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Strong Direct Service
Alcohol and Drug-Free
Diversity and Social Justice
Our trips provide an opportunity for participants to engage in direct or “hands on” projects and activities that address unmet social needs. Whether this means serving as a counselor to children with disabilities or helping restore damaged homes in different parts of the country!
Issues of community impact, legality, liability, personal safety, and group cohesion are of concern when alcohol and other drugs are consumed on an alternative break. As a result, we strictly prohibit the use of drugs and alcohol.This is also to ensure that students are actively engaging in service rather than serving as a hindrance to the community partner.
All of our trips include participants representing the range of students present in the campus community. Our programs engage participants in dialogue that furthers understanding of how systems of power, privilege, and oppression relate to social issues present within communities. This deepened awareness enables students to do more responsible, sustainable, and impactful service work.
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Training
Reflection
Reorientation
Our participants are provided with adequate training in skills necessary to carry out tasks and projects during the trip. Typically this training will take place prior to the trip, although in some instances it may occur once participants have reached their site. Examples of training include teaching basic construction, learning how to work with children, or gaining first aid skills.
During the trip, participants are encouraged to reflect upon the experience they are having, synthesizing the direct service, education, and community interaction components. Time is set aside for this to take place both individually and as a group.
Upon return to campus, participants transfer the lessons learned on break by identifying local organizations for continued education or service, sharing their experience to raise awareness of social issues, and by organizing or joining other small groups to take action on local issues through direct service, advocacy, and/or philanthropy.
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Orientation
Education
In order to ensure that our participants are prepared for their trips, students will meet with their groups weekly so that they can learn more about their issue, community partner and service projects assigned to their group. These weekly meetings are also a time for participants to bond with the other members in their group. As a part of this orientation, groups will also be required to participant in a pre-trip service day, in which they will work with an organization in the Miami community that also focuses on their groups' social issue.
Participants will learn more about their social issue through the weekly meetings that they will have with thier groups. This may include participating in discussions, watching documentaries or sharing their own personal experiences.