Ujamaa Place

What Ujamaa Place does

Ujamaa Place is a Saint Paul, Minnesota-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit that delivers holistic transformation services to African-American men ages 18–30 experiencing inequity at the intersection of race/ethnicity and poverty, many of whom are justice-impacted or housing-insecure. Since opening in 2010, the organization has served more than 6,000 men and delivered education or job-training activities to 12,821 participants in 2022 alone, maintaining a 4%–6% recidivism rate compared with approximately 35% statewide.

The organization's core offering is the Theory of Transformation™, a registered, evidence-based framework spanning six interconnected pillars: Housing, Education, Employment, Family/Community, Criminal Justice Advocacy, and Wellness. Participants enroll at no charge, are assigned a coach/navigator who co-creates an Individual Transformation Plan (ITP), and access more than 37 services across the pillars. Service delivery combines direct in-person programming at the 490 Concordia Avenue headquarters with scattered-site housing (capacity for 32 participants across three transition sites and two long-term sites in partnership with PPL), digital skills programming including the Digital Music Production track with Walker West Music Academy, and recurring community events such as PowerHour sessions and SummerFest.

Ujamaa Place operates as a grant- and donation-funded nonprofit with no participant fees. Revenue streams include foundation grants (NBA Foundation, August 2024), state workforce development grants (Minnesota DEED), and individual/corporate donations. Its go-to-market is community-led: weekly information sessions, parole and probation referrals, family referrals, and walk-ins, augmented by partnerships with 601 local Minnesota organizations. Pricing is free-to-participant, and there is no public technology product, app, or API; the model is human-services intensive, not software-driven.

Name

Ujamaa Place

Legal name

Ujamaa Place

Website

https://ujamaaplace.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ujamaa Place is a Saint Paul, Minnesota nonprofit providing free, holistic transformation services—housing, education, employment, family, criminal-justice, and wellness—to young African-American men ages 18–30 through its Theory of Transformation™ framework.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Social and Community Services

NAICS

Other Individual and Family Services (624190), Vocational Rehabilitation Services (6243)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Post-Secondary Transition Planning & Coordination (EDAKANAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Housing Transition & Supported Living Navigation (EDAKANAK), Transition Programs (Reentry, Workforce Readiness & Life Skills for At-Risk Youth) (EDAJAEAF)

Keywords

• Youth social services
• Workforce development
• Housing assistance
• Criminal justice reentry
• Community transformation

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Paul

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Primary revenue from foundation and government grants including NBA Foundation grant for economic opportunity programs and Minnesota DEED workforce development grants.
2. Donations: Charitable donations from individuals, organizations, and community supporters to fund program operations and participant services.
3. Government Funding: Funded in part by State of Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) through grant programs for employment and training services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ujamaa Place delivers holistic, culturally responsive transformation services for young African-American men ages 18-30 experiencing inequity at the intersection of race/ethnicity and poverty. Its Theory of Transformation framework integrates housing, education, employment, family/community, criminal justice, and wellness pillars, supported by over 37 services provided at no charge to participants. Programmatic offerings include the Digital Music Production program with Walker West Music Academy, weekly PowerHour speaker sessions, and personalized Individual Transformation Plans facilitated by assigned coaches.

Product overview

Ujamaa Place operates as a single unified service offering—a holistic social services organization rather than a technology product company. Its core offering is the Theory of Transformation™ framework, which integrates six interconnected service pillars: Housing, Education, Employment, Family/Community, Criminal Justice Advocacy, and Wellness. These services work in coordination through assigned participant coaches and over 37 available services at no charge. Additional programming includes the Digital Music Production (DMP) Program (delivered in partnership with Walker West Music Academy), PowerHour weekly speaker sessions, and access to the Ujamaa Man Resource Center. All programs are delivered through the organization's evidence-based logic model designed specifically for young African-American men ages 18-30 experiencing inequity.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Theory of Transformation: Evidence-based logic model framework for holistic programming covering housing, employment, education, wellness, and criminal justice advocacy

