Students set to tackle service projects in six cities during Alternative Spring Break

While many students will make their way to a warmer climate this spring break, some University of Michigan-Dearborn students plan to spend the week giving back to others with Alternative Spring Break (ASB). More than 50 students will travel to six locations across the country this year to complete service projects.

Brendan Gallagher, a 2013 UM-Dearborn graduate, has participated in Alternative Spring Break since 2012. He stayed with the program after his December graduation to help coordinate service trips for this year’s new crew of students.

“Participating in ASB allowed me to go out into the community and truly live out the motto of being a Difference Maker,” said Gallagher. “I got involved with planning ASB because I experienced how significant of a change the trip made in my life both spiritually and intellectually and wanted to help give other students the same opportunity.”

This year, students will travel to Catalina Island, Calif., Washington D.C., Sanford, Va., Goshen, Ind., Flint and Detroit.

Amanda Ray is a first-time ASB participant, but she is not new to the mission of civic engagement. Ray previously participated in a weekend service trip to Northern Michigan University.

“On my first service trip to Northern Michigan, I saw firsthand that poverty doesn’t just live within urban areas,” said Ray.

Ray’s ASB trip to Flint will focus on health access and urban poverty.

“As a health policy major I have studied through textbooks how health access and policy are supposed to work theoretically. This trip will allow me to see in practice what the difficulties are of getting individuals educated on healthcare and how to get them the access they need,” she said.

Students interested in community involvement can visit the CIViC office located in the University Center or email Amy Karaban Finley.