#uci alternative break

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Alternative Spring Break: Addressing Poverty’s Impact on Families

Participant Post: Katrina  Hello! My name is Katrina Vergara and this spring break I went to San Francisco for Alternative Break. I applied for Alt Break because I wanted to have a productive and interesting spring break and I was definitely not disappointed with how things turned out. The days were very long and I took naps a lot whenever I could. It was very interesting to serve at the two different soup kitchens, (different in funding, different in demographics, different in serving capacity) and I enjoyed the experience but out of everything I really enjoyed spending time with the kids at St. Vincent’s day home. We always did a lot things during our days, but coming back to St. Vincent’s every day always felt like the most humbling experience. I really loved getting to know the kids and playing with them every day. I learned a lot from them even though they were only like 3 years old, but  it’s true! They’re still so young and innocent and they’re not like adults so they don’t hold grudges and they aren’t mean to other kids on purpose. It’s like I just wanted them to stay 3 years old forever and never go into the real world. They’re like cinnamon rolls, too pure for this world. But really though. I also am really happy I got to know everyone else on the trip. Everyone was really nice and Caroline, our group leader was really nice and patient and smart and understanding. She’s fabulous.

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Alternative Spring Break: Addressing Poverty’s Impact on Families

 Participant post: Azadeh   

   My most enduring memory of poverty is that of children selling daffodil flowers in the cold winter. It was this memory that’s been burned in the deepest part of my heart, which still lives on and drives me to question poverty.

           Growing up in a semi-religious family, it was understood that we all had to help those who were in need. As I got older, I realized some like to maintain their position of being ‘helpers’, and that poverty for some allowed them to take on the role of being a hero. It was in my teenage years that I became disillusioned with religion, and began to ask questions not regarding god, but about society and social stratification.

           The questions I formulated were no longer about why people do not help one another to alleviate their situation, but why is that some people are never able to get out of the stratification that they were placed in before birth. It was during my teen years, when I really thought I was “stretching neurons” that I became lapsed and wanted to see things for what they were. I began to relate poverty first to ‘god’, and then realized the true evil might not be god, or even the ‘wanna-be-heros’, but rather the way society has positioned people of lower of socioeconomic status permanently into their place. As cynical as this might sound, I believed this to be the basis of a cycle that never ends. I also believed that we are all guilty of not saying or doing something--(this was perhaps the guilt I associated with my religion). I steadfastly believed this and held on to my rigid and cynical views of poverty. However, after my trip to San Francisco and Oakland, I began to feel differently not only about poverty, but also about those who help, not to be heroes but to be just human.

           This trip provided me with a variety of opportunities to interact with other volunteers not just from UCI but from other schools and the awesome San Fran citizens too. Along this memorable, trip I had plenty of ‘Ah-ha’ moments and shed some tears, as I realized the cynical wall I had built about poverty was slowing crumbling. My opinion of all things related to poverty began to fall apart. I still do wholeheartedly believe that the cycle of poverty is hard to break, but now I know others are aware of it and are not passive about it.

           The most important part of this trip for me was when I walked around Tenderloin and stood in line the very same line I had helped out the prior day. I was given a meal ticket, served food, and interacted with people at Glide Memorial Church. The staff members asked about my day and had a short conversation. A volunteer asked me if I needed anything else and if I need anything to drink; the kindness in her voice was enough for me to realize that there are good people in the world. It wasn’t just the volunteers but also the people handing out meal tickets and the ones collecting it that changed my perspective on how we deal with poverty. I knew in that moment that the world isn’t so black and white. It is not a lack of money or walls or a home that makes one poor, but a lack of kindness. Heroes will come and go, but some are human and will always care and be active. We define poverty based on numbers and occupied space, but poverty of the soul is perhaps the worst kind. Its kindness and time that money can never buy, and that is all that is needed to make a change.                    

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Alternative Spring Break: Deconstructing the Cycle of Poverty - Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge

Participant Post: Anonymous

Today Mar 23, 2015.

