Spring break for service: Alternative Spring Break sends students on week-long service trips across the country

UM-Dearborn students on Alternative Spring Break take a break from cleaning up Catalina Island to enjoy the view.

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) provides University of Michigan-Dearborn students with the opportunity to travel across the country for a week, working on service projects and forming bonds with fellow students. This year, student groups traveled to Cleveland, Ohio, Manistique, Mich., and Catalina Island, off the coast of California.

“Ever since I started college I wanted to do ASB,” said senior Jessica Miller. “It gives students a chance to see what’s going on in the world. My trip was really eye opening. I think it’s a really good chance to experience new things, and then find ways to bring them back to and help our own communities.”

Miller was one of 13 students to travel to Cleveland. There, they worked at the Cleveland Food Bank, packing more than 1600 lunches to feed children in local afterschool programs. They also volunteered at crisis and refugee centers, and attended a local pitch competition, where Cleveland community members pitched ideas for new community programs.

“I chose to go to Cleveland because of the focus on urban poverty,” Miller said. “Many of the non-profit organizations that we worked with exist in the metro Detroit area as well. There was a lot of emphasis on what we could learn from Cleveland and ways to bring it back to Detroit.”

Sophomore Josh Joy was also inspired to bring change back to the city after visiting Cleveland.

“Cleveland shares many similarities to Detroit,” he said. “There is such a strong sense of community between people of all sectors, and I believe it is one of the major factors contributing to the revitalization of the city. This progress makes me hopeful for the future of Detroit.”

Eight students traveled north to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, braving the cold in Manistique—the wind chill was in the negative 40s—to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Hiawathaland.

The group spent their time inside the Habitat for Humanity Headquarters, which houses offices, dormitories for volunteers and other community resources. To get the rooms ready for occupancy, they spent the week cleaning, installing insulation and painting.

Sophomore Jennifer Zavalnitskaya went on ASB last year to Catalina Island, and was a site leader this year for the trip to Manistique.

“My appreciation for many things was heightened,” Zavalnitskaya said. “Manistique was a very small town. It was eye-opening to see how other people live, even in our own state. I also learned a lot about working with others. Throughout the week, I felt myself get closer to other individuals as we all worked to to help others.”

Across the country, on the almost entirely uninhabited Catalina Island, 12 students spent the week exploring and caring for the island. They filled potholes, worked on the roads, and cleaned up the surrounding areas, removing invasive plant species, like fennel, from the land.

“It changes your mindset about how our actions affect the environment, how much we take advantage of it, and how much we take it for granted,” said sophomore Amber Aisnworth. “I learned a lot, and have a greater appreciation of the environment. ”

Ainsworth went to Catalina Island last year for ASB and said she fell in love with the island. She returned this year as a site leader, responsible for organizing the group, planning fundraisers for the trip, and maintaining communication between the site and the students.

Aisworth said the students in her group had an eye-opening experience and formed strong bonds with their group members.

“We’re out in the middle of nowhere—no cell phones, no electricity,” she said. “At night, we’d all hang out around the campfire. By the end of the week, everyone in the group became the best of friends, like a little family.”