The discussion centered around different components of quality alternative breaks: direct service, drug-and-alcohol-free policies, education, diversity, orientation, training, reflection and reorientation.
The conversation moved towards cultural sensitivity in substance-free policies and the importance of pre-trip education. The discussions programs have before heading out can ensure that the service we perform is as beneficial to the community as possible, and that we get the most out of the experience itself.
It's so great to be here talking about alternative breaks. As an undergraduate I was a trip leader for alt breaks and now as a staff member it's been wonderful to continue conversations and working with students around alt breaks.
We're talking about things to discuss with host organizations before going. It's important to learn about the organization's mission and the community needs they serve. Host sites can also be great resources for learning about the community you're in--they can tell you what to do when you get that little bit of free time! We've been talking about how organizations determine what needs exist in the community, and how the organization addresses those needs.
In discussing re-orientation (or what I think is one of the most important parts of an alternative break experience--"what to do when you get home"), one student described going abroad and feeling isolated after returning home. Our discussion centered on how we can minimize that isolation when we return. Some groups I've been a part of don't want to leave each other after that week, 10 days or couple weeks of service together. (Of course, others are a little different--especially after a long time in a van together!) So re-orientation can be things like getting together, swapping photos or sharing the food that you enjoyed on your trip (like philly cheesesteaks after traveling to Philadelphia :) ), but it can be bigger than that too: one student described going on a trip focused on prison reform. After returning to campus, a number of his fellow participants have worked to start clubs and activist efforts focused around prison issues. There are other examples in the room, too: with connections to sustainable coffee-shops, using construction skills in building our own homes, and changing majors or career plans.
In discussing diversity, one student lamented her difficulties in recruiting male participants. One solution offered by another was to have male trip leaders prominently visible in recruitment efforts; another solution was to use "male language"-- talking about adventure instead of feelings and "gushy stuff." Another idea is to recruit in classes--especially core curriculum classes, and to pair trip issues with targeted recruitment to courses (e.g., a trip focused on children or education advertised in an education class).
Break Away has a model of how alternative breaks can lead to active civic engagement, called the Active Citizen Continuum. Hearing how folks have made connections and changes in their lives after service trips has been great--and that the model Break Away uses doesn't necessarily always fit everyone, and of course in alternative breaks we're not trying to force anyone to become more engaged in community and civic life. As a student and now a staff member--and in my personal and academic life as well--I've seen how service (for me it was always more than just alt breaks) can lead to new choices and priorities. My service work helped me narrow my field of study (from human development to adolescent and youth) and figure out what kind of job I wanted to have, what kind of work would be most fulfilling. In fact, I came to this conference as an undergrad. It gave me a great opportunity to learn more about all the exciting work going on around the nation and the world. I made so many great connections then and it led to me changing some of my service work: I had volunteered with youth substance abuse prevention and leadership programs, and I started making connections to service and activism (and in fact, now run workshops for high school students on activism--and how they can bring about social change in their schools and communities). I'm so glad to bring students I work with now to this conference--hopefully they'll have the same kind of experience I did!
We've split up into small groups depending on where are programs are in their development, and are discussing program structure--whether programs are student-run, staff-run, or a combination. Sitting with similar groups, we're discussing the timeline of planning trips. It's also great to get to the nitty-gritty and talk about logistics! We're talking about fundraising and how trips are funded. One student is discussing successes with doing personal visits to local businesses, and asking family members to donate towards the participants' trip costs. Some groups have had success with silent auctions, and a creative one I've heard so far is to have a guitar hero tournament. (I've always wanted to have a rock-paper-scissors tournament to raise funds!) One great idea we're discussing is to tie donations to a concrete item, such as hardware (the example given was nickels for nails--give a nickel and you've just provided a nail for the group to use).
One great idea I just heard was a campus that encourages trip leaders to buy postcards during their trip and send notes to campus administrators (and big donors) thanking them for their support. How wonderful! I'd love to get a note like that (hint, hint guys...) A related idea is to use the alumni offices to find alumni association chapters in cities where alt break groups have traveled, then see if the chapter might like to visit with the current students--whether it's hosting for dinner, career networking, or even asking alumni to join in the service projects.
We ended the session with round-table discussions in small groups about innovative and best practices in alternative breaks hosted by students and staff from several campuses. Thanks for a great session, everyone!
(and now, off to the opportunities fair)
--Laura Megivern, Johnson State College
