Youth Mission Trip

This year’s Youth Mission Trip will take us to San Diego, CA for a Be The Neighbor experience the week of July 12-18, 2026.

San Diego, California, often called “America’s Finest City,” is a place shaped by the beauty of the Pacific coast, its vibrant bicultural connection with Tijuana, and the richness of its diverse communities. As the birthplace of the state of California and a key site in the history of colonization and border formation, San Diego offers a unique lens into Latine and Chicano issues, where the history and ongoing struggles of these communities highlight deeply rooted questions of justice and equity.​

A Be The Neighbor trip to San Diego will introduce participants to the theme of Chicano Justice, exploring how culture, identity, and activism intersect with issues like immigration, labor rights, border dynamics, and community empowerment. Through partnerships with local organizations and cultural experiences, participants will meet activists, community leaders, and artists engaged in the Chicano rights movement and learn about systemic challenges faced by these communities, including struggles for political representation, cultural preservation, and civil rights.​

At the same time, participants will experience the resilience, creativity, and significant contributions of Chicano and Latine communities, especially their rich artistic and cultural traditions. Each encounter is designed to provide not only education but also inspiration, connecting local movements to broader struggles for justice across the country.