Downtown Spotlight: Heart

Abby Gritter

This week we get a glimpse into the life of Abby Gritter: a Michigan native who who found her way back to Santa Barbara after exploring the world of microfinance and international development in Ethiopia, Uganda, and Honduras. After spending a…

To Listen Slant

I participated in a conversation yesterday about safety and policing in our communities. But this wasn’t just any conversation: it…

Downtown Spotlight: Courage

Katherine Kwong

“What does it mean to be a Social Entrepreneur?”

At Westmont Downtown, students come in with varied perceptions of learning, work, and missional living. The program’s design equips them to embrace these…

A Privileged Refugee

When I opened the door, one of my host friends opened his arms and said “Welcome…

He Made Them Garments

A Reflection by Holli Morrow

Breathe, You’re Upside Down

When you’re underwater, particularly scuba-diving, you can become disoriented and forget which direction is…

Seasons

I was born and raised in the Central Valley of California. Seasons in the Central Valley were felt more from the passing of sport seasons than the weather. While fall meant some of the trees would change colors, I often wore shorts and sandals well into October, and was lucky to see any rainfall before January…

To Seek the Welfare of the City . . .

This past Saturday, our whole downtown cohort was taken on a 24hour immersion adventure in the city of Santa Barbara. Maybe you’re thinking of an infamous, amphibious duck boat tour where you survey the streets below from a respectable distance above while a…

Of Mason Jars and Fly Swatters

Today my students made non-electric lighting sources for the developing world and home baking kits and suncatchers and DIY creativity kits out of mason jars and fly swatters. Along the way they reminded me that the tools of problem solving are more likely to be hammers and…