About Urban Awareness USA
Urban Awareness USA is a Christian non-profit organization that works closely with all faiths and denominations using a comprehensive approach to help your organization reach its God-given potential. Our mission is to strengthen, empower and equip faith-based and community organization with the tools and resources necessary for them to complete their missions with excellence. We do this by providing practical educational experiences and, if necessary, customized consulting services in most every area pertaining to the operation of your organization.
Urban Awareness USA is owned by author, speaker and consultant, Tracy J. Brown. Its staff of Christian professionals will educate, train and empower your organization to obtain all resources necessary to fund your vision, grow your organization and manage your administrative operations to better serve God’s kingdom.
Recently, Urban Awareness USA was awarded a private grant for the purpose of educating churches in the top 20 African-American populated metropolitan areas about the multiple grant funding opportunities from federal, state, local and private organizations and exactly how urban churches can obtain funding and impact their surrounding communities.
About Tracy J. Brown
Mr. Tracy J. Brown, devoted father and husband, is a distinguished author, speaker, businessman and urban development expert. He has risen to national prominence by teaching individuals, ministries and organizations how to socially and economically advance our urban communities to greatness using biblical stewardship principles.
Brought up in extreme poverty, Mr. Brown regularly shares his testimony with audiences across the United States about overcoming adversity and attaining prosperity using biblical stewardship. Mr. Brown is a devout Christian, and calls upon churches to bring about change and prosperity in urban communities. He gives speeches and conducts seminars and workshops with churches on “Biblical Stewardship,” “21st Leadership Model for the Black Church,” “Community Empowerment: How The Black Church Can Reclaim Urban America,” and “Breaking the Bondage of Debt in African-American Communities.” These, as well as other workshops provide a blueprint for churches to affect change in their communities. Change that strengthens and empowers urban communities across the country. Change that provides the framework for individuals to overcome the same adversities that Mr. Brown himself overcame.
Mr. Brown’s business interest and financial holdings are significant, most notably he established First Providence Realty, Inc., in 1998. First Providence Realty specializes in the sale and marketing of residential real estate and has found a niche providing affordable housing to homebuyers seeking homes in urban communities. Prior to establishing First Providence Realty, Mr. Brown owned a successful Century 21 franchise, which he ultimately sold. In 2001, the Chamber of Commerce recognized First Providence Realty as one of Virginia’s “Rising 25” businesses. In early 2007, a Pulitzer Prize winning organization recognized First Providence Realty for outstanding work in the area of affordable housing.
Mr. Brown received national recognition for the leadership he displayed in a recent federally funded project. Using a HOPE VI federal grant, Mr. Brown worked in conjunction with Cornerstone Development, local government agencies and local churches to completely revitalize the Westbury community in Portsmouth, Virginia. The Westbury project successfully transformed a blighted public housing project into a beautiful mixed-income community of minority first time homeowners. Internationally, Mr. Brown assisted with an urban community development project in Benin, West Africa, proposing construction of 1,100 new low-income homes.
In 2004, Mr. Brown founded the nationally recognized 501(C)(3) non-profit organization, Urban Awareness USA, Inc., which provides consulting services to urban churches and community leaders to enhance the lives of those who live in urban communities. Most notably, an Urban Awareness consultant helped a single church amass nearly 60 million in assets including a youth center, private Christian school, affordable housing for its members and a Family Life Center. In addition to consulting services, Urban Awareness provides coaching, training programs, educational materials and workshops for individuals, faith-based organizations and other non-profit organizations.
Urban Awareness is also the United States White House representative for the Coalition of African-American Pastors (CAAP). Mr. Brown’s work with Urban Awareness has connected him to many national figures including Congressional Rep. JC Watts, Rep. Bobby Scott, Rep. Tom Cole, Senator Bill Frisk, Rev. Jesse Jackson, Rev. Dr. Benjamin Hooks, Rev. Al Sharpton, Bishop George McKinney, Rev. William Owens and George Fraser. In 2006, Mr. Brown was invited to the United States White House by the President of the United States. In 2007, Mr. Brown co-authored a book with the legendary civil rights activist, Dr. Benjamin Hooks. In 2008, Mr. Brown was again invited to the United States White House to receive the Congregational Medal of Distinction, presented by Rep. Tom Cole.
Mr. Brown says in his book, A Moses for Urban America, "Our underserved communities are plagued with poverty by the design of a social economic system that I call 'Modern Day Pharaoh System'. In the Old Testament, Pharaoh kept the Israelites in bondage. Today, the Modern Day Pharaoh system keeps those who lack understanding of the economic system in bondage. I believe the black church must free our people from (today’s) Pharaoh."