It was the first time I’ve been in a food bank. We sorted out bread. Slice bread went in one section and non-slice bread went in the other. Mar 16 was the cutoff date for slice bread, and Mar 12 for the non-slice bread. We raised nearly 5000 lbs/meals. As a reward or to show their gratitude for our “sweatquity,” the bank gave us pen spoons. Before the food bank in LA, we went to a restore store in Norwalk. Here we listened to seminars about the history, myths, and background of Habitat for Humanity. My roommates are Jill & Carolina. I had cooking duty today and made spaghetti.

Today Mar 24, 2015.

We woke up at 7:15am. Then we went to the Restore store. Over here, we were given a tour of the store and the warehouse. First, we were divided into groups. Later, we did whatever we wanted. First, I worked with Tim in arranging furniture to make it appealing to sell. We used a special penny board dolly to more couches around. Jill helped decorate it with blankets & covered up the “beauty” marks. Next, I moved big china w/ Tim. We also rearranged lamps. I then ended up with the girls & we had to organize for Ms. K & Mr. L. We took it & separated & proportioned for families. This took the majority of the time. Then I helped with the fixing of rugs & then pushing office desks around. We moved light bulbs & I helped Joanne organize small rubber & metal objects in containers. I also moved chairs around. We sat on the couch, sighed relief, & went home. LK became ill. We had burritos & quesadilla.

Today Mar 25, 2015

We went to a house near bellflower. When we arrived there were painted houses and houses that were door less. We needed to do several things. There was a lot of dirt & no concrete nor pavement. My team consisted of me, LK, and Sonia. We were doing trench work all day and hollowing out part of the ground, and then cleaning up that dirt on the ground by shoveling it up. We also had to carry heavy tiles to the truck. Then we had to move doors inside the houses. It was physically demanding. In fact, I feel every day is getting harder and harder. My wrists nearly gave out when I had to move the tile up the truck, and when I was moving the wheelie for the tile, I and it fell over b/ it was too heavy, and because I was too weak. Also, I used a picket to break the hard clay mud. LK is recovered now.

Today Mar 26, 2015.

I had a muscle spasm at the grocery store for the ice cream. It links back to work at the construction site. I was working with Kyle & Tim. It was another day at the trenches. Today, was different b/c we could use the power tools, unfortunately, I was wearing shorts, so it felt like shrapnel was hitting my legs. I went at it a lot, this hole digging business, with the pickaxe & shovel. Eventually, I found the most efficient way was doing the “dentist” method, by unclogging concertedly w/ Tim clogging. It put strain on me that I also had to carry heavy piping. I think that contributed to this muscle spasm. I don’t think I’m cut out for this line of work & Kyle’s construction. He never finished college & survives off 30k a year. That is truly inspiring.

Personal Reflection

It’s been about a month since the trip ended. And I honestly can say who was when I left the trip stayed with me. Normally, when I go on brief mission trips like this one, the feeling only lingers for a couple days after the trip and then it dissipates. However, this trip was truly different and changed my life as I know it.

The people I met, the lives I helped change, and my own personal growth are just some of the many benefits of this trip. I can say it was truly an honor to serve amongst great people and to give back. I never thought I’d say this but I’m glad I got to go in and get my hands dirty in the mud. If I could do it again, I would do it 100 times over. There are some things in my life that you need to experience, and for me, this eye opening experience was it.

Every day I have dreams of what took place during this spring break. I continually visit the site to which I was positioned. And every time I find myself in that same hole, digging and digging. I wonder if it’s something, my mind or perhaps God telling me to go back and finish what I started. Could it be that I left a part of myself, an unfulfilled desire, that compels me to want to go back or could it be that ever since that faithful week, I’m just different now and this may be my calling? I can’t quite place my finger on it, but whatever it is, it is a wonderful feeling.

To end, I would like to say thank you Alternative Break team. Thank you Eric, Karb, LK, KC, Carolina, Jessica, Jillian, Joanne, Leticia, Sonia, Tiffany, and Tim. This trip is only possible because of the people. Whoever is reading this, I want to say if there was any hint of doubt of how to spend your spring break and whether or not this was worth the money, to that I proudly proclaim: YES.

