About Alternative Breaks Program
Central Michigan University's Mary Brandell Volunteer Center offers a volunteering program that includes a week long of service at locations matching a social justice issue. This program is ranked nationally among other universities for... I had the opportunity to go on two alternative break programs each serving a social justice issue centered around lower-economic status communities including that of the youth.
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Charleston, South Carolina: Winter 2016
Social Justice Issue: Youth Advocacy
At the Carolina Youth Development Center, Katelin along with 11 other volunteers were able to prepare the center for the Christmas holiday season. They offer many programs at their center along with Big Sisters, Big Brothers taking in hundreds of donated gifts many families in need of cheer. Residents also lived at the facility in residential homes on site. These children were under the age of 18 and had suffered either from neglect, abuse, or abandonment. Some residents still had family in the picture, however, could not have custody of them due to their personal situations. It was an amazing experience to get to wrap gifts for residents as the volunteers got to know personality by what they had asked for Christmas. It was tear-jerking to get to know the amount of generosity and love the community has for the kids by the amount of gifts given. Many gifts if not all were high quality including iPods, $100 gift cards, Blue Angel jacket pins, Nike shoes, etc. For some fun, the volunteers and Katelin played basketball with some residents that needed some competition. The local aquarium had also made a visit to the residents bringing exotic animals. |
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Detroit, MI: Summer 2017
Social Justice Issue: Urban Education/Poverty
Originally planned was that Katelin's group to work with the Detroit Public Schools. At last minute change, the volunteer group ended up serving more than just urban education, but a variety of issues that impact the city of Detroit. CASS Social Services put the group to work in the soup kitchen preparing lunch to anyone who needed a meal in the community for free. The group worked with Special Education Adults in the Recreation center of CASS by helping with basic learning skills to improve social job skills. These students also work in the shredding facility for a small paycheck, which the group had the experience of helping with shredding confidential documents from local offices. Recycling also occurred with old tires in raising money for CASS by making door mats out of shredded tire, beads and wire. The amount of job opportunity for people with special needs was incredible. CASS also builds tiny homes. The volunteer group helped paint the entire interior of a tiny home that would house individuals who are homeless. If they pay a small rent for 7 years, they can then own the home themselves gaining their own address. On the side, the group spent two days raking leaves and cleaning the outdoors of Livonia's YMCA preparing the facility for the incoming summer camp. They raked leaves and dragged the piles on a tarp to the woods. |
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