Urban Community School
Meredith Pacenta serves as the Individual & Planned Giving Coordinator at Urban Community School since June 2021, contributing to the development strategy aimed at enhancing the mission of the organization to provide quality education for Cleveland's near west side children. Prior experience includes the Grants & Development Coordinator role at the University of Notre Dame's Mendoza College of Business and Program and Development Coordinator at Facing History and Ourselves. Meredith also completed a Service-Year Volunteer program at Covenant House New York and conducted research for a Malawian nonprofit while attending the University of Dayton. Educational credentials include a Master of Nonprofit Administration from the University of Notre Dame and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government with a focus on Human Rights Studies from the University of Dayton.
Urban Community School
Urban Community School (UCS) strives to break social and economic barriers to success for Cleveland's near west side children by providing an individualized, innovative, and challenging education. Rooted in the Ursuline Sisters’ tradition of faith, character, and educational excellence, UCS engages our faculty, families, and community partners in the successful whole child development of our students. UCS currently serves nearly 700 students from six weeks to 14 years old (8th grade). Our campus has grown with the addition of various partners. We are able to provide our students and families with wraparound services, serving the whole child. The UCS student body is representative of the eight neighborhoods we serve. Our students are 28% Hispanic, 27% White, 25% Multiracial, 19% Black or African American, and 1% Asian. The majority of children attending UCS are economically disadvantaged and approximately 75% qualify for the National School Lunch Program.