Trip Leaders Meet Participants!

On Tuesday, September 15th, we welcomed over 75 participants to the Alternative Break Program. We had a general meeting to discuss the Center for Leadership and Service, Alternative Break program, and who we were. Following that, we had the moments they had all been waiting for. LOCATION REVEAL! Where would all of this incredible trips be starting their journey? 

Problems Facing America's Youth - Louisville, KY

Freedom Isn't Free: Civil Rights and Poverty - Selma, AL

Community Development - Durham, NC

Disability/Ability Awareness - Indianapolis, IN

Issues Facing the Refugee Community - Atlanta, GA

Health and Wellness Through the Lifespan - Charlotte, NC

Homelessness, Hunger and Urban Poverty - Memphis, TN

Each of these trips came up with different ways to present their theme to their participants: cupcakes, puzzles, scavenger hunt, etc.

 - Photo Courtesy of Tyra Livingston

- Photo Courtesy of Sophia Rubio

We are so excited to finally have everyone with us and now working towards learning more about their trip! Our trips set off on October 15th and will be returning to Knoxville on October 18th! Stay tuned to our site because you will have the opportunity to follow each trip through their own personal blogs! See pictures from their service work, organizations they have worked with , and read in to the life of an alternative break student. 

~ Fundraising Opportunity ~

Please join us on October 6th from 5pm-9pm at the Chipotle on the Strip (Cumberland Avenue)! This will be a great time for good fellowship and food. Mention the Alternative Break Program or show this flyer below and 50% of each receipt will be donated to the program! HOW COOL!?! 

Don't miss out on one of our favorite fundraiser of the year! 

See you all October 6th! 

*If you would like a larger version of this picture, feel free to contact me at hpennesi@vols.utk.edu.

Latest Update On the Alternative Break Program!

We have so many exciting things going on in the Alternative Break program! On June 17th, our trip leaders have finalized their housing in their respective cities and have now begun their search for the perfect service sites. Everything is coming together so great and we cannot wait to see everyone in August. Once school begins, we will starts our weekly training with our Fall trip leaders to prepare them on how to lead a successful break trip. 

The Alternative Break also had one of it's student coordinators, Hayley Pennesi, represent the University of Tennessee at an Alternative Break Citizenship School conference this past week. 55 students gathered from around the country representing 23 different states to discuss "Changing the Narrative: Community Building as Power" in Ferguson, Missouri. Hayley went to gain more knowledge on how to better the break program and experienced a simulation on how break trips tend to work. The conference partnered with an organization called Operation Help or Hush to work within the community and learn more about the city. It was a great experience for her and we cannot wait to see what she brings back to our program!  

Check out some pictures below from her trip!

 Hayley sitting below the mural that was painted by volunteers on what used to be a restaurant but is now a cooling station for the community. It was used by those participants in the protests to gather and get food/water close by. Their group touched it up and added their initials and quotes on each side of the one above.

 Hayley chose to write, "You are not alone," along with her hand print on the wall. 

 The group painted boards to create recycling bins to place on West Florissant road for the community.

Group: Red Paddle Fish

 Hayley stayed at the University of Missouri - St. Louis during her time in Ferguson, MO. She got the chance to tour the campus and see their office equivalent to the University of Tennessee's Center of Leadership & Service where the Alternative Break Program is housed.

 Malaysia enjoyed dancing the day away with her.

Alternative Break Trip Leader Spotlight

Xylina Marshall

Senior

 Spring Break Trip Leader

Who/what inspires you the most?

          I am most inspired by those around me who strive to accomplish great things through servant leadership. I look up to my fellow students because they are a testament to what can be accomplished through hard work and dedication even when other elements of life come into play. My fellow Tennessee Volunteers give me the most inspiration because they set a precedent to live up to that is not stagnant but ever increasing.

Why did you choose to be an AB trip leader?

          I chose to become an AB trip leader because I have experienced first hand the spark that Alternative Breaks creates in regards to social change. AB is how I became plugged into service on campus and provides a springboard for many that engage in it. It is a place where a love for service can not only be planted, but also watered and nourished into a full blossom. I would love to contribute to the holistic process that is AB and being a trip leader was the best way that I saw possible.

What are you most excited for as you start this journey as a trip leader?

          I am the most excited to engage in planning with my trip partner. Being able to bring our personalized vision to fruition will be well worth the effort required to get there. I look forward to developing a relationship with both my partner and our participants through the act of service to a community for which I am greatly impassioned.

Hobbies/Favorite Activities:

Reading, Knitting, Netflix, Serving, Billiards 

Black Tate

 Senior

Fall Break Trip Leader

Who/what inspires you the most?

          Ronald Reagan and Bill Haslam (in no particular order).

Why did you choose to be an AB trip leader? 

          I chose to be an AB trip leader, because I want to give participants the best trip possible. Just like how my AB trip leaders gave me.

What are you most excited for as you start this journey as a trip leader?           

