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Empowering Students:
Mission Statement
UPCA exists to educate students through a quality, holistic and transformative Christ-centered education, so that students are equipped to be positive catalysts in their spheres of influence.
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Urban Parables Christian Academy
Chapter 4: What's in a name?
URBAN-
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Vibrant and Alive
“Urban reflects the energy and creativity of city life — a place where cultures meet, ideas grow, and faith comes alive in everyday experience.”
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Connected and Diverse
“Urban speaks to our commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community — learning from one another in a rich tapestry of backgrounds and stories.”
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Real and Relevant
“Urban reminds us that faith is lived out in the real world — in neighborhoods, classrooms, and workplaces — not apart from them.”
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Transformative and Hopeful
“Urban represents our call to be light in the heart of the city — to cultivate hope, service, and purpose where we are planted.”
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Innovative and Modern
“Urban signals our embrace of modern challenges and opportunities, preparing students to think critically and act compassionately in a changing world.”
“At Urban Parables, we believe that the city is a living classroom — full of stories, challenges, and opportunities to see God at work. The word Urban reflects our commitment to a faith that is vibrant, diverse, and engaged with the world around us.”
​PARABLES-
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Parables are human-centered stories designed to teach a moral or spiritual lesson through comparison or analogy, making abstract concepts more relatable and understandable.
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Stories with Purpose
“Parables remind us that truth is often best understood through story — simple, relatable lessons that reveal deep spiritual wisdom.”
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Faith in Everyday Life
“Parables bridge the sacred and the ordinary, showing how God’s truth is woven into daily experiences, people, and places.”
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Teaching Through Experience
“Parables inspire us to learn not only from books, but from life — from the stories unfolding around us in our communities.”
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Rooted in Jesus’ Teaching
“Just as Jesus used parables to reveal God’s kingdom, we use learning and storytelling to nurture wisdom, empathy, and faith.”
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Inviting Reflection and Transformation
“Parables invite us to think deeply, to question, and to grow — discovering new meaning and purpose in familiar things.”
“At Urban Parables, we believe that every street, classroom, and conversation tells a story. Urban reflects the vibrancy of the world around us, and Parables reminds us to find God’s truth within it — in the stories we live, share, and create together. Through a Christ-Centered education, students will become living parables, embodying the gospel with conviction and compassion.
-Ephesians 2:10
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Chapter 5:
Educational Philosophy
At UPCA, we believe that every student is like a garden--our educators serving as dedicated gardeners. The goal of Christian Education is to nurture the minds and hearts of our students. Like gardening, every aspect of educating a child must be done with nurture and intentionality. By embracing a holistic, transformative, and Christ-centered approach to education, Christian educators partner with God in cultivating students who will thrive and bear good fruit in their lives. Together, we can create a flourishing community of learners and change makers.
Chapter 7:
4 Distinctives
"Special Ingredients"
While there are many things that make UPCA unique, there are 4 distinctives or "special ingredients" that set UPCA apart. These ingredients are titled as follows: Imprint, SEL, Dominion, and Lenses.
IMPRINT: At UPCA, we recognize the impact of each student's unique story. Our curriculum inspires students to find their paths/spheres of influence while discovering their gifts. With a diverse schedule that provides students with exposure to paths such as business, arts and entertainment, STEM, etc. we prepare students for meaningful futures. Our partnerships with organizations enhance these experiences, helping students to discover their passions and their imprint on the world.
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SEL: Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is a core ingredient in UPCA's approach to education. Students will develop skills in the areas of responsible decision making, self awareness, social awareness, relationship skills, and self management.
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DOMINION: Our curriculum includes a dedicated AI course for all students, with an emphasis on understanding the technology and its effective applications. The course also teaches responsible technology stewardship, ensuring that students learn to use AI ethically and thoughtfully. We teach students to have dominion over tech, rather than allowing tech to have dominion over them.
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LENSES: At UPCA, we hold the belief that every academic discipline serves as a pathway to understanding God's creation. We emphasize that the foundation of all learning begins with God and that scripture is our lens through which we see the world. Our students not only participate in dedicated Bible classes but also cultivate a Biblical worldview across all subjects through a method known as Biblical Integration. This approach ensures that faith and knowledge go hand in hand in a way that enriches the educational experience.
Chapter 8: Origin Story
Dr. Marcus Curry
Co-Founder
Mrs. Nafisah Curry
Co-founder
Dr. Curry and Mrs. Curry bring over twenty years of combined experience in ministry and education. Dr. Curry's diverse background includes roles as a high school English teacher, online instructor, Instructional Supervisor for a virtual academy, Adjunct professor, Director of Curriculum, Lower School Principal, and Head of School at a K-12 private Christian institution. Mrs. Curry's complementary experiences include roles as a high school English teacher, Assistant Principal in the public school system, and a high school principal at a private Christian school. Together, the Curry's are dedicated to fostering a supportive and enriching learning environment for students and teachers. The journey towards starting a Christian school began with the OPD Movement, a non-profit founded by the Curry family. The organization was formed to empower students from the inner city with the principles of organization, planning, and discipline. Through their self-published novel "You Down with OPD?" and a supportive curriculum, the Currys inspire students from diverse backgrounds to unlock their potential.
Chapter 9:
Partnerships
We are excited to announce that UPCA is partnering with Maple Springs Baptist Church in Capitol Heights, MD. This collaboration allows us to utilize the church's facility as we plant our school ministry, with Maple Springs serving as our fiscal sponsor during this crucial phase of establishing our non-profit status. Together, we will create valuable opportunities for students, forge strategic connections with other partners, enhance the services we provide to our community.
The Stanley M. Herzog Charitable Foundation’s mission is to catalyze and accelerate the development of quality Christ-centered K-12 education so that families and culture flourish. UPCA is partnering with Herzog by utilizing the "School box" program for training and support for Christian school founders.
Gloo is leading the global movement – from technology to industry collaborations – to create values-aligned AI so it always contributes to the holistic wellbeing of every individual.
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UPCA will be partnering with Gloo to provide students and families
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Lab Rascals is a program that provides hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math). It uses a themed curriculum and provides STEM lessons with video instruction, experiments, and guest hosts who are real STEM professionals. The program aims to make STEM accessible, inclusive, and exciting for young learners. UPCA is excited to be partnering with Lab Rascals to bring enriching STEM experiences for students.
Chapter 10:
Statement of Faith
GOD
There is one God. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit subsist in unity, and also as three separate distinct Persons.
JESUS
Jesus Christ is God’s Son. He was born of a virgin as both God and man, lived a sinless life, died to atone for the sins of human beings, was buried, arose from the grave, ascended into heaven and will literally return to earth.
THE HOLY SPIRIT
The Holy Spirit is the divine helper, assistant, counselor and instructor, and His work is to reveal Christ, convict of sin, lead to repentance, guide believers, comfort, strengthen, and sanctify the soul.
THE BIBLE
The Bible is God’s Holy Word, without error, and is the sole authority for life. Human beings are the special creations of God, made in His image.
SALVATION
Humanity fell through the sin of the first man, Adam, and all human beings are sinners in need of salvation. They were redeemed by the sacrifice of one man, Jesus. Salvation is a gift through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ. Each believer has direct access to God through the Lord Jesus Christ.