Students Agree with Mayor's call to Serve the Inner City

THE TAMPA URBAN PROJECT IS AN IMMERSION PROJECT THAT GATHERS STUDENTS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT FLORIDA TO SERVE, LEARN, AND EXPERIENCE LIFE IN THE INNER CITY. OUR STAFF AND THE 42 INTERNS FROM NV, CA, MN, TN AND TAMPA, FL HAVE SECURED INTERNSHIPS IN CHARITIBLE AND GOVERNMENT AGENCIES IN SUPPORT OF MAYOR IORIOS GOAL OF MAKING THE CITY OF TAMPA MORE LIVEABLE".

Mayor Iorios administration has shined the spotlight on making Tampa a more "livable" community by improving services and making Tampa a world-class city. "We should not accept drug dealing on our streets.We should revitalize areas where economic development has lapsed. We can do better, and we will." (June 11, 2003)

This weekend, 42 college students from 5 states and all throughout Florida will be acting on Iorios vision. The students will move into 4 Tampa inner city homes. This will be their full-time life for the next 6 weeks" says Brian Sanders, Director of TUP. Our missionaries will be giving up summer jobs, trips to the beach, the internet, and even their own car to focus on:

·   Serving the community by interning at organizations like the Salvation Army, Metropolitan Ministries, Francis House, the Tampa Housing Authority, Tampa United Methodist Centers and Academy Prep;

·   Living in an inner city environment full time for 6 weeks with other students to learn about the needs of the community;

·   Growing in their relationships with each other

·   Growing in their relationship with Jesus through solid teaching;"

I am so proud of these students" said Michael Laperche, a board member of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, the sponsoring organization for TUP. The staff of IVCF has developed the Tampa Urban Project into one that other cities around the country look to as a model. Students will invest their time, talents, and forego the opportunity to earn money this summer so they can sow seeds of labor and love into the inner city of Tampa. They will work in offices, make copies, file, feed the hungry and do other tasks at no cost to the organizations they serve."

According to one student who participated last year, You learn alot about racial reconciliation and God's heart for the inner city." What the students gain cannot be measured in Dollars and Cents; but will have a huge impact in the development of their character. According to Laperche, Brian Sanders, the TUP Director has a heart for serving unmet needs in the inner city and for ensuring that young people learn empathy for the less fortunate. This full time immersion project meets the needs expressed by our Mayor, will provide memories to last a lifetime, and will serve the needs of inner city residents."

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