-Anonymous

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Alternative Spring Break: Deconstructing the Cycle of Poverty: Habitat for Humanity Collegiate Challenge

Participant post: 

March 23, 2015. 7:33PM. Day 1.

You know, I never realized how bad the poverty was in LA. I never knew specific stories or intricate detail about the lives of people that live in LA. For me, the most shocking moment today was when Nicki Payton, one of the partners who is getting a house from Habitat for Humanity, expressed her story to us in such a calm, serene manner. As if it were normal for her. And then it hit me. It is normal. I didn’t know that there are great programs in LA to help with poverty and prevent starvation, and provide a roof over people’s heads. I know that if I was ever in one of those situations, I would know what to do. And I hate that people go through this. It saddens me, yet it also ignites my passion to help.

I’m glad I came on this trip.

 March 24, 2015. 7:33PM. Day 2.

Time is going by so quickly. Today, we got to experience the first of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, which consisted of adjusting and organizing the restore in Norwalk. There were more volunteers there than us: there were kids from different schools, people with disabilities, and even court-mandated people. I’m not going to lie: I don’t feel like I did much for the families because I was just at the restore, but I do feel like I helped in a small way.

I feel different this time around. I’m not doing this for community service for high school nor am I doing this because I am required to. I’m doing this because I want to make a difference in the lives of others. It makes me happy knowing that my presence, although miniscule at times, does make a difference, big or small.

 March 25, 2015. 7:59PM. Day 3.

Another good day to be alive. Today was eye-opening. I experience the most hard labor in my life! Our task was to dig a trench that was five feet tall and two feet wide, which was such a struggle considering it my first time doing anything like it! It reminded me of my Papa Mel (my grandpa), when he would do labor like this in his front yard. My cousins would just watch in awe as he shoveled dirt back and forth. Now, I was the one scooping up dirt and picking out all the compacted dirt. It was about 85° outside. The sun was beaming on us, on our backs on face. There was dirt everywhere. On our clothes, faces, and body. It was unbelievable. I gained an appreciation for construction workers and the intense labor they have to do to construct structures like houses, buildings, bridges, etc. This program, Habitat for Humanity, really needs a lot of helping hands. I’m glad I came across this program. I’m glad I educated myself with the experience and knowledge so I can bring it back and continue helping others.

 March 26, 2015. 7:07PM. Day 4.

Today was a little bit easier than yesterday. Jillian and I painted doors, took a break, and then I painted more doors with Leti. A thought that came across my mind while painting was: it’s crazy to think how much time and effort and money and supplies go into constructing a house. It makes me really appreciate my house back home and makes me gain respect to those workers who work day in and day out, rain or shine, on houses. I really admire my fellow peers on this trip. I’ve learned something new from each one of them, and it makes me realize how fortunate I am to be here, partaking in this awesome service project.

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Alternative Spring Break: La Jolla Indian Reservation

And just like that, bags packed, vans re-fueled, and we headed home. Oh, alternative spring break, such a gratifying experience, and a great ending to my collegiate run.  

First off, I can never get over how fast time goes by. Like Alejandro mentioned in his post, I remember thinking how multiple months still lay ahead of us to get this trip together. The days tumble forward and you realize that time is ticking; you have obligations, responsibilities, and expectations to meet. I really wanted to focus on the environment because it is our home. Many people don’t pay attention to this. I wanted fuel the discussion about the looming CA water drought and enlighten people on how it is affecting us and that we DO have to face the consequences the very imminent consequences. If you’re reading this, you’re privileged enough to have access to running water, and with that comes the abuse of water, wastage, and complacency with resources. The impact of the drought doesn’t reach us all because we have access to the resources. So why not focus on something so imminent to us, especially in a local (ish) place: San Diego?

