ATL Summary

The Atlanta alternative break trip was an incredible learning experience, which everyone should have a chance to try at one point during his or her college journey. During the trip we had some good laughs, got to know a lot of new people and learned a lot about the inequality many Americans face in this country and how that impacts their daily lives in the form of food insecurity.

The 12-hour commute to Atlanta on Saturday in the terrible weather was well worth it because the trip was full of unforgettable memories. On the first day we spent in Atlanta, we went to a community garden, which was run by the “Gardening Queen”. After our service we had some free time so we went on a hike, to the famous Cascade skating rink and exploring around the city. Day 2 our service was at Reloom a social service/business that, in addition to providing permanent supportive housing, creates jobs, teaches skills, and supports sustainability through employing people who previously experienced homelessness to weave products with recycled fabric. Our third day, we continued weaving at Reloom and then had a lunch with some employees from active citizen, Alternative Breaks national mother organization and then did some exploring of downtown Atlanta. The next day was a more educational based day, we went to Hunger 101, a workshop about food insecurity at the Atlanta food bank, then we sorted nearly 9k lbs of produce worth almost 7.5k meal for people in need. On our last service day we went to the Martin Luther King museum where we happened to run into some fellow Alternative breakers from NYU. We then headed to our service for the day at a the non-profit Books for Africa, where we helped organize and pack books that would be sent to libraries in Africa with limited educational resources. Our very last day was a rest day, we headed to the Atlanta Historic Center to learn about how the local history then we headed to Mary Mac's, a local favorite restaurant. Over all we had an adventurous week, we made the best out of our early morning and labor-intensive work and gained so much gratification in the process of giving back to those who really needed it.

-Shanice

Alternative Break Wrap-Up

Service is giving back to the community and those in need. In the past, I have demonstrated service by collecting and donating canned goods to food pantries. Additionally, I have donated gently used clothes to Salvation Army so that those who do not have them may use them. While my actions were very thoughtful, I missed the element of interacting with the less fortunate. As a result, I decided to join Alternative Breaks: Atlanta to study how I could solve the issues surrounding poverty, food security and access so that it does not continue in the future. 

During the week, the group worked with several community partners on different service projects that benefited the Atlanta community one way or another. For example, on Monday we visited the West End Community Urban Garden. We pulled weeds and put topsoil down to help prepare the garden for harvesting. I learned from Haylene, also known as the Gardening Queen, that she trains local citizens how to garden and sells the produce from her garden to local markets. She serves as a pipeline to fixing the food desert in the community. Another example would be when we visited the Initiative for Affordable Housing site. This organization provides housing assistance to homeless and low-income families. They also own a weaving shop called Re:Loom where those who participate in the housing assistance program are employed to make crafty things such as rugs, dog collars, and purses from old fabric. Although my job as a volunteer to cut up fabric seemed very trivial, I was actually lessened the burden and further progressed the job of others. The last example would be Wednesday when we worked at the Atlanta Community Food Bank. After packing boxes full of cucumbers and green bell peppers, I was satisfied knowing that the time I spent would provide 7, 363 meals. 

Overall, I enjoyed the Alternative Break experience. I believe I fulfilled the vision for the program. I became educated on the social issue of poverty and food insecurity. I found ways within the Atlanta community on how to solve such important problem. Lastly, I developed the virtues of compassion and empathy. It makes me feel great at the end of the day to know that I have been a part of something bigger than me.

-Ciera 

Chia Bars are so delicious!!

Health Warrior was gracious to donate boxes of coconut and peanut butter Chia Bars to our experience! We found that they were excellent for quick breakfast, alongside sandwiches at lunch, and for an afternoon snack.

We are so grateful for their generosity to help us keep our cost low and allow more individuals to afford the experience.

Throughout the week, Chia Bars came in handy as we were rushing out the door to serve the community in Atlanta, when we were hiking in Sweetwater Creek Park, and when we were bonding with each other waiting for meal time!

The entire Alternative Breaks Atlanta team is so thankful for Health Warrior and can't extend enough gratitude to you!

