Light of the World Urban Empowerment Corporation, Inc., a non-profit 501c3 organization, was

founded in mid-2010 as an outreach extension of Light of the World Church International Inc. Pastor

Martin L. Jakes, Sr., together with the Advisory Council of Light of the World Church International,

founded the UEC to expand the compassionate outreach and neighborhood development ministries of

the church in the face of mounting problems of economic and educational decline in the surrounding

community.

Loss of jobs, lack of decent housing, struggling schools, scarcity of affordable childcare, an epidemic of

homelessness and hunger were all signs that new, long-term improvements are needed. In July 2010,

the formation of UEC was imagined serving as a nonprofit organization to bring together people and

resources to help develop the surrounding community.

With strong, stable support from Light of the World Church Intl. and through the leadership of Pastor

Jakes, the UEC plans to develop and expand its vision to provide empowerment for the community

which has been denied access from technologies and services.

This nonprofit organization was developed with a holistic empowerment of the community as its

primary objective.

UEC serves as a social service organization that will provide site-based programs and services within

disadvantaged communities. Our mission is “to serve socially and economically disadvantaged

communities by promoting high moral standards and providing opportunities to develop the skills

necessary to become prosperous citizens.”

It is the vision of the Light of the World Urban Empowerment Corporation to promote and establish

programs designed to increase levels of self-sufficiency among residents. Efforts to enhance the

personal development of both adult and youth resident will be offered in the form of workshops with

licensed professionals and paraprofessionals in areas of Economic Empowerment, Job

Placement/Maintenance, Small Business Development, Financial Management, Parenting Skills Training

and Mentoring, Nutrition, Health, Fitness, Substance Abuse and STD/HIV Prevention and Education,

Counseling and Home Ownership.

The first phase of UEC will be to establish senior enrichment programs, ranging from exercise classes,

dance classes, travel, economic information classes, and more. This will be for persons 65 years and

older.

The second phase of UEC is to provide affordable afterschool childcare for working parents and a

comprehensive recreation program that will inspire and instruct a sense of self-worth and team

interaction among youth from various athletic and socio-economic backgrounds. UEC will also make

available to all residents a list of resources to aid in the formation of self-help and support groups to

address social issues identified by the resident council and the Needs Assessments of individual

residents.

The third phase of UEC will be to provide temporary housing for women and children displaced from the

homes. Each temporary resident will be provided with employment connection and training, a meal

card, and a Marta card for public transportation.