I really enjoyed my experience at the La Jolla Indian Reservation (in Pauma Valley, near SD) when I was a participant in ASB (Alt. Spring Break) last March. What other time in your life can you say you stayed on a Native American Reservation?!? History evades us because the majority of people don’t know these reservations still encapsulate native tradition, people, and history. Anyways, I wanted to revisit this site for my own trip and explore both the cultural and environmental aspects of the Luiseno Tribe. We stayed there Mon-Wed and moved down to the Point Loma hostel in main SD from Thurs-Sat. It was so lovely hearing people on the reservation remember me from last year. “Hey, you were here last year”, or “I remember you!”. I love these little remarks, because thoughtfulness goes a long way for me. The first thing was that I could NOT BELIEVE that it had been a year since I was here. Time has a mind of its own. On a certain level, I felt like I never left.  

I can ramble on about everything that happened those three days, so I’ll save that for my own Tumblr? But it was such such a blast. I’m so thankful for Rob, one of the staff on the reservation, for without his input, this trip would not have gone so smoothly. I learned so much with the participants, and yet, I am so happy I gave the trip my own “flair”. It was my own unique experience, shaped by my goals and expectations. We did a lot in those three days: bonding, night-hikes where we thought we saw a bobcat, but it was a rolled up aluminum thing instead (I’m telling you, I can’t see at night!), ate ice cream in colorful cones (thank you Shirley!), listened to traditional native bird songs (thanks Jimmy!), visited Lake Henshaw, a waste-water plant, Pala Reservation, a farm in the mountains where we got so much grapefruit that I’m still eating some now (thanks Ray!), and just lived in the moment.

I’m blabbering still, huh.

And our experience continued in the Point Loma hostel. The organizations we worked with continued to be so hospitable, that it touched me. I loved seeing the participants continue to bond. And I’m telling you, I’ve never seen a group of people bond so quickly and with such warmth. I was a proud mama coord. It is also because of my participants that I LOVED this trip. They made me smile, even when they talked about what we learned that day, or helped each other out, I was watching :’)

Quickly, I’ll wrap up, I promise. Everything about ASB really EXCEEDED my expectations. The best part was, time was never of the essence. Each day was it’s own wholesome adventure, and time never went by so fast. The whole week felt like a week and a half, and I loved it. I guess that’s what happens when you don’t have wi-fi!

I thank everyone who helped support me and give me suggestions throughout the trip, y’all know who you are. If you are reading this, please apply for ASB when you have the chance. It’s such a great way to give back to a community, meet new people, develop as a person, and learn about something that is affecting YOUR community.

The most important advice that stuck through the trip was what Darlene, my boss said to me, “Just be present, be present in the moment”. That’s what I did, and I loved it. No ragrets.

If you have anything to tell me, email me at [email protected]!!!!

Theme:  La Jolla Indian Reservation Location: San Diego, CA & Pauma Valley, CA Date: March 22- 28 Scientists have confirmed that California is in the worst drought in 1,200 years. Some areas of California have been noted as the driest year on record. Rainfall has been bleak since 2012 and the lack of water has been affecting reservoir levels, agriculture, and species diversity. Despite the drought, water wastage still occurs. In some countries, people survive on 3 gallons of water per day, but in America, the same amount is used with one flush of the toilet. It is our responsibility to become informed and address these issues. This program will focus on the intricacies of the California water drought and how we as citizens can contribute to the conservation and awareness efforts. Participants will be learning through hands-on service opportunities, educational speakers, water facility tours, and discussions with each other. We will be working with the La Jolla Luiseño Indian Reservation to learn about the effect of the drought on their land. Moreover, we will be partnering up with environmental organizations in San Diego in order to participate in many informative and volunteer activities.

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Alternative Spring Break Critical Critique of the Immigration/DREAMers Movement

Where to start? This Spring Break was a memory I will always cherish with me because of all the activities we did and the people I was with. Being part of the Alternative Break Team was an experience I shall never change for anything because of the three amazing coordinators I worked with and the supervisor we have. Putting together Alt Break was an interesting experience that really prepared me for many other opportunities that are out there. I feel that Alt Break helped me develop as an individual, but also skills that can be used in different environments.

