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“Every kid deserves a good
school,” says Beal, Pastor
of Community Development
at Pure Heart Church
CANYON CORRIDOR CONNECTION | 23
A Student’s View on Urban Plunge
UrbanPlungeWorkDaysAGreat Success
by Aurora Gabow, 7th grade, Palo Verde Middle School
On Saturday, March 29, Urban Plunge returned to Palo Verde to fix up the campus once again.
Volunteers* arrived at 8 am to help the effort. Water bottles and donuts were offered to these hard
working helpers as well as pizza for lunch. Many of the hungry students and adults alike eagerly
accepted this payment for their services.
Ms. Bringgold’s and Mr. Glauser’s Friends of Rachel (F.O.R.) Groups** and members of the National
Junior Honor Society (NJHS) were among them, happy to fix up their school and make it a better
place for themselves. Several of these students scraped gum from the concrete, pulled weeds and
loosened the sand in the sand volleyball court. With the effort of the volunteers and the tools from
the city’s tool truck, these jobs were done quickly. Other students took on larger tasks. They helped
organize the library’s bookshelves and the Arizona State University students fixed up the field for
Palo Verde’s girls’ softball team and cleared weeds from the alley behind the school.
At the end of Urban Plunge’s visit, the school looked even happier and healthier than it had before.
The small jobs done to make it look better made a big difference on the school campus. The
atmosphere of pride the volunteers took in their work rubbed off on the school too. Every volunteer
looks forward to the next Urban Plunge visit to work with friends, help the school and have a
good time.
*Urban Plunge in Phoenix is a Christian urban ministry led by Tracey Beal of Pure Heart Church. She has
created a community coalition of churches, neighbors, businesses, Phoenix Community Prosecutor’s Office,
etc. to work together to improve urban schools. Over a hundred volunteers turned out from this group as
well as many college students, PV staff and UNA neighbors. Other jobs done included planting more trees
and shrubs.
**F.O.R. groups are school based clubs to implement the vision of Rachel Scott to treat all people with
compassion and sensitivity. Rachel was the first person killed in the Columbine High School massacre
on April 20, 1999. Yet her life and her legacy of kindness and compassion inspired the creation of the
Rachel’s Challenge Foundation, one of the most life-changing school programs in America that is
spreading internationally.
Communi t y Highl ights
aerated the field, repaired a sprinkler system and created a completely
new soccer field.
In the three years that Urban Plunge has been working with Palo Verde
Middle School, the changes have been enormous. The school that was close
to failing academically is now just below a B grade and discipline problems
have decreased by 62 percent. Morale has greatly improved. The campus
is being physically renovated. But most importantly is how the kids now
regard their school. As one student, Aurora G. says, “The kids see that
people care, and they have more respect for the school and teachers.” She
thoughtfully adds that they learned from the college students to “Take your
life in your own hands and not be sidetracked.” Urban Plunge has truly
been that “Bridge Over Troubled Water” for Palo Verde.
To get involved in Urban Plunge contact Tracey Beal at
or 602-670-6513.
Urban Plunge Collaborative
Palo Verde Partners
ASU Bridges
ASU Change Maker
ASU Urban Plunge Advisory Board
Build Co.
Cary Gidley Interior Design
Christ’s Community Church
City of Phoenix Prosecutor’s Office
Courson’s Silkscreening and Sign Co.
DW Plumbing
Ecce Design
Glendale Community College students
Grand Canyon University Students After
School Program
Karl’s Collision and Repair Body Shop
Kimley-Horn
Kiwanis
Lifebridge
Nu Systems (Now Ecce Design)
Orangewood Christian Reformed Church
Orangewood Nazarene Church
Palo Verde Friends of Rachel groups
Palo Verde National Junior Honor Society
Palo Verde PTO
Palo Verde Recreational League
Pure Heart Christian Fellowship
RAMM Engineering
Trinity Mennonite Church
21st Century
Washington Elementary School District
(WESD)
WESD Parent University
WESD Social Workers
Young Life College
United Neighbors Association
WIRC Center
GCU Contributions
GCU After School Program
GCU Students
Urban Plunge volunteers taking a quick photo break.
Palo Verde Midle School is part of the Washington School District