Fall 2001
Chicago
Leaders: Rob Barron '02 and Claudia Ochoa '04 Would you like to spend your Fall break working with children? Would you like to spend some time in Chicago? Are you willing to immerse yourself in a different culture? We will be working with teachers in the Head Start program Casa Central, entertaining, planning activities, and teaching kids. Casa Central is a non-profit organization that works with families in a predominantly Latino community. Throughout the week we will be volunteering in the mornings but we will have free evenings to enjoy the Chicago area.
Minneapolis
Leaders: Rachel Esslinger '04 and Shannon Heffernan '04 The break down of community is a current concern for many. Historically artwork, particularly public art, has minimized the isolation that results. It achieves this first by creating bonds among those who participate in the art, and secondly, by opening lines of communication. We are hoping to do just that, by planning a community based mural project in Minneapolis, MN, which will hopefully involve the immigrant and refugee populations. The whole group will work not only to produce a mural that will beautify the given neighborhood, but will also contribute to developing relationships based in understanding within that neighborhood. If time allows, we also hope to work with youth of the community within an English as a Second Language and cultural adaptation program.
Grinnell
Leaders: Noe Montez '03 and Geoff Swenson '03 The Grinnell Alt Break will primarily focus on service activities that will take place within the town of Grinnell. We will be focusing on a myriad of vents ranging from working with some environmental groups, to doing some shelter work with the Catholic Workers Group in Des Moines, preparing and serving a meal for the community dinner, and working with kids who have mental disabilities, and then with the town kids at large during the All Treats No Tricks Halloween event. This alt break will allow enough flexibility so that athletes or student employees staying in Grinnell for Fall break will be able to participate in several of the service projects. This is a great way to improve the relationships between the town of Grinnell and our fine academic institution.
