AZUSA, Calif. –City Links is back! Azusa Pacific University is once again teaming up with new students, Azusa Mayor Joseph Rocha, and a number of community partners to reintroduce the community project, City Links.
This year, the program’s return coincides with the university’s largest freshman class in APU history. More than 1,200 new students will participate in 50 projects throughout Azusa, including cleaning schools, painting houses, cleaning the riverbed, organizing books at the library, and many more service opportunities on Sept. 13, 20, 27, and Oct. 4.
“Azusa Pacific has always been committed to partnering in service within the city of Azusa,” said Matthew Visser, director of ministry and service at the university. “When Azusa Mayor Joseph Rocha approached APU with the desire to renew the tradition of City Links, I was excited for the opportunity to once again allow students to serve and make a difference alongside Azusa families and community leaders.”
From 2004-07, City Links existed as an annual service day where incoming APU students would spend a day serving at local schools, churches, and parks alongside community members. Now, after three years of focusing those efforts on year-round projects, City Links returns with minor adjustments to provide higher quality service. The projects will be divided over four consecutive Saturdays, allowing students to be more involved with the projects, while getting to know the city and their neighbors.
“City Links brings together the city of Azusa, the Azusa Unified School District, and incoming APU students,” said Mayor 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.”
