Tornado Relief in Joplin
Leaders: Ryan Creps, Cynthia Amezcua
Dates: March 17 – March 31
After a successful trip in the fall in which Grinnellians cleaned up the
rubble left behind in tornado- stricken Joplin, Missouri, they are
called back by the ethos of social justice to help rebuild the city. The
service and relief oriented trip will pick up where the previous trip
left off – laying the foundations for new homes. This time around,
participants will continue constructing houses and returning people to
their homes. After working for hours, participants will take some time
each night to reflect on their experiences, try to understand the impact
of the tornado, and all while building friendships. There is no doubt
that the trip will prove very rewarding and show Grinnellians an issue
where social justice is not prevailing. Thus, participants can expect to
have both physically strenuous and emotionally trying days. So, if you
are up to the challenge, interested in building close relationships with
fellow Grinnellians and other Midwesterners, and create social change,
come to Joplin with Ryan and Cynthia!
Community Development in Atlanta
Leaders: Kevin Hong, Lauren Emery
Dates: March 17 – March 31
We will travel to City of Refuge in Atlanta, Georgia, an organization that
works on community development in one of the most impoverished areas in
the state. For our group, this community development will include
preparing and serving meals to the homeless, preparing and distributing
food and hygiene items to those who need it, and helping with light
landscaping, building, and cleaning projects in the area. We may also
help out at School Starts, an afterschool program for local grade school
children. These activities will provide the opportunity to work as a
group in a nonprofit organization. By participating in these activities,
and interacting closely with members of the community, we will take a
small step toward helping this community realize a safer and more
sustainable future.
Sustainable Farming in Grinnell
Leaders: Lucy Marcus, Kai Mayer
Dates: March 17 – March 31
Here in Grinnell we are surrounded by farms, most which are corporate. The
local independent farms in Iowa struggle to compete with these huge
corporate farms, even though the quality of their food and production
practices usually far surpasses those of the industrial farms. On our
Alternative Break trip, we will be working on two local and sustainable
farms in Grinnell. The first farm is that of Barney Bahrenfuse, a local
farmer who practices sustainable agriculture and needs people to help
him with several projects. We will build fences, clean out a hog house,
and garden, weather permitting. The second farm we will be working on is
the Grinnell Sustainable Agriculture Project (GSAP) farm. Here we will
be plowing land and planting potatoes (again, weather permitting) that
will eventually be served at our own dining hall. We will also prepare
the farm for the arrival of 400 chickens. By that time, there will
hopefully be new baby piglets that will need tending. Because our
ability to do certain farm jobs depends on the weather, we have several
back-up service opportunities lined up. We might work with MICA,
Community Meal, or Second Mile.
The Camphill Community in Minnesota
Leaders: Lorena Ulloa, Teddy Geiger
Dates: March 17 – March 31
The Camphill Community, located in Sauk Centre Minnesota, is composed of
approximately 45 people with a varying spectrum of abilities. The people
work in unison on a farm so as to maintain a sustainable lifestyle. The
community focuses in providing an integrated lifestyle for people of
all abilities to have a specific function in the community. We will work
side by side with the community members in completing various tasks
such as aiding in the bakery, orchard, craft room, and farm. Our goal is
to learn about a lifestyle that is centered on understanding how a
community, made up of differently-abled people can maintain a
sustainable life and to help people with disabilities through a
combination of community life, the arts, work on the land, and through
the social interaction between the students and community members. We
will focus on aiding people with disabilities in a rural setting as we
help them live a full life that fulfills their natural human needs.
Preserving the Redwood National Park
Leaders: Marcus Zeitz, Mike McHugh
Dates: March 17 – March 31
Want to learn about the environment while protecting some of its oldest
organisms, the sequoia sempervirens? Come with us for a two-week trip to
the Redwood National Park in Northern California. We plan to help
preserve coastal ecosystems while developing a lifelong commitment to
environmental stewardship. We will carry out numerous volunteer
activities – from invasive species control to trail maintenance (and
everything in between) – with the help of the Redwood National Park
staff and housing provided by the National Park Service. In so doing, we
hope not only to preserve the pristine natural beauty of this location,
but also to build a strong community of friends dedicated to teamwork,
personal growth, and the environment – in other words, persons committed
to fulfilling the Alternative Break vision of “creating a community of
active citizens.”
