About Us
We work together to expand our reach throughout the Bay Area by transforming low-income neighborhoods into vibrant, healthy communities.
Our Vision
We envision a society built on a strong and vibrant multiracial democracy where all people thrive.
Founded as a non-profit in 1987, the Council works with stakeholders in low-income communities of the Bay Area. We envision vibrant, thriving communities where poverty is no longer a systemic barrier to opportunity. By leveraging evidence-based research, deep community partnerships, cross-sector collaboration, and innovative policy solutions, we work toward lasting change to eliminate urban poverty. With the support of visionary funders and local change-agents, we transform projects into scalable impact to build stronger, more inclusive communities with sustainable futures.
Our Mission
USC’s mission is to build safe, healthy, and vibrant communities by working with partners and stakeholders to develop strategies and solutions that advance opportunities for all.
We accomplish this mission through community engagement, research, community capacity and collaboration building, and policy innovation and advocacy.
Our Values
Our values reflect these shared principles for our work and for public systems that were created to serve all people fairly and equally.
Because Urban Strategies Council is not a single-issue organization, we are able to think and work holistically across silos, sectors, and jurisdictions. We partner with public agencies, grassroots organizing groups, and philanthropic organizations to catalyze lasting social change.
In order to move the needle on persistent poverty, we need to change the systems that are currently ineffective, and so we focus on reforming the systems that serve low-income communities.