 It’s funny when my team and I would talk about Alt Break and how far away the date was when we started our internship. We felt that we had a lot of time, but in reality we did not because every day that went by we did something new. But, I felt that we noticed it more when winter quarter started because we were months away from actually going to our trip.

 As we approached March I felt that time was going by fast because as I mentioned earlier we felt that we had a lot of time in our hands, but in reality we did not. However, we did have all the major things covered, but there were little things that needed to be done. Which I felt were the most difficult because something would always pop out. Thus, when I noticed that we were a week away from Alt Break I was panicking because I could not believe that Spring Break was here. I would keep on asking myself where did the time go, but then I realized that I would ask because I was scared of going to my own trip. I felt that I needed to tie a lot of loose ends, but I was also scared because we were leaving by ourselves. We knew that we would not have each other on the trip as we had each other when we were in the office working together.

 Coordinating this trip was amazing, but at the same time it was a bit scary because I was in charge of 13 other student’s. Know, it might not seem to be a lot, but it is because it is 13 other individuals you have to worry about when it is hard enough to take care of yourself being a college student. Thus, I knew I had to prepare myself for this because these students were looking forward to this. I told myself that I had to be an example of what I expected of off them if I wanted to receive the same respect.

 When Monday March 23, 2015 arrived I was all over the place internally, but externally I looked calm because I did not want my participants to worry. I was really nervous because I was afraid that something was going to pop out unexpected. I remember when I was a participant in Alt Break something unexpected happened and the coordinators panicked. I saw how stressed they were and helped them out so they could calm down. However, I was afraid something like that was going to happen to me and I would not know how to react. Nevertheless, it did not happen.

 As we made our way into our week I was really excited, but nervous at the same time. Once we packed our cars and made sure that everything was in place we left the Cross-Cultural Center. Once we left the center I felt a bit calmer because it meant that our week was going to start and it was a day less that I had to worry about. However, I felt that these mixed emotions went away as I started talking to the participants in the trip because I saw how calm they were. Thus, I felt more comfortable because I saw familiar face that I knew would help me if something unexpected happened during the trip. I was also worried about their safety I wanted to make sure that all of them arrived safe and sound to every location we went to because there was a lot of driving involved. Thus, it was not just while we were driving but when we were working as well. Especially since we were in the desert for most of the time I did not want anyone to pass out.

Aside from me being nervous and worried about my participants I had an amazing time with all of them because I learned so much from them. I told them at the beginning of the trip that I was a participant myself because I was going to this trip to learn from them as much as they learned from what I had to share with them. I feel that knowledge is very important to share among us because if we do not share the knowledge then we aren’t really helping the community. And I think this is what Alt Break is; learning from one another and then taking this knowledge back with us so we could share it with others in our community that being our neighborhood, an organization, or family. It might seem small, but it really makes a difference if we share the knowledge. They contributed so much during the whole week that we were together, but it was also an opportunity to bound with one another and build a community. We all knew what we were getting ourselves into; therefore, it was not a challenge for us to bind because we had similar interests in the topic. For some of us it was new material, but for other we had some basic knowledge.  

While in the trip we analyzed both movements in a critical way, but before we did that we had to understand the movements themselves because we cannot critique something without knowing the movement itself. That us why we had our seminars so the students would have background knowledge in which we had discussions. This prepared us to critique both movements, thus it does not make us experts, nor does this mean that we are heroes for the community work we did but it is something and a way to get involved. 

Overall, I am really pleased that I was able to have this opportunity that the Cross-Cultural Center provided for me. Thanks to the staff and the people in the center I have been able to grow as an individual even more. The center and the staff have provided so many opportunities to me that have helped me engage with the UCI community, which will then help me give back to my community in LA. The CCC is and will always be a place I will carry in my heart because it is a place that has given so much to me. I can literally say it is home away from home because no other place has provided so much for me.

