Welcome to a new semester with Alterna ve Breaks! This year’s

Break Leaders and Directors have been gearing up since April for

another transforma ve year of service, educa on, and social jus ce

movement‐building. Our theme this year, “Solidarity in Ac on,” ex‐

emplifies our goal to re‐emphasize the importance of direct service

and our impact on the communi es with which we live and work.

We will embody this theme through:

Establishing “anchor organiza ons” with which we serve 8‐10

hours per trip so as to deepen our rela onship and move be‐

yond transac onal service

Increasing our total number of direct service hours from 2,800

to 4,200, which we es mate will result in roughly a $170,000

impact

Recognizing that community partners and members are our

best teachers. We believe that through construc ve dialogue,

they can help us to iden fy indigenous solu ons to pressing

social issues

In this newsletter… Community Partner Spotlight: Earlimart Family Center

Par cipant Tes monies

Meet the 2012‐2013 Team

Contact Informa on & How to Get Involved!

alternative breaks fall 2012

A Year in Review In 2011-2012, UC Berkeley’s Alternative Breaks… Provided 2,726 direct

service hours Engaged in 6,713 hours

of education and reflec-tion

Offered a new service-learning trip called “Environmental Justice: Examining Health, Building Community, Demanding Equity”

Became certified under the ASUC Green Certification Program

Received the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service

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Community Partner: Example Example Example

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Community Partner: Earlimart Family Center

“We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about 

progress and prosperity for our community.” ‐César Chávez

Focused on social injus ces facing migrant farm workers, last

year’s Central Valley trip con nued its standing partnership

with the Earlimart Family Center in Earlimart, CA. The Cen‐

ter’s mission is to “increase family success by providing a sys‐

tem of services culturally sensi ve, comprehensive and re‐

sponsive, to our families’ unique needs” and it does this

through providing different resources and opportuni es, such

as food, clothing, health, educa on, and job training. A large

part of their program involves preparing high school students

in the area for higher educa on. Many of these students’ par‐

ents are migrant farm workers who do not have the re‐

sources to help their children navigate the American system

of higher educa on. Par cipants on the Central Valley trip

had the opportunity to meet and engage with some of these

high school students on the first day of their trip last year.

The students shared stories about their experiences growing

up in Earlimart and the issues they faced, while break par ci‐

pants shared some of their own experiences with higher edu‐

ca on and the struggles they overcame in ge ng where they

are now. They shared stories, advice, and discussed what

they had learned already about the history of immigrant and

migrant farm workers. As one break leader explains, “It was a

great experience being warmly welcomed into a community

and dialoguing with high school students about college and

their experiences growing up in the Central Valley.” Opportu‐

ni es like this one to engage in meaningful dialogue with

community members are invaluable to the Alterna ve Breaks

experience because they strengthen our connec ons with

communi es. The prac ce of sharing and listening to stories

allows us to integrate community wisdom with our own ex‐

periences to help us live further into solidarity in ac on.

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Participant Testimonies

“During our visit to Sherman Indian High School, I

was amazed by Angel, who talked to us about re‐

sis ng cultural imperialism and reviving her own

cultural heritage. I asked myself: Can we imagine

and build a world of cultural diversity and mutual

acceptance where no one is marginalized for who

they are?” ‐Jun‐Yi Luan, Campo ‘12 “The most powerful part of my trip was standing in

line and ea ng at Glide Memorial’s dining hall. We

could have learned sta s cs and social theories in

any class, but with Alterna ve Breaks we learned

what poverty is straight from the people who are

experiencing it.” ‐Lindy Groark, Homelessness ‘12

“I realized what a special experience it is to meet

the people producing our food. On the trip, I saw

just how physically commi ed small farmers are to

their farms, and how they value their agricultural

prac ces. I am grateful for their dedica on.”

‐Hannah Berman, Food Jus ce ‘12

“I did not expect to learn so much about the struc‐

tural issues that are present in New Orleans, and

the effect that they have on the people in the city.”

‐Par cipant, NOLA ‘12

“I will never forget si ng in the Tucson courtroom

and watching Opera on Streamline in ac on. I re‐

member thinking, ‘Is this really jus ce?’ and ‘What

can I do to stop this? How can we help these peo‐

ple?’ “ ‐Ka e Rice, Arizona Immigra on ‘12

“My most powerful memory is of our visit to the

homeless shelter, Midnight Mission. That experi‐

ence erased away all traces of doubt I had le

about what I wanted to accomplish in the future

that would help make a difference in people’s

lives.” ‐Lydia Hu, LA Health ‘12

Alternative Breaks 2012-2013

The Alternative Breaks program is led by twenty student break leaders, four student directors, and one Cal Corps staff mem-ber. Our 2012-2013 leadership

team is excited to spend this year training and planning to facilitate meaningful service-

learning experiences for partici-pants and community

partners.

