USEED@Emerson College

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Updates (5)

Team (43)

Supporters (172)

The Alternative Spring Break (ASB) Program at Emerson College began as a student leadership initiative in 1998 when six students and two residence directors spent spring break working with the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation in Westmoreland State Park in Montross, Virginia.

Over the years, this student leadership program has blossomed into a popular initiative. Alternative Spring Break is an opportunity for students to develop programs to learn about and from communities as they discover their own potential to contribute to community-based efforts. The program emphasizes the school’s core values of moral courage, celebration of diversity of thought and people, and commitment to ethical engagement, collaboration, and meaningful interaction with local and national communities.

Now a hallmark program of The Office of Service Learning and Community Action, Alternative Spring Break accepts over 50 students annually for the past several years, and includes a low-cost Boston component available to all Emersonians. These volunteers return to campus to share compelling stories and new consciousness with their Boston and home communities. Many participants name Alternative Spring Break as one of the most transformative experiences not only of their Emerson careers, but also of their lives.

This campaign will enable 45 participants to pay for housing, transportation, and food expenses for weeklong service trips to Detroit, MI; Eagle Butte, SD; and Joshua Tree, CA. Through these service trips, participants will engage with and support youth on the Cheyenne River Reservation, work to alleviate some of the symptoms of urban decay in a once-bustling industrial metropolis, and aid in essential environmental conservation in the Mojave and Colorado Deserts.

Eagle Butte, South Dakota

Eagle Butte, South Dakota Participants will join forces with the Cheyenne River Youth Project, which works alongside the people of the Lakota Nation, to assist in the physical maintenance of the reservation, crafts, literacy, writing and wellness workshops for the children, and a "Passion for Fashion" show dedicated to empowering young girls. Through their work, students hope to gain a better understanding of what the Lakota culture represents and what our role as outsiders should be in preserving this rich cultural history, protecting its claims to the present, and paving a road for its future.

Detroit, Michigan

Detroit, Michigan participants will learn about the causes of urban decay, learn how community leaders and organizations are working to alleviate some of its effects, and work alongside these organizations to strengthen and improve their beautiful city. Through our work, we hope to contribute to Detroit’s prosperous future while learning strategies for fighting poverty, homelessness, and urban, blight that are transferable to our home city of Boston.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Joshua Tree National Park, California participants will work to preserve our natural environment through trail maintenance, environmental conservation, and other hands-on projects that are increasingly dependent on volunteers after continued budget cuts to our National Parks system. As a result of our work, we hope to educate the Emerson community about the impacts of an individual’s choices on the environment and other peoples’ lives by learning about climate change and environmental degradation.

Our National Parks are a treasure that provide a refuge for millions of people each year, as well as inspiration and a means of getting back to our natural roots. Helping to conserve something this beautiful and valuable can redeem the soul, the mind, and the body. (or another quote from a website or that documentary)

As citizens, we have a responsibility to help those in need. We want to work together as one, and make a positive impact on the world, while learning about ourselves and our role in our increasingly global society.

All Updates

Looking Back: The South Dakota Experience

Published on Monday, Mar. 17, 2014 at 02:27 PM (EST)

Our experience in Eagle Butte, South Dakota was, in a word, transformative. We spent our days aiding the Cheyenne River Youth Project staff in any way we possibly could, be it through playing with the children at the Main Center, competing in some (incredibly intense) basketball matches at the Cokata Wiconi Teen Center, cleaning the facilities, or preparing and decorating for the Passion for Fashion prom dress drive and runway show. We were fortunate enough to meet incredible Lakota people, who did not hesitate to share some of their traditions and expose us to a truly remarkable culture which, unfortunately, is not usually spoken for in our modern education systems. We consider ourselves lucky to have served the community and the CRYP, and have all been made better for it.

Since returning, we have realized just how integral meeting our monetary goal really is. We're only about $2,100 away from our goal, with 2 days left of fundraising! Thus far, we have been inspired by the number of supporters and the amount of attention our campaign has brought fourth. We are confident that we can reach our goal with support from wonderful people like you. Thank you for helping us Branch Out!

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Branching Out: Emerson College ASB

$10,029.00

Raised of $10,000 goal.

100%

Funded

172

Supporters

0

Days Left

This campaign ended on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2014

About Updates (5) Team (43) Supporters (172)

Eagle Butte, South Dakota

Detroit, Michigan

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Looking Back: The South Dakota Experience

Published on Monday, Mar. 17, 2014 at 02:27 PM (EST)

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Janine Moody

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Alexander Uriati

Abigail Thompson

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Kendall Stark

Ashley Tarbet DeStefano

Tyler Powles

Jessica Luna-White

Andrea Gordillo

Sierra Smith

Alicia Rodriguez

Taylor McMahon

Jacquelyn Marr

Lauren Gallagher

Micaela Cain

Dylan Manderlink

Mona Moriya

Andy Schlebecker

Claude Bartholomew

Suzanne Hinton

Briana Blair

Audrey Stewart

Jamie Bogert

Caitlin Duffy

Claudia Casteneda

Gave $50.00

Linda Rowe

Gave $25.00

Eric Svendenberg

Gave $20.00

California Pizza Kitchen

Gave $217.63

Tom Cooper

Gave $20.00

Saus Boston

Gave $67.32

Anchor Brewing Co

Gave $230.00

About

Updates (5)

Team (43)

Supporters (172)