Student Leaders: Urban Involvement Projects

Refugee Project


Experience the Life of a Refugee

In partnership with World Relief, Urban Involvement presents the Refugee Project, an immersion into theUrban Involvement Refugee Project experiences and challenges faced by refugees as they enter America.

The event includes discussion of the Christian response to the refugee crisis, a hands-on simulation of the refugee's journey through the process of entering the United States, and dinner with a recently arrived refugee family. When you participate, you’ll:

  • Discuss the Christian response to the refugee crisis.
  • Discover the journey of a refugee entering the United States.
  • Have dinner with a recently-arrived refugee family.

Sign Up!


Join us for this Spring's Refugee Project on May 5! Applications are now available online.

For more information about the Refugee Project or to volunteer with World Relief, contact Ruby O'Connor (oconr1@spu.edu).

Support a Refugee Family


World Relief welcomes refugees escaping persecution from all over the world, including Somalia, Sudan, Iran, Burma and Burundi. Volunteers and Interns from SPU can join World Relief’s vision “to be the hands, feet and face of Christ to refugees” by befriending refugee families, helping them learn English, and accompanying them on their journey between cultures.


Refugee Project Media

Student Annie Valenziano participated in the 2010 Refugee Project. Read her post-Project reflections in her blog.

The Refugee Project was recently featured in SPU's ETC magazine..

SPU's Refugee Project Video See a video (via iTunes) of the Refugee Project.

Read more about The Refugee Project at the SPU parents’ and families’ site, In the Loop.

 

Urban Plunge

Urban Plunge

Urban Plunge is a five-day immersion experience designed to give participants a taste of what it is like to be homeless and what resources are available to Seattle's homeless population.

  • Nights are spent sleeping in a downtown church.
  • Days are filled with explorations as participants walk the streets.
  • Learn from representatives of local social service agencies.
  • Experience some of the challenges the homeless face.
  • Urban Plunge takes place during Christmas and Spring breaks.

Sign Up!


For more information about Urban Plunge,, contact Scott Jackson (jacksons1@spu.edu).

Follow the Urban Plunge Blog.

Learn more about Urban Plunge at the Frequently Asked Questions page.

Plunge Media

Video Reflections from Spring, 2011
Urban Plunge Spring 2011
Experiencing Generosity

A Humbling Experience

Strangers in Our Own Community

View photos from Spring, 2011 Plunge

Video Reflections from Winter, 2011

Students share a story from a person they met on the street.

Plunge participants recount their interaction with a store clerk.

Students describe the toll the Plunge experience has on their physical condition and their sense of initiative.

Elissa Cook explains Urban Plunge in the Winter, 2011 Perkins Perspective.

Urban Plunge Video View pictures of Winter, 2010 Urban Plunge.

Spring, 2009 Urban Plungers shared their reflections in this video. SPU students on Urban Plunge

Spring 2009 Urban Plunge made the news in this Seattle Times article.


See a video (via iTunes) of Winter, 2008 Urban Plunge.

Find out what SPU students said about the December 2008 Urban Plunge.

“I went in thinking that this was an opportunity for me to be Christ to these people. What I discovered was that they had become Christ to me." — Mike, sophomore