"This past week I flew with a small group of students to Meridian, Mississippi to spend a week working with Habitat for Humanity. I was able do this through Suffolk’s Alternative Spring Break program, which encourages students to address issues in the greater community, including community development, human rights, and environmental conservation. The trip to Meridian focused on restoring the home of an elderly man, while exposing all of us on the trip to a new culture and new people. In a whirlwind of sweet tea, deep fried everything, and community service, this week opened my eyes to the abject poverty that exists here in the United States. I learned that Mr. Henderson, the homeowner, had lived in his home for over 45 years and raised five children there. Through learning about the loss of his wife, meeting his cousins, and discussing his plans to visit Boston 70 years in the making, I came to respect and understand the lifestyle of this complete stranger. This trip also introduced me to some students at Suffolk I had never encountered before, and it brought me closer to the ones I knew only through class. We were such a diverse and dynamic group, but together we were able to have amazing conversations and make connections we plan to sustain through Tuesday lunch dates. My trip to Mississippi has undoubtably become a highlight of my Suffolk experience, and it is an experience I would recommend to anyone willing to spend a week on an air mattress. " -Mia Knausenberger, Tutor "I went to Denver Colorado. My group worked with habitat for humanity to build homes for those who cannot afford it. Our work was to do the dry wall for four amazing days. I have learned so much about myself and those who were with me. I have seen how giving back can make people so happy and become close friends. I learned that our happiness depends on others and if we make other people happy we become happy. All the volunteers I met were so happy in what they were doing and they believe in the oneness of people. One of the most thoughtful lessons I have learned is that the best way to help is to give people a hand up not a hand out and therefore we have a moral obligation to those around us." Cherno Jallow, Tutor "This is my second year being a part of Suffolk’s Alternative Spring Break program, but this year I had the honor of leading our trip to Philadelphia. The Philly ASB trip is unlike any of the others – rather than working with Habitat for Humanity or other similar organizations, my group got a chance to work with an array of organizations in the city, all of which work to help the city’s LGBTQ community. It’s tough to organize, but once we’re in the city, it is an incredibly rewarding trip. We sorted donations and re-shelved the books in the Free Library’s Barbara Gittings Collection (a huge wall of all gay and lesbian books), collected healthcare enrollment cards out on the street to help Equality Pennsylvania, sorted clothes at Philly AIDS Thrift (all proceeds go to the AIDS Fund – their goal is $1 million!), and packed safe-sex kits at the Mazzoni Center. Alongside the service work, we visited an awesome place called the Attic Youth Center, a safe space with tons of after school programs for LGBT teens, got tested for HIV and other STDs, visited the Eastern State Penitentiary, Rocky Steps, Independence Hall, Liberty Bell, and generally explored some of the best parts of the city and specifically the Gayborhood—including visiting one of the oldest gay/lesbian book stores in the country. It was a jam-packed but amazing week. I gained a lot of valuable leadership experience that I didn’t quite expect—I appreciate the power of delegation and trusting the people I’m leading, and I appreciate the importance of careful organization and planning. In our nightly reflections, my group also opened me up to new perspectives on service and what it means to do it when you don’t get a lot of praise or even that warm fuzzy feeling people always talk about. I was lucky to have an absolutely incredible co-leader, pair of facilitators, and group of 10 participants by my side for the week. This trip was truly the highlight of this academic year." Aubrey Bryan, Tutor
2 Comments
Tanner Huynh
4/8/2014 12:53:51 am
What a great ASB trip!
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Fran
4/9/2014 01:04:59 am
This looks like so much fun!
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