More than 100 University students embarked on alternative break programs last week to assist various communities around the world, while also learning about national and international social justice issues.
“This was the first year that we went international,” said Laura Grangaard, service program coordinator for the Holden Leadership Center. The center organized trips to Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. “It’s something different. It’s a really unique opportunity to do some service-immersed work.”
Students also trekked to New Orleans to focus on disaster relief efforts.
However, for students like sophomore Nikki Wyatt, the more localized programs held greater appeal.
The HLC also hosted five national programs in San Diego, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chiloquin in rural Oregon and the Pacific Northwest.
Wyatt grew up in Medway, Mass., and she said she arrived in Oregon feeling ignorant about social justice issues on the West Coast.
“Last year I explored the border rights issue in San Diego,” she said. “It’s something that I didn’t experience in Massachusetts, but in San Diego, there were immigrants in the parking lots at Home Depot. I talked to them, and my Spanish isn’t really good, but I realized these were real people looking for a better life and a better future.”
Wyatt’s experience was eye-opening, and when she was given the opportunity this year to plan for — and lead — a trip, she decided to explore the Pacific Northwest over San Diego.
“I wanted to learn something new. It’s not related to my professional goal, but it is more of a personal goal.”
Throughout the planning process, Wyatt worked closely with Trevor Mathwick, who was the other trip leader for the Pacific Northwest excursion.
The trip focused on four aspects of social and environmental justice: renewable energy, organic farming, energy conservation and politics. The week started with 13 students — 10 from the University and three from Oregon State University — in Cottage Grove, who then moved to Corvallis, Portland and Seattle.
“Portland was more mundane,” Mathwick said, explaining how the Cottage Grove and Corvallis segments centered on finding ways to farm organically, while the days in Portland were spent restoring park trails.
This was Mathwick’s second year with the program as well, and he said he was attracted to the program because of the connections he was able to make with people he met.
Trip leaders Mathwick and Wyatt contacted a variety of local organizations to find places that could accommodate the students on their trip.
“Once we started calling and e-mailing, (organizations) were excited to share information,” Wyatt said.
Grangaard pointed out that not all organizations are as easy to work with, citing San Francisco as an area overwhelmed with volunteers during spring break. However, the coordinator said most of the locations were incredibly helpful in providing students with the opportunity to serve and learn about social justice.
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Alternative spring breaks offer students fulfilling opportunities
Daily Emerald
March 27, 2011
Nate Makuch
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