The Ur3an Apostl3s
Our Solution: Peer-Driven Recovery Support and Trauma-Informed Care. We offer a holistic 8-week recovery growth plan that integrates trauma therapy, substance use recovery, emotional regulation, and academic support. Each participant, starts as a Junior apostle after completing 80 hours of intensive learning and healing, guided by our Trauma TEAM—they step-up to Community Youth Apostles. Trauma TEAM Composition: 1.Urban Apostle – Peer Mentor 2.Apostle – Street Mentor 3.Therapist – Licensed Mental Health Professional 4.RSPS – Recovery Support Peer Specialist 5.DOJ Advocate & – Re-entry Peer Specialist 6.Academic Advisor – Education Consultant
The Urban Apostles is a peer-led, trauma-informed organization dedicated to supporting justice-impacted youth in Bexar County, Texas. Our mission is to reduce youth recidivism and empower young people—ages 12 to 24—to reclaim their lives through Sobriety, Mentorship, and meaningful Community Service Work. For over five decades the common discourse has consistently identified negative peer influence as the primary driver of youth delinquency. Despite advances in neuroscience, the increased awareness of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and the destructive effect of generational poverty, youth delinquency continues to be treated primarily as a criminal justice issue rather than a social and clinical one. We believe it is time to shift the paradigm. The Urban Apostles is the first youth serving organization in Bexar County to explicitly connect ACEs, juvenile delinquency, youth substance use disorder, and mental health challenges under the frameworks of POLYTRAUMA. Our approach reframes youth incarceration as a symptom of complex trauma, not a solution—and we offer a structured, peer-driven path to healing and transformation.
We is all we got.. A deep and profound understanding of the general profile of the gang related youth and in-depth identification with those who experience Early Childhood Incarceration, allows Urban Apostles to connect on common ground with the Justice Impacted Youth, that we serve. The commonality of these ACES has afforded us the unique opportunity to be the first youth serving organization in Bexar County, to recognize the profound connection between ACES, Juvenile Delinquency, Substance Use Disorder (youth), Compulsive Violent Behaviors (gang) and Mental Health challenges under the frameworks of polytrauma. Our Compassion-Focused service model helps clients move through recovery and re-entry with dignity and robust support. By accentuating autonomy, legal rights, recovery, holistic reintegration the IGP works to empower youth and helps them to repair and strengthen family bonds—laying the groundwork for sustained success and long-lasting sobriety beyond the justice system.