City Links: The Expansion of Service

Azusa, Calif. —The annual City Links event returns, bringing Azusa Pacific University students and neighbors together for three days of community service activities on September 18, 25, and October 2. Due to the largest incoming class in Azusa Pacific history, new collaborations have been formed with the cities of Glendora, Duarte, and Los Angeles (where APU's L.A. Term takes place), in addition to continuing work in the city of Azusa.

Today’s college students are passionate serving and giving back to their communities. At Azusa Pacific University, service has been a strong component of the university’s 111 year history. In keeping with that tradition, this year more than 1,200 new students will participate alongside faith communities, schools, parks, and nonprofits in a number of projects such as cleaning schools, painting houses, picking up trash along the riverbed, clearing local hiking trails, and more.

According to Matt Visser, director of ministry and service at APU, this is an important part of getting students involved right at the beginning of their college experience, modeling selfless service and helping students connect with the community that will be their home for the next few years.

"We are still strongly committed to the churches and non-profit organizations in Azusa," said Matt Visser, director of ministry and service at APU. "The majority will still serve in Azusa, but this is an opportunity to extend and build relationships with other communities in the San Gabriel Valley."

From 2005-07, City Links was an annual service day where incoming APU students would spend a day serving at local schools, churches, and parks alongside community members. After three years of focusing those efforts on year-round projects, City Links returned in 2008 with the city of Azusa coordinating community projects, which are divided over several Saturdays, with APU facilitating student participation.

"City Links brings together the city and incoming APU students,” said Azusa Mayor Joe Rocha. “It provides the students with a more personal view of the city, its people, and culture. This program also provides an avenue to show Christian life in practice.”

For more information and a complete schedule, visit www.apu.edu/studentaction/serve/local/citylinks/.