Pre-trip Dinner

Most of the participants this evening had the opportunity to join together for some dinner and bonding. A great welcome back to Oglethorpe from winter break and a bit of group bonding. 

Tomorrow we depart!

The Details

All of the Fun Details

A brief explanation of what we will be doing and where we will be going

Where we are staying

We will be staying at Camp Hope which is a bunkhouse for volunteers who are doing service in the Greater New Orleans area. This bunkhouse provides affordable lodging opportunities for groups. They are also providing food for the participants on the trip.

Where are we serving

We are planning to serve with four different organizations during our time in New Orleans, all focusing on Hunger & Homelessness issues in various capacities.

A Community Voice

A nonprofit of community members that bring together individuals that have common interests to improve the quality of their lives.  Their focus is on job campaigns, fair housing, and rebuilding of neighborhoods.

Second Harvest Food Bank

As the largest charitable anti-hunger group in South Louisiana, the Food Bank helps provide food and other resources to individuals who are in need.

Boys & Girls Club

Access to education and care for the youth is an important issue, and Boys & Girls Club works to encourage youth to achieve their full potential.

New Orleans Mission

An interdenominational organization provides services for homeless men.  They do this through assisting the homeless with shelters as well as providing clothing and personal guidance to individuals facing homelessness.

What we will be doing

The trip is more than just service.  Participants will be engaging in various activities throughout the entire week that provides a complete experience.

Service

Service is the primary purpose of the trip.  Students will be engaging in up to 8 hours of direct service day day.  This service is done with the community in mind and with local organizations. Part of the service involves interacting and talking with community members.  These include the members of the organization and community members and youth who are involved with the service.

Katrina Museum

Students will spend one morning at the Katrina Museum, a production of the Louisiana State Museum.  These exhibits will let students understand the experience of those who were affected by Hurricane Katrina as well as gain a glimpse into the complex nature of rebuilding.

Visiting Lower 9th Ward & Columbia Park

One afternoon will be spent in the Lower 9th Ward, close to where the participants will be lodged.  This will be time to better understand why the levees failed and the socio-political nature of issues with the flood walls. A visit to Columbia Park will also take place which will allow students to see a neighborhood that has been developed in the same way the East Lake Neighborhood in Atlanta has been developed. 

Exploration Day

It is important that one day students get to explore New Orleans and gain a greater appreciation for the culture and rich traditions that are present.  It paints a wonderful picture of why people love their hometown and fight for the restoration and ongoing growth of The Big Easy

Reflection

Every night the students will conclude with critical reflection.  This is a time for the participants to understand what happened that day, so what the service meant to them and to the community, and now what can be done as result of increased knowledge.  Some of the reflection may appear throughout this blog during the week.

What is an Alternative Break?

What is the Alternative?

Amid college students spending their spring, winter, or summer breaks relaxing, working, celebrating, and catching up on life, there are groups of students who recognize that they wish to become active citizens of a broader community.  Instead of spending a week at home, these students set out to participate in an Alternative Break.

The Alternative Break trip is a structured experience where college students engage in service and immersion with a community for a week.  Structured around a social issue, these trips are highly intensive and immersive experiences.  While students spend the week doing service and interacting with local community members in the location where they travel, they are also engaging in critical discussion and reflection around the social issue.   Through this experience, students are challenged to think differently and ask critical questions to get at root causes of systemic social issues. 

Through these trips, many college students are becoming active citizens, striving for what is best in their own communities and communities around he world.  While these trips take students to various cities and countries, they recognize the interconnected nature of the work they do. Upon returning to campus, they are equipped to enter communities and engage in dialogue as result of their trip. 

Alternative Breaks have been happening on college campuses since the early 1990s, and have grown to be a nation wide movement. Oglethorpe University is a part of this nation wide movement engaging students in a trip to New Orleans each Winter Break and a trip to Guatemala every other Spring Break.