-Alejandro 

Theme:  Critical Critique of the Immigration/ DREAMers Movement Location: San Diego, CA Date: March 22- 28 There have been several policies implemented by local and federal governments to prevent immigrants from coming in to the country, while providing opportunities for others. The DREAMers movement is a movement that started around 2001.  Ever since, the DREAMers movement has been organizing to let others know what the DREAM Act is and the importance of why people should support the movement.  “DREAMers are young undocumented immigrants who came to the United States at a young age and who consider the U.S. to be their home country. Good citizens and ambitious, the DREAMers are in search of a way to pursue the American Dream they deeply admire and desire for themselves.” The DREAMers along with the mainstream immigration movement have used a certain type of language that only include a few people who are considered deserving according to the state while they ostracize others who are not considered deserving people. Moreover, the language that both movements have used is exclusive of many communities within the movement because as it was mentioned not all qualify to be a “DREAMer”. Therefore, the question that people should ask themselves is citizenship really available to all? What bodies have full access to citizenship? and What bodies have limited access to citizenship or what bodies are denied access to citizenship? Through service with community partners in the San Diego area, we will be able to explore several of these issues in depth. By engaging in discussions, collective work, reflection, and experience, we shall be able to come to a different and new understanding of both movements and the issues that they are completely disregarding.

[ucirvinealtbreak]

Alternative Spring Break: Addressing Poverty’s Impact on Family

Oh bugger. Well it’s going to be interesting to try to pinpoint the moments that mattered or stood out during this experience. I wonder who would be interested in what a coordinator takes away from this experience and leaves behind. Whelp. Alright, here I go! I mean it’s just words. In one ear, out the other right?

Hmm. What did I take away from this experience? I left with a sense of contentment. I left knowing that I could focus on the positive realm of possibilities rather than falling to discouraging and overwhelming social criticisms. I honestly can’t complain about my trip. I mean it actually happened. My vision – wow I can’t believe I actually carried it out, of course not by myself, but with good people. Not good as in Superman or Wonder Woman. Because we aren’t heroes or saviors, we are folks coming to consciousness together. Yes. That was corny. Without the help of my Alt Break team in the office and also the one outside of the office, this trip could not have happened. What am I leaving behind? Hmm. I’m leaving behind a see you later. Given that, I’m going to return to the Bay Area. It’s reassuring to know that in my own capacity, I’ll work for my community again – something that I wasn’t doing when I was back home. 

The best part of the trip would have to be losing myself in the service of others. By being so invested serving others, it reminded me that there’s always somewhere for you to go, somebody new to meet, and something new to learn. I’m a very curious person and I’m just pleased I was able to learn from the folks we were serving with, from the communities we were entering, from the folks on my trip, but most of all from myself. I learned about a whole new realm of possibilities. It’s one thing to do service; it’s another to still feel hopeful while doing service. I’m blessed by all the small miracles that happened this trip. I must apologize if this reflection isn’t turning out in a very coherent manner, but thank you for bearing with me nonetheless.

 The worst part of this trip was honestly me. Hah! Alright, let me explain. I’m a naturally frazzled person so coordinating this trip was very challenging. Because I felt this pressure to follow through with everything, I had my guard up. That’s not me normally. But because I had self-inflicted all this pressure on myself, I forgot to just go with the flow. I got a panic attack. And I had a good cry. Good talk with my boss, one where she reminded me about the buddy system. But yeah after it, I just stopped with my expectations and just did the best I could. As much as I want my participants to learn and engage with the issues at hand, I too had to be open to process all the things we’ve seen and were doing.  Coming to terms with the reality of the trip allowed me to simply just enjoy the space I was in – one where I had folks who saw something in my project and wanted to do something with me. Hah, that still makes me smile. 

