The Issachar Center for Urban Leadership equips young adults from and for low-income urban communities for transformative servant leadership.
About Issachar
The Issachar Center for Urban Leadership is an urban Christian leader apprenticeship program which takes a diverse group of college students through a rigorous program of academics, servant-leadership, and discipleship. These urban Christian leaders develop their strengths and talents to bridge communities together by initiating conversations and establishing environments for voices to be heard. In the biblical story of King David, the people of Issachar were described as valuable at a critical moment in history because, "they understood the times, and knew what God's people should do" 1 Chronicles12:32. At its core, Issachar is a community, a network, a tribe of young leaders who follow Jesus.
Issachar hosts and creates gatherings for urban Christian leaders who work to understand the times and know what to do. With partners like Urban Young Life, Antioch Church, the Sankofa Institute, Colorado Uplift, and a growing community of alumni and friends, Issachar is a hub for relationships and initiatives that benefit our city and our world.
Get Involved
Join us Tuesday nights from 6:30-9:00 pm for talks on various subjects that effect us as a community. In our conversations we are looking to find our voices on the matter and to learn together how to foster community. Please feel free to share any thoughts and to learn from each other about these topics that touch so many. As always, there will be food!
Apprenticeship
The Issachar Apprenticeship program has 5 components
Academics
All Issachar students attend college (most full-time). We provide tutoring, coaching, and a scholarship for up to four years, helping students develop the life and study skills necessary for graduation and beyond.
Residential Cohort
All apprentices live for two years in a 6-unit residential facility, learning to manage household responsibilites, pay rent, and live with others.
Leading from Below
Apprentices study public leadership, community engagement, and urban issues during dinner and training one night each week. Guests and partners regularly join us.
Leading from Within
Apprentices go through a spiritual formation program during an extended morning gathering once a week.
Community & Vocational Service
All apprentices continue to apply their learning and explore their calling while serving with local organizations for six to eight hours a week.
In total, student responsibilities require about 60 hours a week. Students are given a stipend for rent and living expenses so that they can focus on Issachar Program requirements.
Apprentices
Abel Amadou
MSU Denver
Computer Science
Tech Wizards
Maria Silva Cano
MSU Denver
Nursing/Political Science
Urban Youth Ministries
Andreece Turner
MSU Denver
Nursing/Social Work
YoungLife Montbello
Niles McConnell
CCD
YoungLife Denver
Brien Hollowell
Art Institute of Colorado
Photography
Jute Magazine
Paloma Gonzalez
MSU Denver
Business Management
Tae Kwon Do
Save our Youth
Jordon Davis
CU Denver
Music Production
YoungLife Montbello
Kaelin Tipoti
MSU Denver
Special Education
YoungLife Montbello
Contact Us
Application
We have re-opened the application for the 2016-17 Apprenticeship Class. Applications are due February 28, 2016. Applicants must print out the PDF file and bring it, fully completed, to Issachar Center (1220 E. 24th Ave Denver, CO).
Feb 28 - Apprenticeship applications due
March 1 (5:00-6:15PM) - ICUL info night for applicants.
Applicants are welcome to stay for our "Leading from Below" Meeting. Dinner will be from 6:30-7:00 and the meeting will be from 7:00-9:00PM.
March 3 (2:00-5:00PM) - Interviews
August 13 - New class moves into the Issachar Center
August 14-19 - Boot Camp for new Issachar class