Longwood has participated in Alternative Breaks for a little over a decade helping communities with food justice, environmental justice, social justice and more. For a week during spring break, two different groups travelled to New Orleans and St. Louis to serve the communities in different ways.
In New Orleans, the students focused their service on environmental justice work. They helped get rid of non-native species called cat’s claw that was taking over the trees. They also worked with other non-profits that work on community issues in the area. Associate Director of Campus Recreation Gus Hemmer was the faculty adviser for the New Orleans group.
On their way to New Orleans, the group had the opportunity to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Selma to Montgomery March. They participated in a reenactment of the voting rights march with civil rights leaders including Jesse Jackson.
“That (the march) was just amazing to be a part of and to see how far we have come because of those people and their efforts and how a lot of that stuff is still important today to think about and remember,” said Hemmer.
In St. Louis, the students worked with people infected and affected by AIDS. They served at a housing facility called Doorways for people affected by HIV and AIDS. Junior Emma Gratto was a student leader for the St. Louis trip.
“We helped paint their learning center which is where kids that live at the facility could go and get tutoring” said Gratto.
They also had the opportunity to play bingo with the residents one afternoon. Two other days, the group served at St. Louis Effort for AIDS where they put together condom and information packets to be distributed to people so they know where they can go for comfort and treatment.
“Both of the community partners that we worked with were very grateful for the time that we took to come help them,” said Gratto.
The group that travelled to New Orleans included about 9 students and the St. Louis group included about 13 students. Assistant Director of Student Conduct and Integrity Sarah Loth and Program Coordinator for Citizen Leadership and Social Justice Education Jordan Bynum were the two faculty advisers for the St. Louis group.
Hemmer viewed Alternative Breaks as a way for students to develop as citizen leaders.
“It broadens their horizon to issues out there. It introduces them to new communities… It challenges them in their comfort zone,” said Hemmer.
Gratto viewed the Alternative Break as a success from the standpoint of a student.
“I think from the standpoint of the students that we took a lot of people kind of had a change in what they thought of the AIDS epidemic that came out of the 1980s as well as the stigma that still surrounds HIV and AIDS today,” said Gratto.
Financial planning for next year’s Alternative Breaks has already taken place. The post service meeting is coming up soon where students will brainstorm ideas for their next destinations to serve.
