Images courtesy of Nativity Network

The mission of Connecticut Urban Education fund is to give under-served and economically disadvantaged children a grade 5-8 education that leads to acceptance in an excellent college preparatory school and then into a college or university. This gift of education provides strong academics, a school environment that promotes non-violent social justice, and preparation for a life of joy, integrity and clarity of purpose. Character education with spiritual development for a principled life is an essential element of the "whole child" curriculum, not available in many other educational venues.

The first major project of the fund is support of St Martin de Porres Academy, an independent, tuition-subsidized school for children from low-income families in the New Haven area. Following the Nativity School model, students are enrolled without reference to race, religion, color or ethnicity. This model emphasizes small class size, extended day, extended year, significant volunteer involvement, and parental commitment, with education for academic, physical, social, moral and spiritual development of the whole child. Another unusual feature of the school is a distinctive, integrated curriculum emphasizing nonviolence, social responsibility and justice. Ongoing mentoring through high school and the college application process prepares graduates to be contributors to positive change in a just society. The Nativity model has a long and successful track record with 46 schools in 20 states and the District of Columbia.