2011-2012 Site Locations
Fall Break Trip
Disaster Recovery in a Rural Town
SMU Alternative Breaks will travel to Altus, Arkansas in order to help the town recover from a devastating tornado that hit the area earlier in the year. Students will have the opportunity to remove debris and similar disaster recovery tasks. Participants will learn about disaster recovery nationally and the challenges that face small towns. The site leader for this trip is Lisa Walters and she may be contacted at lnwalters@smu.edu for more information.
Urban Hunger
SMU Alternative Breaks will travel to Austin, TX to work with the Capital Area Food Bank as well as the Salvation Army. Students will serve food in a soup kitchen and help the food bank package food for residents. Participants will learn about the issue of urban hunger in America and the impact of the issue on urban citizens. The site leader for this trip is Gaby Diaz and she may be contacted at gdiaz@smu.edu for more information.
Winter Break Trip
Community Development
SMU will travel to Brownsville, TX to volunteer with Good Neighbors Settlement House. Student volunteers will plan a holiday party for youth as well as a toy drive. Volunteers will also help in the Soup Kitchen and interact with community members. Contact Carissa Grisham at cgrisham@smu.edu for more information.
Disaster Relief
SMU will serve with a recovery organization in New Orleans, LA called the Phoenix of New Orleans (P-NOLA). Work will include several tasks, mainly reconstructing homes; all geared toward helping students realize the devastation resulting from disasters and the complications for recovery. Contact Kenzie Durham at kjdurham@smu.edu for more information.
Domestic Spring Break Trips
HIV-AIDS in an Urban Setting
This year, SMU will be returning to Los Angeles to work with the AIDS Project of Los Angeles (APLA). The trip will deal with the issue of HIV/AIDS and its effects on patients, causes, and related social issues. Hands on volunteering in several locations throughout L.A. will be possible. Contact Katie Legband at klegband@smu.edu for more information.
Education in a Rural Setting
SMU will continue its long held tradition of sending participants to Taos, New Mexico to help a community in need. This year we will again partner with Roots and Wings, a rural charter school. SMU participants will work with and tutor middle school students. Roots and Wings charter school, nestled in the mountains of Taos, is also attached to a unique multi acre farm, a vital part of their education process, which participants will have the opportunity to help improve. Contact Gaby Diaz at gdiaz@smu.edu for more information.
Native American Issues
SMU will be going to Window Rock, AZ for a week of working with Native American issues. Students will perform service related to Native American needs, especially community development and education. Contact Kyle Specer at kdspencer@smu.edu for more information.
Food Deserts: Providing an Oasis
SMU will be going to New York City, NY to serve with God’s Love We Deliver food bank. Students will work in the kitchen as well as deliver food to the needy and chronically ill across New York City. Students will understand why food deserts exist in urban areas, especially for certain social groups like the ill or elderly. Contact Aliya Prasla at aprasla@smu.edu for more information.
Environmentalism in a Fragile Ecosystem
SMU will be returning to Crawfordville, Florida performing environment restoration in the area. Students will learn about environmentalism in America, major challenges, and will get a chance to serve hands on in an environment desperate for help. Contact Katie Jones for katherinej@smu.edu for more information.
Urban Homelessness and Veteran’s Issues
SMU will be going to Atlanta, Georgia, and serving with a veteran’s organization. Students will have many direct service opportunities while learning about the issues faced by America’s veterans, especially in major metropolitan areas. Contact Claudia Sandoval at csandoval@smu.edu for more information.
Affordable Housing
SMU will be going to Denver, CO to work with Habitat for Humanity. Students will work to create affordable housing for the community while learning about the issue of sustainable housing in America. Contact Katie Schoen at kschoen@smu.edu for more information.
Homelessness in America
SMU will be returning to Boston, MA to work with Homeless Services Bureau of Boston. Students will serve with the homeless shelter network in Boston while learning about the causes and state of homelessness in America. Contact Jillian Frederick at jfrederick@smu.edu for more information.
International Spring Break Trip
Education in a Third World Country
This year, SMU will be returning to Quito, Ecuador to volunteer with UBECI, working on issues of youth education and community development. Students will have the opportunity to work with children in local markets, teach English to local students, or help with social work and development depending on Spanish skills. Spanish is not required, but highly recommended. Contact SITE LEADER at SITE LEADER email for more information.Contact Lisa Walters at lwalters@smu.edu for more information.