Urban Classroom - In Focus - Azusa Pacific University

As the second most populous city in the United States, Los Angeles leads the nation in both manufacturing and international commerce. Its 3.8 million people represent a mix of 140 different cultures and ethnicities, speaking 120 different languages. The peoples of the world have come to Los Angeles, creating the city of tomorrow. This scenario blends both opportunity and challenge, alive with vibrant cultural expression, but faced with the problems of urban life: Los Angeles ranks among the highest in the nation in poverty, violence, homelessness, poor quality education, welfare, street children, and HIV-AIDS.

Cripe's responsibilities at El Rescate give her the chance to make a difference in the lives of community members.

This unique urban microcosm also provides a valuable laboratory for the study of the emerging dynamics of life in America's cities. In response, Azusa Pacific University created the Los Angeles Term, a program in which students immerse themselves in the life of the city while investigating the issues that impact the local residents, from immigration and group relations to criminal justice and public health.

Team Deliberations: Katie Cripe '03 reviews material at her internship at El Rescate, a probono legal firm.

"Students gain valuable work experience, are challenged with rigorous academics, and also have a chance to discover more about the church's role in the 21st century," said Doretha O'Quinn, Ph.D., former director of the Los Angeles Institute for Urban Training. She sees this program as an unparalleled opportunity for students to experience the "unbelievable diversity" of Los Angeles firsthand and grapple with the biblical values of liberty, justice, equality, and compassion.

Katie Cripe '03, a global studies major at APU, agrees, "This program has been the most life-changing experience I've had." Cripe credits her internship at El Rescate, a pro-bono legal firm for the Latino community, with opening her eyes to the struggles of the L.A. Latino population, especially in the areas of racism and immigration. As she researched human rights issues in Colombia, assisted El Salvadoran immigrants, and helped clients fill out required paperwork, she found herself drawn to the people and their stories. "Everything I did was connected to the community," she said.

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