UHLI

Raising Hope, Restoring Cities: How UHLI Is Shaping Servant Leaders for Urban Renewal​

​

In Fairfield, Alabama, the Urban Hope Leadership Initiative (UHLI) is transforming lives by equipping young Black men to become servant leaders who's foundation is in Christ and focus on community impact. Founded by Pastor Alton Hardy, UHLI is a one-year Christian leadership development program that blends spiritual formation with practical life skills—covering everything from Scripture study and discipleship to budgeting, practical living, and home ownership.
The results are tangible. Several UHLI graduates have started families, launched businesses, purchased homes in Fairfield, and joined the staff of Urban Hope Community Church—including Triston Bryant and Brandon Bell. These men embody the program’s mission: to raise up leaders who understand the unique challenges of urban life and are committed to gospel-centered restoration.
In a city where systemic issues have long hindered growth, UHLI graduates are becoming catalysts for change. They mentor youth, strengthen families, and help rebuild trust in institutions that have often felt distant. Pastor Hardy’s own journey—from Selma to Grand Rapids and back to Alabama—infuses the program with authenticity and urgency.
UHLI is more than leadership training—it’s a movement of hope, planting seeds of transformation that will bear fruit for generations.