During ASU’s Spring Break, a number of students from the Wesley Foundation went on a mission trip to South Central Los Angeles through Sierra Service Project. We spent the week volunteering on a service project directly in the community and learning about local social justice issues. The work was hard, but extremely rewarding and the entire week was enlightening.

Our work focused on Rakestraw Community Center right in South Central where we finished up sanding, painting, and putting in fixtures for several bathrooms. Demolition was another project upstairs, a chance for the Wesley folk to punch some holes in walls with sledgehammers. The surrounding community was incredibly supportive, and friendly, with visits from local residents often to bring food for the crew. The eventual goal is for the community center to re-open for use by a charter school that would fund activities and programs at the center for kids and teens in need of a positive place to go in the neighborhood.

Venturing through LA, we participated in learning about various issues affecting the community. We took a “toxins tour” of Los Angeles, which comprised of visiting lower-income neighborhoods where manufacturing and industry surround their daily lives. There we held a discussion about environmental racism and justice. Immigration is also a key topic in LA, similar to what we see in Arizona. We participated in an open dialogue with members of the community about how, as United Methodists, we can change the lives and be a voice for our brothers and sisters. Additionally our group visited the local district building, the first completely sustainable government building and engaged with constituents about the progress being made locally on a variety of issues.

Overall, the week was an amazing way to spend Spring Break. Trips like these can be difficult, when faced with the struggles many people go through in life. However, the experience is invaluable and everyone who participates walks away with a sense of appreciation and more importantly, feeling empowered by God and the example of Jesus Christ to make a difference in their respective community and the world.

By Cara Coleman, Wesley Student/Intern and Freshman at ASU