Each spring and summer, 20 or more groups totaling nearly 350 high school or college students travel from schools and churches to Camden and spend a week working with UrbanPromise. They work hard to accomplish the most they can in their week with us. In return, we provide each group the opportunity to learn about urban ministry and to develop relationships with the children we serve. Sound like something for you? Then get the full scoop about workgroups right now!

It's been a good year. We laughed. We cried. It was better than Cats.
—Charlie Park

Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you. Happy birthday Pure Content, happy birthday to you!

Time to break open the good stuff and par-tay. Yes, for three-hundred and sixty-five days, one site has challenged the meaning of online creative community. Pure Content is the brainchild of Charlie Park, Class of '01 at William and Mary, and boy! wonder at Play, Inc. (more about Play in this post), who has brought an daily audience of hundreds to the first corporate blog and turned the heads of some notable bloggers in the business/creativity umbrella. And what a ride! From big business branding to mathematical lego structures. From great reads like The Rise of the Creative Class to the voice of 'you've got mail!'

The evolution from a one-man-band (covering every corner of passion out there) to a multi-authored journal (featuring folks from Play, including the amazing Sean O'Brien), to today's full-fledged, open conversation that incorporates a Street Team (where anyone can login and post). What began as an idea with the simple mission to look at more stuff and think about it harder, found a way to take a life of its own and start to define itself. In his own words, Charlie posts the challenge to his readers: "Passion, as our college professor noted, is engrossing. Each of us has a creativity and a passion that is uniquely our own. How is yours infused in your work?"

Oh, and sign-up to receive a daily dose of creativity when you visit. It's the one email you'll look forward to everyday. Really.

Relive the first post ever on Pure Content.

Redefine creativity with the incredible kids at Play.

Today's the day. The interns have arrived. Each fall, 10-20 college students commit to one year of service at UrbanPromise to assist in the day-to day operation of the year-round programs. From ministry and devotions to community service and academics, the opportunities to learn and grow along with the life of UrbanPromise are nothing short of life changing. More about internships...

It's time for the PROMISE WALK for the UrbanPromise Ministries of Camden, NJ! On Saturday, February 22nd, you can join hundreds in this 'walkathon' all morning at the Echelon Mall in Voorhees, NJ (click for directions). Registration and kickoff are between 9-9:30 and at 9:45, get those feet a-movin' as you help raise money for the new UrbanPromise Youth Center in Camden. Download the Adobe PDF flyer for complete details or call Shannon right now (856-661-1700) to sign-up!

Another classic moment brought to you by "Only in New York." Twenty-four inches in twenty-four hours. Of course, the same can be said from Virginia to Jersey. Which also meant it was just time to hunker down, stay warm, and come up with something to do. Stuck. Cabin fever. Bored, nothing to do. Well, almost. I'm taking a class online for my work at the Museum. So between that and a little down time (it's a holiday, after all) with Fight Club, it was - like many Northeasterners - a rather chill (and chilly) day. Join me on Fifth Avenue: where sleds outnumbered briefcases.