The Center for Leadership and Service (CLS) will be hosting Alternative Spring Break, a service trip for student volunteers. It will transpire from March 8 to March 13, 2020, and gives students an opportunity to be productive and show their volunteerism over their time off from school.
This year, CLS is looking to emphasize the educational aspect of volunteering so that the students can take what they learn and implement it into their every day lives. To do so, volunteers will participate in workshops, presentations and reflections related to the topics of hunger and homelessness. This is a great opportunity for students that want to lend a helping hand and learn more about these topics and how they directly impact people and communities.
Cougar Volunteers will be headed to Washington, D.C. this year to help their community. Volunteers will be working with the Steinbruck Center located there, which is an organization that strives to educate people on homelessness and help create a conversation in the community about this important topic that impacts a lot of people.
Over the course of the trip, student volunteers will visit various work sites and participate in activities such as assisting with feeding programs, shelters and more in the Washington D.C. area.
Susan Figueroa, the Managing Assistant Director for CLS said, "Students can expect great camaraderie with other engaged students. They can expect to not only serve but to learn in the process."
She continued, "They will have exposure to professionals and personal testaments to further expand their understandings of the interconnectedness of social justice, food insecurity and homelessness. This Alternative Spring Break will be an example of service-learning in action."
Students must apply to be accepted into the trip. The application is due on Feb. 14, 2020, and can be accessed on Cougar Link under Cougar Volunteers. If the trip is to capacity, then applicants will be added to a waiting list and will be notified if a spot opens up. If one is accepted on to the trip, they will be notified by CLS via email or phone call.
To apply, students will need to provide the following information:
Full student name
Kean University student ID number
Home address and campus address (if applicable)
Contact phone number
Email address
Date of birth
General health information
Name of health insurance company
Emergency contact information for two contacts
Completion of an essay question
Be in good academic and conduct standing with the university
Those accepted to Alternative Spring Break will be provided with transportation, lodging and food for the duration of the trip. They will also have to pay an estimated $50 within 7 days of their acceptance to CLS in the Miron Student Center, Room 219 via cash, check or money order.
If one has questions or wants to learn more about Alternative Spring Break, be sure to contact CLS by visiting in the Miron Student Center Room 219, calling (908) 737-5170.
