Empowering a generation of young leaders in high-risk Philadelphia

Level Up featured on nationally-televised ABC NIGHTLINE NEWS with award-winning reporter, Byron Pitts

City, State, & National Recognition

“Pastor Campbell has put together an amazing program centered on young people, meeting them where they are, and giving them the space, security, and support to help them move up and to help them become confident and self-sufficient for them to function fully and effectively in society.”

Vincent Hughes
Pennsylvania State Senator 

Special Thanks to Our Partners

LUP Mayor Presentation
LUP Mayor Presentation (1)
LUP Mayor Presentation (3)

Local News Featuring LevelUp's Partnership with Pepsi

In the Fall of 2022, Level Up Philly and Pepsi came together to host an incredible tournament for young athletes, demonstrating the transformative power of friendly competition, teamwork, and resilience in a community.

In the News

LUP Mayor Presentation (5)

Signup for Our Newsletter

Join the Level Up Philly community by signing up for our enlightening newsletter. With it, you gain an insider's view of Philadelphia's youth resurgence, receiving live updates about transformative events and witnessing the extraordinary journeys of our attendees.

As a subscriber, you become part of our mission, your engagement directly magnifying our impact. By signing up, you aren't just watching from the sidelines - you are becoming a crucial piece of our shared vision for a brighter future for Philadelphia's youth.

About Level Up & Urban Dream Chasers

meals

76,000+ Home-cooked gourmet meals served since 2019

invested

$510,000 Invested directly into our youth since November 2018

youth

5,000+ Young people from high-risk neighborhoods positively impacted
(ages 13 to 25)

"Thanks for your financial support without which none of this would happen in the midst of such a city-wide youth crisis."
Aaron Campbell, Executive DirectorFollow Him at @pastoraaroncampbell

Philadelphia's escalating violence, affecting our teens both as victims and perpetrators, calls for immediate action. With youth grappling with poverty, homelessness, PTSD, depression, and despair, Level Up steps in.

We engage young people from high-risk neighborhoods directly on Philadelphia's front lines, combating these crises and transforming lives.

LUP Mayor Presentation (7)
LUP Mayor Presentation (6)

Urban Dream Chasers (our guiding 501(c)3 entity) anchors Level Up, a holistic mentoring initiative for high-risk youth.

We offer services like counseling, crime intervention, academic support, and housing aid, all geared towards a larger goal: establishing the city's best art STEM lab to prepare high-risk youth for the global technology-powered job market of the future.

In the heart of the city, our 12,000 sq ft 'safe space'—including a custom-built dance studio—serves as a refuge for over 900 high-risk youth weekly from over 81 different middle and high schools across the city.

From every dangerous corner of the city, these young people find hope and community in Level Up's weekly & monthly gatherings.

LUP Mayor Presentation (9)

The Philly Crisis Deserves A National Response

These nightmarish statistics are affecting REAL people - OUR children and OUR future!

lite graph-1

Source: Respective Police Department Crime Data (2021YTD)

Crime and Violence

In 2021, Philadelphia had more homicides than it’s ever had. Even more than New York City—a city that is roughly five times larger!

Serving Life

Historically, Philadelphia has had more teens serving life sentences in prison without parole than anywhere else in our nation.

JLWOP3

Source: Mills, John R. and Dorn, Anna and Hritz, Amelia, Juvenile Life Without Parole in Law and Practice: The End of Superpredator Era Sentencing (September 22, 2015). American University Law Review

Poverty

Philadelphia is the poorest of the top ten largest US cities—with a child poverty rate that is nearly twice the national average.

poverty

Source: The Annie E. Casey Foundation, Kids Count Data Center

Suicide

The national average of high school students who attempted suicide is 8.9%. Philadelphia is among the highest at 15%. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among adolescents aged 13-18 in the U.S

slice1

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Join us in fighting the crisis and saving the youth of Philadelphia!

There Are Levels To What We Do!!

At Urban Dream Chasers, we coined the name “Level Up” simply because we meet each young person, wherever they are, and help them “Level Up” to their next step of success—whatever that may be. So when someone comes to us and needs court-mandated community service hours, we work with them and “Level Up” from there.

When someone is drowning in the drug-dealing culture and has never been exposed to an alternative lifestyle, we work with them to “Level Up” to a legal part-time job.  When they are failing or struggling in school, we “Level Up” with tutoring and college guidance.

We have seen countless young people go from C’s and D’s to A’s and B’s; school suspensions and have even helped some be the first in their families to go to college.  Urban Dream Chaser’s “Level Up” is intentional, it is committed.

Our Mission

To inspire and empower young people, and their families, through mentoring, tutoring, counseling, and recidivism reduction in response to the city’s violence crisis.

Level Up Philly