Who We Are

The Community of St. James is a nonprofit organization guided by a clearly defined mission.

We are building a new model for a community organization – one we hope will inspire other organizations in other neighborhoods to advance disruptive change around educational, wealth, health, and other disparities.

Our model stands on four mission pillars: a School that empowers students, Graduate Support to nurture graduates’ long-term flourishing, a Church that welcomes all, and The Welcome Table, a resource hub where neighbors access and share what they need to thrive.

We are faith-based in the Episcopal tradition, inclusive and welcoming to people of all faiths, wherever they are on their spiritual journey.

We are an educational community, walking alongside people through each season of life.

We are deeply rooted in transformative loving relationships manifested in how we work every day.

How We Work

As we cultivate opportunity and equity, we are working as a community bound together by loving relationships, shared values, and the sharing of each person’s God-given gifts.

Our work is with, not for, the people who call our neighborhood home. Some are students and graduates of our school and their families, some worship in our church, and all are our neighbors.

In that same spirit, we work beside our colleagues, volunteers, donors, and supporters, and with many external partners – from churches to food distributors to urban youth sports programs, local businesses, and grassroots groups.

We know this work will never be finished, but every day of listening, learning, discerning, and growing together will bring us closer to realizing our vision.

Why This Work Matters

If you believe, as we do, in respecting the dignity of every human being, we invite you to join us in addressing the profound inequalities we see in quality of life and access to opportunities. We recognize that too many people encounter barriers to stability, opportunity, and human flourishing. All such barriers diminish what is possible for individuals, families, and neighborhoods.

If you feel moved to help build a more just and hopeful future, your thoughts and feelings align with those of our founders, two people of faith who were called by God to do something bold. In 2008, with support from the Vestry and people of Saint Mark’s Church (Locust Street), The Rev. Sean Mullen and parishioner Dr. Audrey Evans began working to reclaim an abandoned church property and start up a neighborhood school.

What we do at the Community of St. James has expanded exponentially since 2008. View our history.

Why we do it hasn’t changed at all. We are allied with you and fellow advocates for social justice who believe each of us must do what we can to dismantle persistent inequities in Philadelphia, the city with America’s second-highest poverty rate.

On this website, you will learn about all current and planned initiatives at the Community of St. James. We invite you to visit us and get involved.