Frequently Asked Questions

  • Mark your calendar for June 14th - 28th, 2025. More detailed information will be provided once a student has applied and been accepted.

  • The $2,000 cost of the UP-LA includes most of a participant’s costs for the 15 days they are in LA.

    -Housing

    -Most Meals (participants will be responsible for four to six meals during the UP-LA)

    -Transportation for Urban Project ministry sites, activities, social outings, etc. during UP-LA

    -Programing and materials

    -Recreation Center access

    -Urban Project - Los Angeles scheduled group activities and outings

  • Transportation to and from the Urban Project - Los Angeles is NOT included in the cost. Participants will need to pay for their own transportation to and from Los Angeles, be it by plane, train, bus, or automobile. For participants arriving by plane, please fly into LAX, so UP-LA staff can pick you up. For those who live close enough to drive, you are welcome to drive your own vehicle.

  • Your university may grant internship/independent study credit for this inner-city summer community experience. This is especially true of those majoring in sociology, psychology, elementary or secondary education, early childhood development, or social work. Students must petition their school's department and satisfy any application fees.

    Schools typically require students to keep a daily journal of their experience and submit a paper highlighting specific aspects of their summer effort. UP-LA Leadership staff will act as your onsite internship advisors, and will verify your learning experience to your college.

    Note: Such internship credit cannot be granted retroactively. It is your responsibility to apply through your school for such credit prior to the Project. UP-LA staff will then work in conjunction with your school to assure that the expected requirements are met.

  • Yes, you will have access to USC’s varsity track and field, as well as USC’s student recreation center for swimming, weights, and cardio equipment. You will be able to work out nearly every day, but due to our busy schedule, workouts need to be completed early in the morning before we begin our daily schedule. The UP-LA staff desire, in the best interest of the whole group, to accommodate those with specific summer training requirements. If you have further questions, please email us here.

  • You can expect to be encouraged and challenged both spiritually and physically, work hard, play hard, and to return home with experiences and a vision to begin making an impact both physically and spiritually on your team, campus, and in your community.

  • The UP-LA has had student-athletes who are still in their competition season (i.e. track and field, etc.), participate in the past. We try to accommodate unique situations the best we can. Athletes in this situation will be able to train and leave for competition but will be expected to arrange for transportation to and from their training and competitions. Also, the expectation would be that they fully participate in the UP-LA when they are present. Please contact the UP-LA Leadership Team here to discuss your situation.

  • YES! We need athletic trainers to care for student-athletes taking part in the Urban Project, as well as to wholly participate in the mission and vision of the UP-LA. You are crucial to the vision! Please contact the UP-LA Leadership Team here to discuss your interests and the possibility of your participation.

  • Definitely! The UP-LA has had many non-student-athletes participate and make valuable contributions to the work in LA. Please contact the UP-LA Leadership Team here to discuss your interests and the possibility of your participation.

  • The Urban Project - Los Angeles is a non-profit ministry, so participants in the Urban Project are able to raise the funds needed to cover their costs. Once a prospective participant has applied and been accepted, we will have one of our staff members personally help you get started and guide you through the process of raising the funds needed to cover the cost of the UP-LA.

  • Please send any other questions to the UP-LA Leadership Team through our contact page.

“If we can’t place our loyalty to the demands of God over and above our loyalty to the nation, how can we truly call ourselves soldiers of the Cross? And if we can’t divest ourselves of our captivity to suburban, materialistic American culture, how can we speak to the maldistribution of wealth in our country and around the world?”

— Dr. John Perkins, With Justice For All