          I am most excited about picking the most awesome-est trip and theme with my AB partner. Not only that, I can’t wait to see the participants who will be joining us as well!

Hobbies/Favorite Activities: 

          I love being a T.S.S.A.A. Soccer referee. I love listening to many different genres of music. I go to every home game (every time) and sing Rocky Top to the top of my lungs. Not only that, I love to help anyone in need as well.  

May 2015 - ABSC

Meet Our 2015-2016 Alternative Break Trip Leaders!!

On May 2nd, 2015, we happily welcomed our 2015-2016 Alternative Break Trip Leaders at training day. Training consisted of learning about the active citizen continuum, the 8 components of a quality break trip, and how to create an experience unlike any other for their future participants. Our favorite activity for the day was the banana phones. Each trip leader received a banana and a scenario to act out as if calling an organization or housing site for practice. They were able to see the different reactions and questions that are commonly brought up by organizations they will be trying to reach out to. 

Take a look at some of the pictures from this activity!

Alternative Break Trip Leader Spotlight: 

Sarah O’Rourke 

Junior

Spring Break Trip Leader

Who/what inspires you the most?

            Beyonce :D

But, for real, my peers and mentors here at UT inspire me. Seeing all the great things we, as Volunteers, are doing gives me pride and inspiration daily.

Why did you choose to be an AB trip leader?

I always had a passion for helping others, but I didn’t understand all I could do with that until I discovered the CLS, and specifically Alternative Breaks. I found my home at UT and my life’s passion through the Alt Break program. Although I’ll never be able to give as much to the program, and office, as it has given me, I would like to try. 

What are you most excited for as you start this journey as a trip leader?

I’m excited to get to experience this process again. There are great highs, and sometimes great lows, but it’s an amazing ride!

Hobbies/Favorite Activities:

            I enjoy watching Netflix, Enoing, and going to Jump Jam!

 

Bryan Shrader

Junior 

Fall Break Trip Leader

Who/what inspires you the most?

People that overcome great challenges to succeed really inspire me. My older brother Brad has autism, but he graduated high school and now has a great job. No one expected him to be as successful as he is, but that is why he is so inspiring. Other people that deal with poverty, disabilities, or other hardships inspire me because they never complain, they just do their best with what they have.

Why did you choose to be an AB trip leader?

I chose to be an AB trip leader because I love the AB program. I went on an ASB trip last spring and that inspired me to apply to be a leader. I love the dynamic of these trips because you have students leading students but there is not a hierarchy. The group functions as a family and I love that dynamic. I love serving and meeting others that love to serve, so this is a perfect opportunity for me.

What are you most excited for as you start this journey as a trip leader?

I am most excited about working with my partner to plan a trip that will allow our group to better understand and help the social issue related to our theme. I am excited to plan service and reflection that will allow everyone that goes on our trip to become a better member of society as they learn to serve. I want to lead a trip that inspires students to learn more about social issues and to do everything they can to help those in need.

Hobbies/Favorite Activities: Running, playing intramural sports, attending UT athletic events, watching sports on TV

We are so thrilled to have 7 fall break trips and 6 spring break trips and cannot wait to see what these wonderful students plan!

ASB 2015: It's a Wrap! 

The Alternative Break Program is proud to have successfully completed five ASB trips across the nation. Learn more about Animal Outreach in Tampa, Community Development in Chicago, Rural Education Disparities in Roanoke Rapids, Neighborhood Renewal in New Orleans, and Disability/Ability Awareness by clicking on the individual trip blogs along the right side of this page!

We asked participants to share a few words that summed up their ASB 2015 experience, and compiled them into this visual representation. The larger the word, the more participants that listed that word to describe their trip! 

We could not be more proud of our excellent student trip leaders, participants, and staff learning partners. Together the trips were able to serve 2132.5 hours, which is like doing the work community partners would've had to pay $48,087.88* to complete! Thanks for all of your hard work and showing your true Volunteer spirit. #UTKASB15 #ABLove

(*$22.55 per hour is the national “estimated value of volunteer time” which is what charitable organizations often use to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide)

Alternative Break trips provide a fun and educational opportunity for University of Tennessee students to experience something unique during their university Fall or Spring break.  The trips provide an affordable option for students who are interested in giving back to the national community through meaningful and collaborative community service.  Each trip is centered on a theme that addresses a specific social issue unique to the community being served. 

The mission of the Alternative Break Program is to engage students in meaningful and collaborative community service in an effort to increase awareness of social issues and strengthen the communities in which they serve as well as foster a strong sense of community among trip participants and to the university as a whole.

Our trips are centered around Break Away’s ® Eight Components of a Quality Alternative Break.  We believe these components help provide participants the most holistic and meaningful experience.  The eight components are: strong direct service, orientation, training, education, reflection, reorientation, diversity, and alcohol and other drug free.

Please visit the Alternative Break website at http://leadershipandservice.utk.edu/involved_abtrip.php for more information!