Products and services

• Theory of Transformation Evidence-based programmatic framework that serves as the foundation of all Ujamaa Place services, addressing housing, education, employment, family/community, criminal justice, and wellness through culturally responsive support for young African-American men ages 18-30.
• Housing Services Transition and long-term housing support for participants, including management of scattered-housing properties with capacity for 32 participants across three transition housing sites and two long-term housing sites operated in partnership with PPL.
• Education Program Educational attainment support including GED preparation, GED testing, and assistance with returning to school to complete educational credentials for enrolled participants.
• Employment Services Career acquisition and retention support including job training, employment coaching, and workforce development assistance to help participants achieve economic stability.
• Family/Community Services Family connection and community integration support to help participants build and maintain healthy relationships with family members and their broader community.
• Criminal Justice Advocacy Services focused on eliminating contact with the criminal justice system and supporting successful reentry for justice-impacted individuals.
• Wellness Services Addressing emotional and social traumas through wellness programming designed to support participants' mental and emotional health as part of holistic transformation.
• Digital Music Production (DMP) Program A collaboration with Walker West Music Academy offering digital music production training, culture education, and mentorship (including mentorship from Grammy-nominated artist Allan Kingdom) to help young men discover their voice and turn passion into purpose.
• PowerHour Sessions Weekly virtual and in-person sessions featuring guest speakers who share expertise and mentorship with Ujamaa participants, covering topics from career development to community resources.
• Ujamaa Man Resource Center Centralized resource hub providing frequently asked questions, employment opportunities, training sessions, and support resources for enrolled participants.
• Individual Transformation Plan (ITP) Personalized goal-setting framework created by each participant with their navigator at enrollment, outlining specific milestones for housing, employment, education, and personal development.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4% recidivism rate compared to 35% in Minnesota
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Walker West Music AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to provide Digital Music Production (DMP) program, teaching young men at Ujamaa Place skills in digital music creation, culture, and real-world mentorship. Walker West has been enriching lives through music since 1988 and brings expertise in youth programming.
• PPL (Project for Pride in Living)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHousing partnership providing long-term housing sites where men transition after completing transition housing. PPL helps participants achieve the goal of transitioning to stable long-term housing within one year of meeting ITP goals.
• Ramsey County Workforce SolutionsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCounty workforce development agency that connects justice-impacted individuals with employment resources and assistance. Ujamaa Place works with the agency to serve men in Ramsey County.
• Walker West Music AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership providing Digital Music Production programming where Grammy-nominated artist Allan Kingdom mentors students like JETOMA in digital music production and culture.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Roca: Massachusetts-based nonprofit delivering high-intensity, long-term intervention for young men involved in the justice system, including violence prevention and workforce development. Strongly comparable target population and outcomes-driven operating model.
• The Fortune Society: New York-based nonprofit providing holistic reentry services — housing, education, employment, and advocacy — for people impacted by incarceration. Closely aligned with Ujamaa's six-pillar integrated-service approach.
• Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO): National workforce reentry nonprofit serving people recently released from incarceration, with a comparable employment-first model and outcome measurement focus. Directly competes for similar government reentry and workforce grants.
• A New Way of Life: Los Angeles-based nonprofit providing housing and reentry support for formerly incarcerated women and men. Comparable model combining housing, case management, and wraparound services for justice-impacted individuals.
• Project for Pride in Living (PPL): Minneapolis-based affordable housing and workforce development nonprofit. Active strategic partner of Ujamaa Place for long-term housing pathways, serving overlapping low-income populations in the Twin Cities.
• Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC): Los Angeles-based nonprofit supporting formerly incarcerated individuals through reentry services, leadership development, and policy advocacy. Comparable mission and emphasis on community/peer support networks.

Broad incumbents

• Goodwill Industries International: National nonprofit providing workforce development, job training, and social services across many populations. Operates broadly in the same social-services space and overlaps with Ujamaa's employment pillar, but does not specialize in justice-impacted young men.

Others

• Walker West Music Academy: Saint Paul-based music education nonprofit partnering with Ujamaa Place to deliver the Digital Music Production program. Strategic partner and ecosystem participant rather than direct competitor.
• Ramsey County Workforce Solutions: Government workforce development agency that refers justice-impacted individuals to Ujamaa Place. Acts as a public-sector referral and funding partner rather than a direct service competitor.

Regional players

• Council on Crime and Justice: Twin Cities-based nonprofit addressing criminal justice reform, reentry, and community-based alternatives. Operates in the same Minnesota geography and serves overlapping justice-impacted populations.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UjamaaPlace
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCyiw_xir2pwTmVCu0l2YU2g
• Facebookfacebook.com/UjamaaPlace

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ujamaa Place