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!
2024-2025 Core Leadership Team
Team Lead and Travel Assistant
Milan Mastin
Programs, Business, and Travel Leader
Morgan Petersen
Publicity and Fundraising Leader
Lexie Welch
Education Leader and Local Teams Assistant
Cassie Clements
Local Teams Liaison and Education Assistant
Anika Erlenborn
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.
Trip Descriptions
Chicago: Spring Break in the City
Encounter the rhythms and realities of the third most populous city in the United States. By partnering with an organization called BridgeBuilders, participants will have the opportunity to listen to and learn from the members of the Woodlawn community of Chicago. You'll have the opportunity to learn about the Bible’s teachings on shalom, poverty, justice, race and culture, and hospitality, as well as being able to engage with the community through responsible and sustainable service projects alongside BridgeBuilders' community partners.
Themes: Marginalized Communities, Racial Equality & Justice, Biblical Shalom, Community Development, Hospitality
Los Angeles: Spring Break in the City
Immerse yourself in the diversity of the city of Los Angeles. Learn about homelessness on Skid Row, opportunities for formerly gang-involved men and women at Homeboy Industries, the work of Christ through various ministries throughout the city, and the unique complexities that come with living out the Gospel in a multicultural urban setting.
Themes: Skid Row, Homelessness, Former gang member rehabilitation, Cultural neighborhoods, Biblical Shalom
San Francisco: Spring Break in the City
Engage and learn from the unhoused, youth, and LBTQ+ community of the Tendorloin neighborhood. You will have the opportunity to partner with YWAM San Francisco and City Hope through relationship-building, hearing stories, serving hot-meals meanwhile witnessing the Imago Dei in those you encounter.
Themes: Homelessness, LBTQ+ community, Cultural neighborhoods, Biblical Shalom, Cultural neighborhoods.
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
Bread of Life is a weekly meal-sharing program where Westmont students - in collaboration with Kingdom Causes and local faith communities - spearhead a unique opportunity to meaningfully engage with our friends without homes in Santa Barbara.
JOIN US
- La Posada apartment complex – alternate Thursdays from 5-7pm -
up to 5 students - Carrillo apartment complex – first and third Tuesdays each month
from 5.30 - 7.30pm - up to 5 students - Bradley Court apartment complex – second and fourth Tuesdays
each month from 5.30 - 7.30pm - up to 5 students - Santa Barbara Rescue Mission – alternate Wednesday mornings
from 8 – 9.30am - up to 5 students
Transportation provided from the KSC parking lot above the Dining Commons. So, join us this week! For more information contact: Anika Erlenborn (aerlenborn@westmont.edu), UI local teams coordinator.
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 and child care 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: Anika Erlenborn (aerlenborn@westmont.edu), UI local teams leader.
Training CAMP (T-Camp) is dedicated to providing a bright future for our city's lower resourced youth. Our vision is to see every student in the Santa Barbara community graduate high school, fully equipped to excel in every area of life. We provide both after-school programs at local elementary schools and by hosting quarterly sports camps to the broader Santa Barbara community.
JOIN US
For more information contact: Lucy Behinger (lbehringer@westmont.
Fighting Exploitation Capax Dei Group is a weekly group partnered with Kingdom Causes that seeks to educate the Westmont student body on the issue and presence of human trafficking in the city of Santa Barbara and equip students to advocate those caught in trafficking as well as survivors.
JOIN US
For more information contact: Anika Erlenborn (aerlenborn@westmont.edu), UI local teams leader
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