MISSION
Urban Reformers exists to nurture a new generation of spiritually formed leaders who are committed to healing, rebuilding, and transforming urban communities. We equip young leaders, faith communities, and neighborhood organizers to confront systemic injustice, uplift the marginalized, and cultivate beloved communities where every person can thrive. Through advocacy, mentorship, and direct action, we stand for justice, equity, and empowerment, bringing hope and tangible change to cities all around the world.
About Me.
Jonathan Reynolds is a Spirit led, progressive faith leader committed to Christian orthodoxy and rooted in a high view of Scripture. As a Christian shaped by both the African American community and the global Church, he courageously confronts the legacies of empire, systemic injustice, and historical violence, calling all people to embody a faithful ethic of love.
Emphasizing the teachings of Jesus, Jonathan blends the legacy of historic Christian activism with prophetic imagination. He connects theological insight to lived experience, public witness, and grassroots ministry. A graduate of Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and Trinity International University, he brings biblical insight into dialogue for introspective reflection, spiritual formation, and soul care.
Jonathan is a passionate advocate for diversity and the empowerment of “the least of these,” finding deep joy in reimagining missional approaches, place, and space through the lens of God’s mercy, beauty, and justice. His ministry emphasizes radical hospitality and kingdom-centered community development that responds to real-world challenges and fosters the flourishing of all God’s creation.
Through Urban Reformers, Jonathan equips a new generation of intentional organizers and creative leaders across diverse contexts to embody a faith that actively participates in God’s transformative work in neighborhoods, institutions, and communities. His work empowers leaders to strengthen communities, champion justice, and build sustainable models of ministry that honor God and uplift humanity.
JONATHAN REYNOLDS
Founder
Born and raised in Chicagoland, Illinois, Chicago will always be home. The most free I feel is cycling around Lake Michigan, and I spend way too much time trying to convince the rest of the world that Midwestern culture, food, and mentality are a national treasure of the United States.
I grew up a true 90s kid, Saturday morning cartoons, neighborhood park sports, and being forced to survive outside until the streetlights came on. I actually watched Michael Jordan play at the United Center in real life, which remains one of my greatest credentials.
At heart, I love helping people and nerding out over theology and sociology. If you understand the cultural importance of JB Jam roller skating as an art form rooted in Black culture and community, we will probably be instant friends.
PILLARS
THE STREETS
Proximate Justice
We call for justice for our neighbors by engaging with the real-life challenges of our communities, standing alongside those most impacted by inequality and oppression.
THE GARDEN
Holistic Restoration
We embrace transformation in the whole person—mind, body, and soul—through programs, mentorship, and opportunities that foster growth, resilience, and well-being.
THE WORD
We witness God’s truth about justice, mercy, and human dignity, guiding our work with ethical clarity and moral courage, shaping communities according to God’s vision of love and equity.
Biblical Ethics
Prophetic Witness
Chicago Chapter: Shut Down the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Facility
We call for the immediate closure of the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Facility, the largest juvenile jail in the world, which disproportionately targets vulnerable youth of color. The majority of these young people are incarcerated for non-violent offenses. Research shows that incarceration during critical stages of childhood and adolescence causes lasting harm to brain development, emotional growth, and the potential for a thriving life. We stand for justice, restoration, and opportunities that nurture rather than punish our youth.
Atlanta Chapter: Economic Funding of Young Social Entrepreneurs
Activating the faith community and neighborhood organizers to collaborate in fighting against systematic economic disparities that plague local urban contexts. We lift up a vision where communities thrive and young social entrepreneurs are supported rather than denied. We call on faith communities and neighborhood organizers to act as instruments of justice, dismantling systems of economic disparity and sowing seeds of hope, innovation, and equity in urban neighborhoods.
National Initiative: End to American Government Funding Conflicts Endangering Children In War Zones
An immediate ceasefire in any war zone that is endangering the lives of innocent children using our tax paying dollars. We testify against the use of public funds in ways that endanger children in war zones. We call for an immediate cessation of government funding that puts innocent lives at risk. Let our nation embody mercy and justice, protecting those who cannot protect themselves, and committing to peace as a sacred responsibility.