Urban Initiative
This ministry is funded solely through the generosity of people like you. If you would like to support Urban Initiative, please go to the giving site and click on "Urban Initiative" when prompted.
Registration for Spring Break in the City
(March 10 - 17) is now open!
Click here to register for SBIC Los Angeles
Click here to register for SBIC San Francisco
Click here to register for SBIC Santa Barbara
About Urban Initiative
The Urban Initiative aims to introduce students to the often harsh realities of inner-city life while seeking to demonstrate Christlike compassion to the impoverished both in body and spirit there. The Urban Initiative also hosts both campus events and urban experiential opportunities throughout the school year to promote discussion and understanding of issues that plague the inner-city, such as racism and poverty.
The Urban Initiative (UI) is dedicated to living out the incarnational Gospel by facilitating relationships between Westmont students and the people of inner cities - while striving to raise awareness about and engagement with global urban issues.
Spring Break Immersion Trips
Los Angeles & San Francisco - For over a decade, Spring Break in the City (SBIC) teams have dispatched students to the colorful and eclectic inner-cities of both Los Angeles and San Francisco -- partnering with local organizations on the street that minister directly to the underserved populations there. Through this week-long intensive and transformative experience, SBIC participants actively seek to both understand urban issues and, in turn, assist in purposefully addressing the many challenges of life in the city - to the glory of God.
Santa Barbara - In the past three years, Spring Break in the City Santa Barbara has equipped and sent students into our own community. Partnering with churches and local missions organizations such as The Turner Foundation and the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, SBIC Santa Barbara has sent over 150 students into the city to discover what loving our neighbors can look like. Their experience serves as a “spring board” for students into lifelong ministry, as they are disciplined daily through morning devotionals given by experienced ministers in the city and mentored by small group leaders. In a week's span, students have been transformed and renewed in their understanding of the West Side, East Side, and friends without homes. As they experience the joys and challenges of loving those who are different from them, students grow in their understanding of Christ and His Bride's presence in our local neighborhoods.
Weekend Skid Row Project
In addition to the highly anticipated spring break immersion trips, the Urban Initiative provides weekend service opportunities -- in partnership with the Jonah Project (www.jonahproject.com).
Skid Row - The Jonah Project is a non-profit, non-denominational Christian organization dedicated to helping the homeless community on the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles. We are excited to partner with this wonderful ministry in reaching out to the poor and brokenhearted - an important part of Jesus’ ministry and, therefore, a prime objective of ours as we head to the streets.
A word from this year's core team ...
Our vision is to unify urban ministries on campus as well as increase awareness of urban issues by providing on and off campus events. Through this we hope to deepen and expand our partnerships in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and San Francisco.
Leadership
| 2011-12 Core Team | ||
| UI Co-Director | Maleshah Bender | mabender@westmont.edu |
| UI Co-Director | Mallory Farrar | mfarrar@westmont.edu |
| UI Travel Coordinator | Nikki Ramage | nramage@westmont.edu |
| UI Coordinator of Local Urban Initiatives | Coming in 2012-13 | |
| UI Business Manager | Jeff Midgley | jmidgley@westmont.edu |
| UI Publicity & Programming Coordinator | Paige Harris | pharris@westmont.edu |
Support Urban Initiative
1. This ministry is funded solely through the generosity of people like you. If you would like to support Urban Initiative, please go to the giving site and click on "Urban Initiative " when prompted.
2. Pre-order flowers and/or chocolates for Valentine's Day through " Operation Valentine". Place a secure online order form by clicking the following link. All proceeds will go to support the ministry of the Urban Initiative.
Thank you so much for supporting our students in this way!
Office Hours *
Monday 5:00 - 7:00 PM
Tuesday 8:00 - 9:00 PM
Wednesday 12:00 - 1:00 PM
Thursday 8:00 - 9:00 PM
* The Urban Initiative office is located on the 2nd floor of the Kerr Student Center (KSC)
Contact Us
Core Team :
Phone: 805-565-6800 (office)
Email: urban_initiative@westmont.edu
Blog: http://blogs.westmont.edu/sbic/
Advisor:
Jeremy Fletcher
Coordinator of Student Ministries and Missions
Email: jfletcher@westmont.edu