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In 1995, Richard DeVos, co-founder of the Amway Corporation, and his wife Helen challenged their four children and spouses to work together to develop a philanthropic program based on their common passions and interests. An intensive discovery process revealed their common passion and interest to be at-risk youth in urban settings.

Once identified, the DeVos family then determined their highest leverage investment would not be the replication of existing youth programs, but rather a leadership development initiative that focused on sustaining urban youth workers in ministry. The development process included research, interviews, and focus groups (both national and local), with ministry leaders and hands-on youth workers. It resulted in a program model and curriculum that was reviewed and tested by members of the original focus group.

In 1998, the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative was launched in four cities that had been deeply involved in the early stage of curriculum development: Grand Rapids, Phoenix, Orlando, and Boston. A total of thirty-six urban youth ministry leaders from diverse ethnic backgrounds participated.

Since 1998, The DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative has conducted training in over twenty-four major urban cities across the United States and over 580 urban youth ministry leaders have completed the program. The Initiative remains committed to its goal of investing in the lives of urban youth workers who demonstrate success in working with urban youth, and are positioned for growth and change.

For an in depth discussion about why the DeVos Urban Leadership Initiative targets Leadership Development, see the article A Case for Leadership Development.

A Case for Leadership