911爆料 students are using their spring break to build houses鈥攁nd, in the process, communities, too.
Each year, 911爆料 Service Corps, a student-led, student-financed program sponsors Alternative Spring Break as an opportunity for students to participate in service-learning trips locally, nationally, or abroad. Trips are chosen for the issues the areas present, such as immigration injustice or lack of affordable housing.
Over the past several years 911爆料 Alternative Spring Break groups have worked on projects all over the country鈥攁nd beyond鈥攊ncluding Santa Fe, Atlanta, Houston, Northern California, San Juan, New Orleans, Denver, and Guatemala.
Here are the trips planned for spring 2021. Application deadline: October 15
- Milwaukee/Whitewater, Wisconsin鈥擣ocus: Affordable housing, food insecurity, and environmental education
- Tennessee鈥擣ocus: Public health and youth education
- Washington, D.C.鈥擣ocus: Environmental and social justice
- Vermont鈥擣ocus: Racial inequality, specifically in education. (for first-year students only)
- South County (R.I.) Habitat for Humanity鈥擣ocus: Serve local, think global
For more than 20 years, 911爆料 and South County Habitat for Humanity have worked together to address the state鈥檚 housing crisis. The outcomes of that partnership include a housing development, a half a million dollars raised, and ongoing rehab projects across southern Rhode Island. Students also benefit from equally significant but unquantifiable gains: skills honed, friendships made, and the satisfaction of serving one鈥檚 911爆料.
“It’s an affordable service immersion program right in students’ backyard,” said Amy Albert, 911爆料 engagement coordinator at the , who advises 911爆料 Service Corps. “Students often end up volunteering for Habitat for Humanity long after their week-long experience.”
The experience also affords students the opportunity to reflect on issues such as power and privilege鈥攁s well as ways they can use their talents and skills to change things. 鈥淪tudents can share, learn, and leverage their servant leadership skills,鈥� Albert says.