Break Leader Spotlight: Sean Flores I remember the day hip‐hop struck me emo onally as I drew connec ons between

lyrics and my community, and it ignited a newfound passion to advocate for social

jus ce. Although my determina on to fight for equality was hindered by financial

obliga ons early on, I knew my enthusiasm would bloom once I set foot in Berke‐

ley. It was Cal Corps that provided that space as they allowed me to explore inter‐

ests I had as an ac vist. I fought for equitable educa on as a Bonner Leader, I saw

the immigra on debate on the ground through Alterna ve Breaks in Arizona, and

witnessed the government’s role in these issues as I interned at the White House

through Cal in the Capital. Cal Corps also supports my facilita on of the Teach in Prison DeCal as they guide

me in developing and honing my leadership skills. With unstoppable determina on, I am ready to change the

world; however, it is Cal Corps, both faculty and programs that teach me the mechanics behind effec ve

leadership, such as communica on, facilita on, and teamwork. Because of Cal Corps, I have a vision and am

equipped with the tools to create change, which I plan on doing this spring in Arizona as a Break Leader,

hopefully having a similar impact on others that hip‐hop had on me.

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“On the Animal Welfare trip, students must step outside of their com‐

fort zones and are forced to reconsider what they believe to be ethical

treatment of animals. By working with community members, students

get first‐hand experience of how people are successfully comba ng ani‐

mal cruelty.” ‐Rachel Tenerelli, Animal Welfare Leader ‘13

“Seeing the physical struggle that the farmers go through definitely al‐

lowed me to put a face to the migrant farmworker issue. These farmers

were climbing super tall ladders carrying 80 and 100 pounds. It is a haz‐

ard.” ‐Meena Nagappan, Central Valley Leader ‘13

Communications Director Sarah Ducker

Community Partnerships Director Ka Hinman

Resource Director   Danielle Ngo

Training and Sustainability Director Chika Kondo

Immersion Experiences Program Manager, Cal Corps Sunshine Workman

Alternative Breaks Spring 2013 Where the Wild Things Are: Rethinking Social Jus ce  to Include Our Furry Friends…………………………………………………………………………..Casie Lee and Rachel Tenerelli

We Are All Arizona: Confron ng the A acks on Difference ………………………………. Sean Flores and Zully Juarez 

Voices of the Unheard: The Struggle for Equality and Rights      in Indian Country…………………………………………………………………………………. Paige Clark and Jesse Du on‐Kenny 

Holis c Harvest: Rural Communi es in the Central Valley………………….Liz Fairweather and Meena Nagappan 

Environmental Jus ce: Examining Health, Building  Community, Demanding Equity………………………………………………………………………Priscilla Chang and Kari Miller 

Food for Thought: Food Jus ce and Sustainability………………………………….Omri Avraham and Kayleigh Barnes 

Give Me Shelter: An Explora on of Homelessness  and Poverty………………………………………………………………………………………. Julie Ann Nepomuceno and Donna Ni 

NOLA: Hidden, Revealed, Forgo en……………………………………………………………. Joe Ramos and Jae Young Ryoo 

San Diego/Tijuana: Too Many Walls, Not Enough Bridges…………...Jessica Garcia Ibarra and Isabeth Mendoza 

Premium Health, High Premium: Issues with US Healthcare……………………………..Jon Baio and Tanvi Ghonasgi 

“I learned more about the Chevron refinery and the

nearby chemical companies and their contribu ons

to pollu on. Hearing personal accounts about the

fight against Chevron shed new light on how corpo‐

ra ons can perpetuate environmental problems

through their corrup on and greed.”

‐Par cipant, Environmental Jus ce ‘12

“Being able to hear what really happened during

Hurricane Katrina and witnessing the lack of progress

and development within the Lower Ninth Ward, re‐

minded me that social injus ces are everywhere,

one simply needs to actually see. We need to stop

and really view what is happening all around us.”

‐Par cipant, New Orleans ‘12

“The issue of affordable healthcare is crucial and

brings to mind a difficult ques on: is being able to

take care of your health a right or a privilege? Too

many people are daunted by the complica ons of

healthcare—this trip will help open your eyes to its

intricacies.” ‐Tanvi Ghonasgi, LA Health ‘13

“A er leaving the Border Patrol tour I felt frustrated

and very upset with the rhetoric they used; howev‐

er, this anger and frustra on turned into ac vism.

The experience I had with them has encouraged me

even more to mobilize the community to claim our

dignity and respect as human beings. We are s ll

here figh ng and struggling every day for our

people. “

‐Par cipant, San Diego/Tijuana ‘12

Get Involved with

Alternative Breaks!

Host a dinner for one of our spring break trips

Visit a spring semester

DeCal as a guest speaker

Form a community partnership with one of our

trips

Cal Corps Alternative Breaks University of California, Berkeley

102 Sproul Hall Berkeley, CA 94720-4550

http://publicservice.berkeley.edu/ alternativebreaks

altbreaks@berkeley.edu

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Please consider making a tax-deductible donation at

tinyurl.com/altbreaksfund. Alterna ve Breaks leaders and par cipants work hard

through grant wri ng, fundraising, and le er campaigns to

maintain the affordability and accessibility of this program.

For over ten years, we have been able to provide this pro‐

gram opportunity at a highly subsidized cost to many stu‐

dents from many backgrounds. None of this is possible

without your support. A $25 dona on supports a scholar‐

ship for a highly‐qualified student with financial need. A

$50 dona on covers course materials for an en re trip. A

$100 dona on covers a week of communal housing and

$500 feeds a trip of 14 students for one week. We also

welcome in‐kind dona ons of course materials, food, and

other supplies.

Stay tuned for our spring newsletter for more from this year’s participants,

leaders, and community partners!

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