While some students decide to spend their spring break at home or in warmer weather, 177 Illinois State students chose to devote their time off to Alternative Spring Break (ASB). ASB is a weeklong service opportunity in which participants travel across the country to help meet a need in a community.
“Being able to work with the Living Lands and Waters crew has given me a whole new perspective on how a small group of people can make a positive change.”—Chris Braun
ASB participants were placed into five groups that traveled to the following locations: Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; Paragould, Arkansas; Salina, Kansas; and Atlanta. Each location focused on a different social issue, including environmental conservation, school programs, homelessness, addiction, and working with hunger initiatives. Throughout the week, students logged a total of 5,032 hours of service.
Sophomore Chris Braun, one of this year’s bus leaders, said his trip to Memphis made a lifelong impact on him: “Being able to work with the Living Lands and Waters crew has given me a whole new perspective on how a small group of people can make a positive change.”
“Every moment was amazing, from making 30 new friends to working with passionate people.”—Alexandra Ferrara
Not only do the students gain service-learning experience, but relationship-building skills are also acquired during the week. “Every moment was amazing, from making 30 new friends to working with passionate people,” said senior Alexandra Ferrara, a trip leader.
Alternative Breaks are a great way for students to make a difference outside of the classroom. For more information about Alternative Break opportunities, contact Leadership and Community Connections at (309) 438-7346.
https://storify.com/IllinoisStateU/alternative-spring-break-2017
