By Paige Quiggins

While some students migrated south to the beach, others headed in less predictable directions, soaking in community service instead of sun rays.
The Alternative Spring Breaks offered this year, were coordinated in a variety of ways, according to Pam Curtis director and Kim Shaver service learning coordinator.  Both are part of the Civic Engagement, Leadership and Service Office.
While each individual who participated in the ASBs had a variety of serving endeavors, each was for a common purpose.
“We are a community here on this earth and to think that people in other neighborhoods, states or even right next door to you don’t affect you would be a blatant lie to yourself,” said public health graduate students Tanya Frantz. “We need to recognize that we are all human and to love is to serve.”

Destination- West Louisville:
Aakriti Mehta, a sophomore biology and Spanish double major, and nine others did not travel far to stay in the Edge Mission house on 22nd Street in Louisville’s West End. Over the break, Mehta’s group worked in local after school programs, painted houses, restored windows and performed yard work.
“This is a good opportunity for [students] to do something productive and give back to the community during their down time,” said Mehta.
Vista for civic engagement Kara Morrell and coordinator of student leadership Gerome Stephens worked with New Directions Housing to make aesthetic changes to homes in West Louisville through Repair Affair, an organization that helps lower-income individuals seek out restorative aid.
Emon Chalwell, a freshman psychology major said all the plywood boards covering up windows in West Louisville burned an image in her mind. She added that it was interesting to learn about and help the future restorative plans for the area that was once a highly desired residential location. 

Destination- New Orleans, LA:
Junior communication major DeShara Doub and 25 others spent time in the Lower Ninth Ward of New Orleans, LA, with the student non-violent coordinating committee, SNCC.
According to Doub, kids from SNCC were there to tend to anything they could for elderly or those individuals unable to do it themselves, by simply mowing the lawn due to a new a law in New Orleans which places limits on the height of grass. Doub said the vast array of Hurricane Katrina damages is still present today and a majority of the work done was mucking through homes, applying drywall or house painting.

Destination- Black Mountain, NC:
 “Students come together and work hard the whole week and have a lot of fun learning about themselves, others, the community and the issues they are dealing with,” said Joe Frey, graduate teaching assistant.
Frey visited Black Mountain, NC, as part of a food literacy program. On this same trip, junior social work major Emily Peeler and senior biology major Van Luong helped sow seeds in a community garden used to eventually feed impoverished people.

Destination- Peterstown, WV:
Tanya Frantz, visited Scottie’s Place camp in Peterstown, WV, with the School of Public Health and Information Sciences, SPHIS. The organization is geared towards empowering and helping homeless children. Frantz and others were able to meet with the group members to seek out an alternative school and discuss education and health issues within the community.

Destination- Belize:
Junior sports administration Stephanie Bonenberger and 41 others traveled abroad to Belize.
Students in Belize held dental health clinics, women’s health seminars and engaged with the youth in the city through educational programs. Also, they interviewed the youth to identify problems within the community agriculture, education and other areas.
 “You’re rich if you have a concrete floor… their houses are basically dirt floor, wood sides and palm branches for a roof and they’re happy,” Bonenberger said.

Destination- South Africa:
Senior geography major Joe McAloon had a unique experience and traveled to Johannesburg and Estcourt, South Africa with Do Missions, Inc. with nine others.
McAloon said the ammonia-scented homes they visited demonstrated the vast cultural differences in acceptable hygiene. It was common for citizens to walk around barefoot amongst the free-roaming livestock.
Learning about the horrendous AIDS/HIV outbreaks inspired him to get involved with local and national awareness organizations.
“It was an eye opening experience,” he said.