Center for Public
Service & Community
Engagement
Alternative Spring Break
Table
of Contents:
-
What is an
“Alternative Spring Break”?
-
History of ASB
-
About ASB 2009
-
Community Members:
- Why We Go
- How YOU Can Help!
-
Students:
- How to apply for ASB 2009
- Student Leadership Team
- Course Credit for ASB Participation
- Letter Writing Campaign
-
Contact
information
What
is an “Alternative Spring Break”?
Break Away: The
Alternative Break Connection is a national network of schools and community
organizations working to improve and encourage alternative break programs. They
define an Alternative Break in the following way:
An alternative
break program places teams of college or high school students in communities to
engage in community service and experiential learning during their summer, fall,
winter or spring breaks. Students perform short term projects for community
agencies and learn about issues such as literacy, poverty, racism, hunger,
homelessness, and the environment. The objectives of an alternative break
program are to involve college students in community-based service projects and
to give students opportunities to learn about the problems faced by members of
communities with whom they otherwise may have had little or no direct contact.
Being completely immersed into diverse environments enables participants to
experience, discuss, and understand social issues in a significant way. The
intensity of the experience increases the likelihood that participants will
transfer the lessons learned on-site back to their own communities even after
the alternative break ends (www.alternativebreaks.org).
History of ASB:
This will be our sixth year participating in the Alternative Spring Break
Program. Below you will find a recap of the first five years.
2004 and 2005:
We went to Jackson, MS and worked with Mission First, a large not-for-profit
organization involved in a variety of social and philanthropic initiatives in
the Jackson community.
2006 and 2007:
Our team of ISU
students served communities in the area of Biloxi & Gulf Port, Mississippi who
were devastated by hurricane Katrina. The spring break crew prepared for the
trip throughout the semester by learning more about the Gulf coast region, the
damage caused by the storm, the relief work that has been done, and the type of
recovery work that is still needed.
This was the 2nd
year ISU has worked in collaboration with Hope Crisis Response Network in
Elkhart, Indiana (http://www.hcrn.info/index.php),
a nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting communities who have been
impacted by natural and other disasters. The ISU team assisted with
construction, demolition, clean-up, and other hard work needed to rebuild the
community.
In addition, the
ISU team was invited by FEMA, through HCRN, to volunteer in Enterprise, Alabama.
There, a week after the tornado which struck dozens of homes and killed students
at the high school, the Sycamores joined other volunteers and community members
to clear away rubble and salvage belongings from homes.
To see photos and
hear personal accounts of ASB 2007, visit the group blog site
http://blogs.indstate.edu/~wpmu/springbreak/, photo gallery
http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/2545619#133843333, or one student’s site
http://sapphire.indstate.edu/~dhoward13/ASB/.
2008:
For the third year, we worked with HCRN down at Hope City in Gulfport, MS
assisting with the recovery work from Hurricane Katrina. Despite the
amount of time that has passed since hurricanes Katrina and Rita, there was
still much work to be done.
For the first time, we also added a second location to ASB. Apart from the
group in Mississippi, a smaller group of ISU students traveled to Atlanta, GA to
work with international refugees through Refugee Family Services (http://refugeefamilyservices.org).
This included such activities as working with kids in their after-school program
and assisting with English as a second language classes.
About ASB 2009
What: A week
of meaningful service work, combined with educational and personal development
activities to make up an intense, life-changing experience!
Where: Two
locations—Biloxi, Mississippi doing hurricane Katrina relief work through
Hope Crisis Response Network (http://www.hcrn.info/index.php), and in
Atlanta, Georgia working with refugees through Refugee Family Services (http://refugeefamilyservices.org),
including such activities as working with kids in their after-school program.
Who: Any ISU
student, regardless of year or area of study.
When:
Spring Break Adventure Sunday - Saturday,
March 8-14, 2009
Dates and
Locations of Mandatory Meetings: To be announced
How: With the
help of fundraising (we hope to get the cost of the trip for individuals down
from $400 to $200) and a Student Leadership Team (see below).
What else:
See page 1 of the ASB application for more information!
Community Members:
Just want to
know more about what ASB does and how you can help? Take a look at these
two documents:
Students:
How to apply for
ASB 2009
If you are
interested in Spring Break 2009, fill out an
application
and
reference form
and return them to us at CPSCE in Tirey Hall, room 134A.
Application and
Reference Due Dates:
·
September 15,
2008 – for priority selection and for any students interested in
joining the Student Leadership Team
·
October 15, 2008 – for all other participants
Student Leadership
Team:
ASB will have a team of students who will work on different aspects
of planning, coordinating, fundraising, leading, and decision-making for the ASB
program. These student leaders will meet as a team and choose many of their own
responsibilities, which might include leading reflection activities, setting up
fundraisers, designing tee-shirts, tabling for recruitment, and so on.
Note: the deadline to join this year's student leadership team
(SLT) is September 15, 2008.
Course Credit for
ASB Participation:
At Indiana State
University, students can receive credit for their participation in the spring
break program by enrolling in RCSM 485 - Community Development in Nonprofit
Organizations. Students enrolled in the course will have additional
requirements, such as a reflection essay and final project, but all participants
are required to attend all ASB meetings (see ASB 2009 for dates).
Letter Writing Campaign:
Contact
information
If you still have
questions, please contact:
Crystal Brown
Graduate Assistant
CPSCE
Tirey Hall 132A
(812) 237- 2644
email:
cthomas19@isugw.indstate.edu
2005-2006 Alternative Spring Break Trip
2006-2007 Alternative Spring Break Trip
2007-2008 Alternative Spring Break Trip
ASB in Atlanta, GA - March, 2008
ASB in Gulfport, MS - March , 2008
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