Two Becomes One

UMD and NYU unite in Atlanta! The University of Maryland and New York University Alternative Breakers ran into each other in front of the Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site. Before a day of service we explored the rich history rooted in Atlanta, a major battleground in the Civil Rights movement. We learned about the motivation and legacy behind Dr. King and shared our experience with other Alternative Breakers. After visiting the historic site, we started our day of service at Books for Africa. We sorted and boxed books for children and young people in Africa. A lot of thought went into the service. We thought about how to sort books for appropriate age groups so that they would be impactful for those reading them. This was a great opportunity to give back. The day ended with laughs and a delicious meal with “the squad.” The highlight of this trip so far is the relationships we are all developing with the community here in Atlanta, and each other. I believe we have all become more compelled to serve our community because of the laughs and joy it brings all of us.

-Kirk

Food for Thought

Today, we visited the Atlanta Community Food Bank where we actively learned more about food poverty.  We were given a tour of the warehouse, learning about what types of products are in demand and how food is given to distribution points throughout the city.  Then, we engaged in a quick 101 class on what exactly defines food poverty and different methods to alleviate it, such as food stamp programs.  Then, we worked in the warehouse with multiple volunteers, sorting out and packaging food.  We were definitely surprised by the humble roots of ACFB and how it has developed into a staple of the community, creating programs to address all needs of the community, such as the Kids in Need program to help local teachers obtain much needed school supplies for the classroom.

During our volunteer work, we got to meet a lot of great people, learning more and more about the community.  In particular, there was a group of volunteers that were at the Food Bank twice a week for the past 16 months.  Their joy and sheer dedication to volunteering gave us a new perspective on the importance of giving back to the community and sharing our experiences with others.  With communication, we can spread awareness of important issues and get more and more people involved in preventing food poverty.  After a long day of packing and sorting vegetables, we went to Sweetwater Creek Park in Atlanta and had a group walk, taking in a little more of this great community.  Day 4 of 6, in the books.

-Will

Re:Loom Part 2

Today we went back to re:loom to continue our service. We cut fabric for the organization while others were rolling the cut fabric and ripping seams. This work went towards helping the employees loom different products, such as, wallets, bags, carpets, bracelets, etc. After we were done with our service we went to the re:loom store to buy products made by the workers. Re:loom gives jobs to low-income people in order to build their confidence and a chance to earn money. We were surprised about the quality of the end products because as we were cutting the fabric we didn’t think that it would be that it could turn into something tangible. Actually seeing the products made us feel we did something important for the people who run the organization and the workers.

In our free time, we went to lunch with workers from Break Away who are involved in AB program. During our lunch we played Flash and we learned more about each other. After lunch some of us got ice cream, some got more food and we had fun in Decatur Square. After we went to Atlanta to Olympic Park, explored the Coca Cola store, went to the green foundation, played Frisbee, and went to get more ice cream. Then we went to Grant Park, that is two blocks away from where we are staying, and walked around and played on the swings. After we ate dinner and watch a TedTalk about vulnerability, we had reflection on being vulnerable and why it is necessary when serving others. 

-Leisha & Chisato

Sew What?

Activities: Today was our second day in Atlanta, and this time, we helped out at the Initiative for Affordable Housing. The Initiative for Affordable Housing is a non-profit organization which takes donated clothes and fabrics and recycles them in order to make new rugs, bags, scarves, etc. (with a focus on making new rugs). Lisa, the head supervisor of the whole place, showed us around the different facilities of the initiative. We met another lady named Rhonda, who was in charge of cutting cloth and rolling it into balls for the weavers to make into different items. After we spoke with Rhonda, we met a man named Fred who seemed to be one of the more experienced hands behind the looms. He showed us the process of taking cloth that was rolled by Rhonda and her volunteers and weaving it to make different items. After we were introduced to the different processes that go into making new items, we went back upstairs to help Rhonda cut the cloths up and roll them up into balls. After doing that for a few hours, we had to go, but we told them we would come back tomorrow and help out some more. We’re probably going to work with the looms next time around.

Takeaways: Although I didn’t see a much deeper meaning in today’s work like I did yesterday, I did like the way Lisa and co. treated us today. They were very open to answering any questions that we had about the process of cutting/rolling the cloths up and if that still wasn’t enough, they would actually do some of it for us in order to demonstrate. They never showed any signs of being annoyed or tired of us despite the mistakes that we made (since it was our first time doing something like this). They were very understanding of the fact that we were new to the process and we were just looking to help the community. I was also very fond of the way our trip leaders treated us. They answered our questions in the same friendly manner as Lisa and they helped keep the job fun by passing the time with fun conversations. Overall, I was very pleased with everything that happened today and look forward to going back tomorrow.

-Geri

LesserEvil is AMAZING!