Hmm, what’s something we should do differently next time? Interviews. Please and thank you! Ha-ha, it’s one thing to connect with people through their applications. But, it’s so much better to see people face to face. It helps a lot with establishing the team dynamic. Legit, also tip for future cords – everybody interprets the things done differently – there’s a different spice/seasoning to the group interaction. Be patient, something quality will occur – don’t rush anything. I knew my participants had potential and I really wanted everybody to shine like ASAP but you have to keep it at your participants' pace. EVERYBODY IS AN ONION. Food too, dang we bought a lot. Having a survey earlier or more discussion about what are we going to make would be nice. I really do suck at grocery shopping. Ask my friends; they lose me at Costco every time. Of course Darlene did her best to rein us in – but yeah that was a struggle. ALWAYS BE CAUTIOUS ABOUT YOUR LOCATION. IF YOU ARE GOING TO GO TO A CITY, BE WARY OF PARKING AND TOLLS.

We should continue with being awesome. Legit, if there’s anything I’ve learned from my time here as an Alternative Break intern it’s that you can do a lot. Take initiative. Seize the day and all that good stuff. Just as I thought that my vision was simply a vision, and I was pretty darn worried about whether people are going to understand it. Don’t be, there’s always somebody somewhere that’s going to connect with you. Just let it play out. Things work out, be adaptable. Times and dates move but as long as your values stay in sync it’s going to be okay. At the end of the day, it’s what you make out of it. When working for social change, goals may seem abstract. But there’s always a ripple effect. Be the change you want to see. Don’t worry about anything else. 

 Oh bugger the most challenging part of the trip? Oh wow haha. Honestly, monitoring the energy of the team. I don’t mean that in just the physical capabilities but also the mental/emotional/spiritual energy. Just because folks are physically there doesn’t mean they aren’t mentally checked out. Some days you honestly have to throw out the agenda and let things flow. Ease up a little.  Let people process things their way.

The most beautiful thing I witnessed on the trip was the radiance of everybody’s smile – whether they be from the children we served, the folks we served, or even the staff. Be open to the beauty that everyone offers. Pay less attention to the aesthetics and pay more attention to the human connections you can make. We are only on this trip for so long – embrace every second you had in the different setting. Even as a local, I never networked with these organizations or interacted with these folks. Take advantage of the different space you’re at. Yes there’s going to be a culture shock – many if you’re lucky. But don’t be disoriented for too long! Take advantage and take initiative in exploring all the different possibilities. You’ll learn something new if you are open to it. Also, Diego one of my participants - he started something beautiful this trip. He started verbalizing the warm and fuzzy notes for folks. It was beautiful seeing what we all saw in each other. I’m glad to have been in that space with folks. 

I’m not going to lie…I did not expect that this trip would make such an impact on me. I mean I’m from the Bay Area. The one true BAE is the Bay Area. Hah. Forgive me. I’m awkward even in my writings. Any who…for a while because I made it to UC Irvine – into higher education I kind of thought I escaped Tenderloin. I had my own biases about my own neighborhood. You can’t escape the place where you’ve experienced so much. Tenderloin is my place. It’s where my family lives. It’s a place of community. Although it has such a bad reputation, it does not have bad memories for me. Something I’m glad that I was able to impart on this trip was a personal touch. I may have had to open myself up in a very short time and put myself out there but I gained a lot from it. I gained companions, I gained experiences, I gained radiant smiles from folks I would’ve never met otherwise, but most of all I gained perspective.

Alright, that’s it for now. Toodles! Legit if you felt lost any time reading this, just talk to me at the CCC office - I’m pretty much there 25/7. Yes that was on purpose. What can I say? It’s my second home. 

 - Caroline

Theme:  Addressing Poverty's Impact on Families     Location: Tenderloin (San Francisco, CA), Bay Area Date: March 22- 28 Homelessness, unemployment, drug addiction, mental illness, and illiteracy are only a few of the problems that disappear from public view when the individual contending with them are relegated to cages. The objective of this service trip is to put faces to an issue that is often faceless and voiceless. Up to 25% of San Francisco’s homeless population consists of families with children and more than half of these children have never lived in a permanent home. Additionally, homeless children are twice as likely to repeat a grade in school, and are significantly more likely not to finish high school.  The homeless population grows daily, as outrageous housing costs box even middle class families out of the housing market. Thousands of people live a paycheck away from the streets as the elderly, immigrant families, and others strive to survive the economics of a city bent on gentrification and serving the elite few that can afford to live within Sf's borders.  Through direct and indirect service, participants will be able to serve and learn about this population and how to advocate for those affected by homelessness. Through this trip, I hope we all can acknowledge the cyclical nature of homelessness and the difficulties people face in achieving food and housing security. I hope  for us to explore the causes for why homelessness and poverty exists and how it impacts communities. I challenge us to  recognize the multiple intersections (such as race, age and gender) that exist with homelessness and poverty in our society.  I challenge us to see how poverty causes families to simply fight to survive another day. I challenge us to reflect upon our privilege and take action to push back against our privilege and use it in a way that challenges oppressive systems instead of perpetuating them. 

