Urban Neighborhood Initiatives

Urban Neighborhood Initiatives works with the Springwells neighborhood in southwest Detroit to build a safe and thriving environment where people want to live, work, and play. We target critical neighborhood needs in the Springwells neighborhood of Southwest Detroit, a 1.4 square mile community where approximately 18,735 residents live based on 2020 census data. We work in collaboration with partners, to create opportunities for significant community investment in youth development, neighborhood beautification, economic mobility, safety, and community relationships in the Springwells area to build a healthy, safe neighborhood.

We believe every child should have a safe walk to school and a safe place to play. We believe that no one should drive by vacant, blighted land on their way home. We believe young people should have opportunities to develop as neighborhood leaders. We believe there is a strong relationship between having safe places to play and getting a good education, between beautification and economic development.

Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI) is a youth-centered community development non-profit organization with a mission to build a safe and thriving neighborhood where neighbors want to live, work & play. UNI is where Southwest Detroit’s Springwells neighborhood comes alive with possibility. Since 1997, we've worked with over 20,000 young people and families through comprehensive education, leadership, and community organizing programs. Our work has four key areas of focus: Community Leadership, Education, Land Use, and a Vibrant Economy.