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Events and Programs

Alternative Spring Break

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a student-driven national movement that creates opportunities for students to reach out to communities around the nation, fostering a lifelong commitment to citizenship and community engagement.

Since the first ISU students went on Alternative Spring Break to Jackson, Mississippi in 2004, dozens of Sycamores have participated in a variety of ASB projects throughout the United States. Outreach efforts have included working with youth, the elderly, environmental rehabilitation, wildlife relief, Gulf Coast clean-up, and minor home repair. ASB gives participants practical skills and knowledge as well as exposing them to many social and environmental issues in other areas of the country.

ASB 2012 Application

Reference Form

ASB

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ASB 2012 Service Trips

March 4th - 9th

Mission Immersion, Lexington, Kentucky:  Mission Immersion works very closely with a variety of agencies in the Lexington region; these agencies range their focus from children, youth, families, homelessness, and poverty, among others. The focus of our trip will be working with agencies who serve individuals and families living in poverty. While on this trip, students will have the opportunity to work with a variety of agencies, performing several tasks. Examples of the service work range from serving a community-wide dinner to facilitating educational workshops focused on poverty.

Once Upon a Time, Maryville, Tennessee:  Located in the heart of the Great Smokey Mountains, the mission focuses on the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Nation, the environment, and rural Appalachia. A typical week involves two days in the Snowbird Cherokee community, one day in either the Cherokee National Forest or Great Smoky Mountains National Park, and one day homesteading at Once Upon A Time or volunteering at Sequoyah Museum. Service projects may include trail maintenance, gathering and splitting firewood, craft projects with senior citizens, and volunteer work with the local child development center.

Refugee Family Services, Atlanta, Georgia:  Being the capital city of Georgia, Atlanta offers students the opportunity to be exposed to a highly populated diverse urban setting. Students will be working one on one with immigrant children in an elementary school ranging from first grade to eighth grade. ISU students will help facilitate an after-school program working with immigrant children on language development and skills for learning English as a second language. Students will be staying at the Atlanta SafeHouse, which is committed to housing groups traveling to Atlanta to do service work. In the evening, the Atlanta SafeHouse doubles as a soup kitchen, so the students will serve two to three meals during the week.

Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, Haysi, Virginia:  Located high in the Appalachian Mountains at the mouth of the McClure River, Haysi is a small, friendly town (population 186) struggling with social issues resulting from generational poverty and lack of economic opportunity. Students participating in this trip will model the benefits of higher education to local children, assist with beautification and clean-up projects in town and on the river, and encourage residents to take ownership and pride in their community.