This year, ASB Atlanta was SO fortunate for LesserEvil to donate tons of snacks to our team! We needed the food for the long journey from Maryland to Atlanta, and to get us through our days.

Not only is the Buddha Bowl organic popcorn the ABSOLUTE BEST, skeptics have even fallen in love with their Super 4 lentil snacks.

Over the past two days, we have enjoyed the long lasting fuel that LesserEvil snacks have provided us! Check out the photos below and be sure to visit their website to shop or see what stores around you carry their great products! lesserevil.com

Haylene the Garden Queen

Today on our first full day in Atlanta after a long day of traveling we volunteered at a community garden. The garden was run by Haylene “The Garden Queen” and her husband. Throughout the day we worked in her garden and performed some manual labor in the beautiful Atlanta weather all while working with Haylene and listening to her crazy stories. After a long day of service we participated in a cook out at the garden and got a chance to relax with the group and learn more about Atlanta through Haylene. After our day of service we reflected on our service and the day as a whole. As a group we commended Haylene for looking out for members of her community and bringing them together through the community garden. While we were working members of the neighborhood and of Haylene’s family stopped by just to see what was going on. It was definitely a friendlier atmosphere than we’re used to surrounding Washington D.C. So far I’m really enjoying hanging out with the ASB Atlanta team and getting to know the area around us.

-Jamie

What It's All About

From the Regal to the Rotten Peaches of the South, What Happened? Food Security and Socioeconomic Equity in Atlanta, GA

With 25% of its population living below the poverty line, the Big Peach has a BIG problem. Not only are individuals and families struggling financially, they are unable to find enough healthy food to support an active, healthy lifestyle. An astounding 30% of residents in Georgia's Fulton County (home to Atlanta) live in an area classified by the USDA as a food desert, meaning they live more than 1 mile away from a supermarket with fresh, healthy, and affordable food.

Fifteen students from the University of Maryland are going to be spending their spring break delving into the root causes of food insecurity and socioeconomic equity in Atlanta, GA. We will be working with a variety of community organizations to learn about and tackle the troubles facing Atlanta’s vulnerable population. From Atlanta Community Food Bank to The Initiative for Affordable Housing and many organizations in between, the week will be packed with a multitude of opportunities to get our hands dirty and learn about the socioeconomic equity gap in Georgia’s capital city and the hometown of the Break Away Movement.

We can't wait to embark on this journey in just a few short weeks! Check back shortly to read about which amazing students will be participating this year!

About UMD Alternative Breaks:

Sponsored by the Adele H. Stamp Student Union-Center for Campus Life, Alternative Breaks (AB) coordinates substance-free, community service-learning trips during the university's winter, spring, and summer breaks. AB participants travel locally, nationally, and internationally in teams to engage in active service and gain new perspectives on social issues while meeting community needs and learning about and building upon community assets.
Students address social issues that include disaster relief, environmental restoration, HIV/AIDS, education, homelessness, healthcare, poverty, and immigration. AB's main goal is to educate participants about the root causes of these issues, while also making an immediate difference in the trips’ respective communities.
The AB program is an active member of Break Away: The Alternative Breaks Connection.  As part of that membership, AB adheres to the Eight Components of a Quality Alternative Break as described by Break Away®: 

• Strong Direct Service
• Orientation
• Education
• Training
• Reflection
• Reorientation
• Diversity
• Alcohol and Drug Free

In addition to these eight components, the Alternative Breaks program also adheres to the following elements:

• Simple Living and Sustainability: To lessen our impact on the communities within which we work, AB seeks to live simply and sustainably by spending as little as possible on housing (our goal is to eventually have low- to no-cost housing for all sites) and food (we spend an average of $7/person/day on food costs). Additionally, we are mindful of the resources we use and the environmental impact we will have on the location where we stay.

• Reciprocal Relationships with Community Partners: We strive to build long-term relationships with communities and partner with organizations in a way that benefits both the community and our participants.

• Social Justice Focus: Each of our trips concentrates on a social justice issue and participates in direct service related to that issue, with a focus on the issue’s root causes. Thinking critically about social justice as a whole provides participants the necessary tools to think critically about the issues they are engaging with.

• Leadership for Social Change: AB provides a variety of leadership and engagement opportunities, including trip leader and intern positions. We seek to empower participants to become change agents, and provide opportunities for those looking to “move up” in the organization and take on leadership roles that engage peers in critical discussion around social justice and social change.