Connect. Heal. Launch.

At The Urban Village we know that the road to opportunity and achievement can be difficult to travel alone. We believe it takes a village.

DONATE

Our MISSION

To accompany continuing generations

of Karen and Karenni youth as they

CONNECT, HEAL, and LAUNCH.

Help Launch our youth

Fuel the Launch

CONNECT

We believe connecting starts inward with self, then bravely grows outward into relationships that reach across divides. Our youth need opportunities to explore their cultural heritage, history, and homeland in order to embrace their own identity as they go out into our diverse world as peacemakers.

HEAL

Given the realities of violence and displacement our community has faced, we believe creating opportunities for youth to engage with and heal from past and present traumas/hurts/injustices are absolutely necessary for a more robust and sustainable launch.

LAunch

This is our calling. Our village incubates dreams and future leaders. We don't stop at a nurturing environment, we intentionally carve out and engage opportunities that tactically allow youth to grow and thrive beyond our village.

w>vXyrR

WHO WE ARE

EVENTS

yw>[l;w>*JR

PROGRAMS

yw>zH;w>rR

SOLIDARITY

w> vXySR oltDR oh

Upcoming Events

Tue, Dec 05
The Village KLUB
Saint Paul
Multiple Dates
SIGN UP
Dec 05, 2023, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Saint Paul, 1082 Arcade St, St Paul, MN 55106, USA
The Village KLUB is for anyone between 7th grade-college age students. Join us for the most magical/amazing after school program you'll ever be part of.
Wed, Dec 06
The Urban Village Gala
"The Underground" at Bethel University
SIGN UP
Dec 06, 2023, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
"The Underground" at Bethel University, 3900 Bethel Dr, St Paul, MN 55112, USA
Join us for an amazing night as hear stories from our Village youth that celebrate all that The Urban Village has accomplished this year! We'll also be sharing our big dreams for 2024! We hope you'll join us!
Fri, Jun 28
The Urban Village K'Nyaw Camp
New London
SIGN UP
Jun 28, 2024, 10:00 AM – Jun 30, 2024, 12:00 PM
New London, 800 Sibley Park Rd, New London, MN 56273, USA
Come ready to connect to reconnect. A gathering of K'nyaw youth from near and far away. You do not want to miss it.
Fri, Aug 23
The Urban Village Karenni Camp
New London
SIGN UP
Aug 23, 2024, 10:00 AM – Aug 25, 2024, 12:00 PM
New London, 800 Sibley Park Rd, New London, MN 56273, USA
Join us for the 2nd Urban Village Kareni Camp! This will be a once in a lifetime experience, we promise you that!

How we share our space

Community Space

Marketplace

Art Gallery

We offer our culturally relevant community space to many different community led projects. We see The Urban Village as fertile soil for programs to grow. We currently provide space for multiple KOM programs, Asian Youth Outreach, SE Asian Poetry Slams, and food distributions.

Since August 2020, The Urban Village has been using its space and platform to empower Karen and Karenni artisans and entrepreneurs to sell their work. This online and physical marketplace promotes cultural preservation all while creating opportunity and revenue for its partners. Support our artists!

Our village is the only culturally relevant space for the Karen and Karenni communities in all of the US. We have over 100 pieces of art curated by over 25 Karen and Karenni artists. We also have historical and cultural artifacts and clothing. Come to our space and see for yourself!

"If you have come here to help me then you are wasting your time. But, if you have come because you LIBERATION is bound up with mine, then let us work together."

-Lilla Watson

GIVE TODAY TO HELP kids in Kawthoolei

Donate

What we do outside of our Village.

Since the military coup in February of 2021 , our team has traveled to Kawthoolei (Eastern Myanmar) on three separate occasions to stand in solidarity with internally displaced people. Learn more about the military coup happening in Myanmar below.