Step Forward Day Unites Pepperdine Community Through Local and National Service Projects

"Change starts with a single step, and service—whether big or small—has the power to transform lives," said Christin Shatzer Román ('03), director of Community Engagement and Service at Pepperdine University. Wearing a Step Forward Day T-shirt and a brightly colored tutu, she addressed the crowd gathered in the Amphitheatre on the Malibu campus. “Wherever you are, I would like you to take a small step forward, a symbolic gesture that commemorates our contributions not only as individuals but as a community.”

Since 1988, Step Forward Day has been an annual event at Pepperdine University that encourages students, faculty, staff, and alumni to participate in community service projects. Held earlier this month, the event inspires the Pepperdine community to give back, reflecting the University’s commitment to service and its mission to live out faith through action.

Volunteers wearing 2024 Step Forward Day shirt

Following additional remarks, a poetry reading, and a musical performance, the crowd broke into their individual service project teams. Each volunteer group consisted of various members of the Pepperdine community, offering a rare opportunity for University members to cross-collaborate. This year's volunteer projects included partnerships with organizations such as the Salvation Army, Malibu Labor Exchange, Baby2Baby, and Many Mansions, with tasks ranging from sorting food and clothing donations to community cleanups and beautification efforts.

Many Mansions, a nonprofit dedicated to providing affordable housing for low-income residents in Southern California, invited this year’s volunteers to take part in a unique activity—painting ceramic bowls for its annual Bowls of Hope fundraising event. This fundraiser invites attendees to support the organization by purchasing a handcrafted bowl made and donated by community members while enjoying a meal and family-friendly activities. The event aims to raise awareness about the need for affordable housing, as well as raise funds for Many Mansions’ programs that serve the formerly unhoused, veterans, seniors, and families of very low income.

“By participating in Many Mansions, I felt like I could see myself in a broader context than I’m used to,” shares Seaver College student Yelyzaveta “Liza” Shevetovska. “It reminds me that creating change in the world starts with recognizing a problem and then having the determination to take action.”

Yelyzaveta “Liza” Shevetovska

Shevetovska, a Ukrainian refugee, served as a project leader for Many Mansions. She reflected on how her own challenging experiences have shaped her passion for service, noting that volunteering alongside her peers strengthened her courage to step into the world and create change. After fleeing conflict in Ukraine, Shevetovska arrived at Pepperdine eager to embrace new possibilities. Her willingness to lead a project at this year’s Step Forward Day exemplifies Pepperdine’s mission to develop purposeful, service-minded leaders, while also reflecting her personal commitment to giving back alongside the community that embraced her.

“I chose to volunteer for Step Forward Day because it offered a chance to build connections and deepen relationships at Pepperdine. Opportunities are always available, but we often hold ourselves back from taking those small steps forward.” She adds, “Time moves quickly, and I don’t want to miss the chance to connect with the community I’ve chosen and that has welcomed me.”

Fellow Seaver College student Madison Luc, president of the Veritas Club, one of the University’s student-led ministries, served alongside Shevetovska as project leader. Luc shared she felt a strong responsibility to lead by example through her involvement in Step Forward Day. "I wanted to create an opportunity for club members to give back to the local community and build connections through serving together,” she says. “Service is a natural response to the biblical call to love God and love our neighbors."

Madison Luc

Luc emphasized the power of collective action and the fulfillment that comes from supporting organizations like Many Mansions. She expressed gratitude for being part of a larger mission and related the personal blessings of building relationships with those in need and with fellow volunteers.

“Each of us gave a small portion of our time and energy, but together, each act adds up for the benefit of everyone involved,” says Luc. “I find that many times with service projects, volunteers are just as blessed as those they’re serving by the chance to be a part of a greater mission, to get to know the people they aim to serve, and to connect with others who model a life of service.”

Next year's Step Forward Day event will be held on Saturday, September 6, 2025. To find upcoming service opportunities and events, visit Pepperdine's Community Engagement and Service website.