About Purdue Service Breaks
History:
In March of 2012, nine Purdue students traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi for the first "Alternative Spring Break." This trip was led by a staff member of Student Activities and Organizations (SAO) in the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS). The nine students did not know each other before the trip, but quickly began forming friendships in the large University vans on the way to Mississippi. Purdue's first Alternative Spring Break was a partnership with the United Way and joined other students from all across the United States. The groups explored natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, and the long lasting effects on the local communities.
In the summer of 2012, a Purdue staff member and a student traveled to Breakaway's ABC's to learn about impactful service breaks. Fundamentals from this are still used in Purdue Service Breaks including the Active Citizens Continuum.
The transitional year of 2012-2013 brought new leadership, the change of the term "Alternative Spring Break (ASB)" to Service Spring Break (SSB), and a new home for the program- now in Civic Engagement and Leadership Development (CELD).
In March of 2014, 14 Purdue students traveled to Memphis, Tennessee for the second "Service Spring Break." Once again the students on this trip were recruited separately and did not know each other well, only having met in one meeting prior to the trip. Friendships quickly developed as the students explored Food Injustice and its intersections with other social justice issues within the community- particularly racism. They worked alongside community members to transform an unused polluted space into a productive hobby and food source in the form of the newly established Washington Bottoms Community Garden.
In October of 2014, five of the same Purdue students who had attended SSB 2014, returned to Memphis to continue their work in the community garden and learn more about the local grassroots organizations continuously working to improve life for its citizens.
As the trips continue, fundamentals will remain the same, but other elements will change. Larger group numbers, new social justice issues, different forms of community service, and continuous development is eagerly expected.
In March of 2012, nine Purdue students traveled to Biloxi, Mississippi for the first "Alternative Spring Break." This trip was led by a staff member of Student Activities and Organizations (SAO) in the Office of the Dean of Students (ODOS). The nine students did not know each other before the trip, but quickly began forming friendships in the large University vans on the way to Mississippi. Purdue's first Alternative Spring Break was a partnership with the United Way and joined other students from all across the United States. The groups explored natural disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina, and the long lasting effects on the local communities.
In the summer of 2012, a Purdue staff member and a student traveled to Breakaway's ABC's to learn about impactful service breaks. Fundamentals from this are still used in Purdue Service Breaks including the Active Citizens Continuum.
The transitional year of 2012-2013 brought new leadership, the change of the term "Alternative Spring Break (ASB)" to Service Spring Break (SSB), and a new home for the program- now in Civic Engagement and Leadership Development (CELD).
In March of 2014, 14 Purdue students traveled to Memphis, Tennessee for the second "Service Spring Break." Once again the students on this trip were recruited separately and did not know each other well, only having met in one meeting prior to the trip. Friendships quickly developed as the students explored Food Injustice and its intersections with other social justice issues within the community- particularly racism. They worked alongside community members to transform an unused polluted space into a productive hobby and food source in the form of the newly established Washington Bottoms Community Garden.
In October of 2014, five of the same Purdue students who had attended SSB 2014, returned to Memphis to continue their work in the community garden and learn more about the local grassroots organizations continuously working to improve life for its citizens.
As the trips continue, fundamentals will remain the same, but other elements will change. Larger group numbers, new social justice issues, different forms of community service, and continuous development is eagerly expected.