Student Led Ministries Urban Initiative
Urban Initiative is seeking to equip and engage Westmont students to develop a Christ-centered heart in relation to human suffering, service, and ministry by participating in the restorative work God is already doing in our local community and urban areas while leaning into humility, empathy, and stewardship and raising awareness and mobilizing our community in thoughtful response.
Get involved with our local ministries and/or Fall + Spring Break Experiences!
Fall and Spring Break Ministry Experiences
FALL BREAK AWAY IN SAN FRANCISCO
Saturday October 12 - Tuesday October 15
Learning from Christ-centered ministries in the city, to lament and celebrate with the body of Christ.
See Urban Initiative email for application link.
SPRING BREAK IN THE CITY
Spring Break experiences are designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn about urban engagement and ministry in the contexts of other major cities, in order to equip students to contextualize what they learn to engage in the cities they live in.
Selma: Spring Break in the City
Trip Description: Interact with local residents while bringing hope through arts, athletics, and education to inner-city youth! Join the Seeds of Hope team in Selma for an inspiring journey of community development and spiritual growth. Seeds of Hope is an inner-city community center focused on bringing hope through arts, athletics, education, and exposure to opportunities. As part of this initiative, you'll engage in a mentor-guided experience that emphasizes spiritual formation, cultural and historical learning, relationship building, and skill development. By participating, you'll dive deep into the history of Selma, explore the Legacy Museum in Montgomery, and interact with local residents while working with Seeds of Hope and inner-city youth. This immersive experience will enhance your understanding of community challenges and foster an environment for learning and growth. Through prayer, Scripture, fellowship, and spiritual disciplines, you'll develop both personally and spiritually.
Support Urban InitiativeThis organization is funded solely through the generosity of people like you. If you would like to support Urban Initiative, please click on the button below and select "Urban Initiative " when prompted. |
Urban Initiative Self-Care Study KitsSupport Urban Initiative by ordering a Self-Care Study Kit for your student to encourage them through their week of finals. You can do so through our secure online order form. All proceeds will go to supporting our Urban Initiative program and teams. NOTE: Orders need to be placed by December 9th in order to be delivered in time for finals week. |
Local Outreach
Urban Initiative partners with Kingdom Causes Inc. to come alongside people experiencing homelessness, people living in transitional shelters, and people living in subsidized housing each week. The following opportunities are student-led and open to a limited number of students every semester. Sign up early as spots tend to fill up!
JOIN US
- Bread of Life - chapel & connection time at the Santa Barbara Rescue Mission, every Thursday from 6:30-8pm - up to 15 students. To sign up contact: rhuang@westmont.edu
- Grace on the Ground - coffee and sock outreach on State St., every Wednesday from 6:45-8am - up to 15 students. To sign up contact: stefwilliams@
westmont.edu - Supper Club, Bradley Apartments – 2nd and 4th Tuesdayseach month from 5.30 - 7.30pm - up to 5 students. To sign up contact: eosuna@westmont.edu
Transportation is provided from the KSC parking lot above the Dining Commons. Reach out to the student leader listed and you'll receive details about the next event.
Immigrant Hope provides resources for legal residents such as a Civic Course for English and Spanish-speaking adults that are applying for naturalization. Immigrant Hope prepares students for the civics test, which requires individuals to carry a conversation in English and have basic knowledge of the U.S government and its history. In order to see individuals succeed, tutoring is provided for individuals and it is our hope to see them pass their civics exam.
JOIN US
We meet Monday–Thursday from 6-8pm. For more information and transportation contact: Eliana Peterson (elpeterson@westmont.edu), UI local teams leader
Fighting Exploitation Capax Dei Group is a weekly group hosted in partnership with Kingdom Causes that seeks to educate the Westmont student body on the issue and presence of human trafficking and sexual exploitation in the city of Santa Barbara, the intersection of these issues with homelessness and housing insecurity, and equip students to take action in our community. The group meets Tuesdays from 5:15-6:15 pm.
JOIN US
For more information contact: Eliana Peterson (elpeterson@westmont.edu), UI local teams leader, or Kayla Vorster at Kayla.vorster@
As one of the ministries of Mission Isla Vista, Jesus Burgers is a movement in cities and college campuses across America, originating in 2001 at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB).
Every Friday night, during the UCSB school year, about 200 hamburgers are served from the Jesus Burgers home. The home is located in Isla Vista on one of the most famous party streets, Del Playa. Jesus Burgers is now known throughout the city of Isla Vista as a place of love, peace, and of course Jesus!
JOIN US
For more information contact: Emily Bush (ebush@westmont.edu).
Contact
OFFICE HOURS
We look forward to meeting with you! Please email us if you would like to stop by during office hours.
The Urban Initiative office is located on the 2nd floor of the Kerr Student Center (KSC), above the Dining Commons (DC).
CONTACT US
Urban Initiative Core Leadership Team
Phone: 805-565-6800 (office)
Email: urban_initiative@westmont.edu
Staff Director:
Kelley Funk
Assistant Director of Campus Life for Ministry & Outreach
Email: kfunk@westmont.edu