year of exposure, education, and experience in today's workforce seeing the enthusiasm of students like Noah makes us hopeful for the future of our workforce.

Hear from Noah himself on what makes him so excited about joining our program.

Want to learn more about Urban Alliance? Send us a DM!

One of the best parts about our work is giving our young people the opportunity to be exposed to experiences they may no...
08/19/2025

One of the best parts about our work is giving our young people the opportunity to be exposed to experiences they may not otherwise have access to.

Recently, 19 Urban Alliance interns got the surprise of a lifetime when they got to meet the President of the Bank Ajay Banga.

They each had a chance to ask Mr. Banga a question about his career and insights about how they can be successful as they move on in their careers.

It turned into a dynamic conversation that energized our young people to see a future for themselves that maybe they couldn’t see before.

When we put young people on a path to economic independence we strengthen families, workplaces, and entire communities.

Meet Alaxis. This summer, she was one of 4 interns placed with one of our employer partners Avanath Capital Management. ...
08/13/2025

Meet Alaxis.

This summer, she was one of 4 interns placed with one of our employer partners Avanath Capital Management. And she was just offered a part-time position as she continues working toward an Accounting degree.

This isn’t an isolated success story.

When we place our young people in paid internships, employers are consistently impressed with the value they bring, so much so that they offer part-time or full-time employment.

Thank you to Dana McLaren-Bartlett and the entire Capital Management LLC team for being a trusted partner.

Congratulations Alaxis! We are so proud of you!

Even on the first day of vacation, our Chicago Executive Director had a powerful reminder of why our work matters, and i...
08/07/2025

Even on the first day of vacation, our Chicago Executive Director had a powerful reminder of why our work matters, and it came in the form of an unexpected full-circle moment at the vet.

When her dog Destiny needed urgent care, she turned to MedVet, one of Urban Alliance Chicago’s incredible job partners. What she didn’t expect? To be checked in by Elijah Cooper, a current MedVet intern and proud Urban Alliance alum.

Elijah’s professionalism, compassion, and calm presence were on full display as he cared for Destiny — a reminder that internships aren't just about resume-building. They’re about real-world impact, confidence, and connection.

We’re so proud of Elijah and grateful to MedVet for continuing to invest in Chicago’s young talent. These everyday moments show us what’s possible when we give young people the tools and opportunities to thrive. 💼🐶❤️

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2030 Q Street NW
Washington D.C., DC
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