August 16, 2016

On Saturday evening, Urban Prep alumnus Arshell Dennis III was shot and killed in front of his home on Chicago's Southwest side. Mr. Dennis graduated from Urban Prep's Bronzeville Campus in 2014 and was home from college to celebrate his mother's birthday. It is our understanding that he was not the intended target and the C hicago Police Department is investigating this as a case of mistaken identity.

As you may remember, we lost one of our students to gun violence in June, just after the end of the school year.  And now, as we start a new school year, we must mourn the loss of an alumnus.  With more than 2,600 people shot--400 fatally--this year alone in Chicago, we are connected in the ways violence touches lives as it robs others of theirs. 

I believe, however, that the stronger bonds uniting us are those of hope and faith. But we cannot only pray for change; we must take action to get that for which we pray. Our teachers and staff take action by tirelessly serving the young men in our care. Our students take action by relentlessly pursuing their education. And you take action through your support of Urban Prep

We will miss Mr. Dennis and are incredibly saddened by his murder. Nevertheless, we must remain encouraged and committed to doing our part to help bend the long moral arc of the universe towards justice.

We Believe,  Tim King