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2014 Sites:  Hungry for Change: Food Justice, Sustainability, and Access Location: San Francisco Bay Area, CA Dates: March 23 - 29, 2014 Site Leader: Nancy Huang ([email protected]) Food plays a major role in our globalized economy. Through mass-production, our nation has become the leading exporter in food. Despite being the top provider in the food industry, one in six Americans is struggling with hunger. Many are finding themselves living in food deserts where healthy and affordable food is difficult to obtain. In this program, we will focus on the issues of food justice, sustainability, and access. We will be working with various organizations and urban farming facilities in the California Bay Area to gain an understanding on the production, distribution, and consumption of food. Participants will work together to critically analyze issues in the food system and how it affects people across social disparities while exploring the concepts and principles of sustainable farming.  The Inner City Miracle: Homelessness, Poverty, and Change Location: Los Angeles, CA Dates: March 23 - 29, 2014 Site Leader: Amy He ([email protected]) Homelessness exists 365 days a year, affecting families, veterans, children, and other individuals. Los Angeles is one of the neediest metropolitan areas in the United States. Approximately 957,000 adults in the area are classified as “food insecure” and more than 51,000 men, women, and children in Los Angeles have no place to call home. Children and teenagers growing up in poor, urban areas face a variety of challenges that affect their levels of academic achievement, physical health, and relationships with others. However, homelessness is not hopeless! We will be working with organizations throughout Southern California that strive to improve the quality of life for those who are in need of a helping hand. We will be aiding inspiring associations (Habitat for Humanity, Los Angeles Dream Center, and more) that provide hunger relief, comfort, and hope in the lives of those who are striving for change.  La Jolla Indian Reservation: Luiseño Tribe Location: Pauma Valley, CA Dates: March 23 - 29, 2014 Site Leader: Shaomay Vong ([email protected]) With high rates of poverty, substance abuse, suicides, and high school dropouts, Indian reservations are forgotten examples of the hypocrisy of a system that claims to provide “liberty and justice for all.” We will visit an Indian boarding school and work on an Indian reservation to understand how our past American government forced assimilation and erased their culture, identity, and body. We will explore the implications of the famous quote, “kill the Indian and save the man” and what it means to be part of a historically marginalized community in the United States. The La Jolla Indian Reservation was established over 130 years ago in 1875. However, the tribe has existed here for thousands of years. At the Reservation, we will work on environmental projects, install solar panels, and interact with the children in afterschool programs. This will be an amazing learning and community engaging experience to understand the battle to preserve their culture and land in California’s social and economic expansion.  Hopi Indian Reservation: Culture, Education, and Restoration  Location: North-Eastern Arizona Dates: March 23 - 29, 2014 Site Leader: Cynthia Sanchez ([email protected])  Although many of us have read history textbooks about Native Americans, how many of us have ever set foot on an Indian Reservation? Spend this spring break with other undergraduate students at the Hopi Indian Reservation in Arizona. We will be working alongside members of the Reservation as we learn more about a community that is often forgotten and segregated. We will focus on learning about their culture as we help restore their community and learn about issues that many members of the community face on a daily basis. This is a wonderful opportunity for students who are interested in learning and engaging in a community that we would not have the opportunity to work with otherwise.  DUE: FEBRUARY 13TH BY 5PM to the CCC (3rd floor)