Courtney - ODYS - Blog 5

Today was our final day. For me, this was the day that everything we learned from this week came together. All of the observing and volunteering work that we had done finally made sense and I was able to apply it to my own life. Hearing the backgrounds and home lives of the majority of the boys made me look at my own life differently. Seeing and imagining how those boys had to grow up makes me appreciate even more that I had a family who loved me; a family that loved me enough to make me attend school, discipline me, and want to be a better person. But more importantly, I was able to see the advantages and privileges I have over some of these boys. I grew up in a white middle class family style setting, which is already a huge advantage over most of the boys’ home lives. My family had enough money to live in Lawrence, to buy adequate, healthy food, send me to summer camps and participate in school sports. I was never pressured to join a gang, nonetheless knew that feeling pressure to join a gang in fifth grade was even a possibility. All of my friends growing up only had a positive influence on me and encouraged me to be the person that I am today. At my high school it was the norm to graduate and attend college, attending a community college if you had to. But some of the boys we met dropped out of the seventh grade! It was the norm to NOT attend school and make money illegally instead of pursuing a career at the collegiate level. I received a whole new perspective on not only the way that some children have to grow up, but also on the way that I was so lucky to have grown up. This entire trip has inspired a few participants from our group to start what the Ohio State University calls “Buckeye Reach”. With this program, OSU students volunteer at the juvenile correctional facilities and in local elementary and middle schools regularly. My group wants to incorporate what we have learned in Ohio and bring it back to Kansas. I think every student at KU would benefit from this learning experience.

Courtney - ODYS - Blog 4

Today was our second day at the Circleville correctional facility. We started off our day by meeting with the Superintendent of the facility, a social worker, and the recreational administration programmer. Our group was able to eat lunch with the youth, which happened to be barbeque chicken wings. We spent majority of our afternoon in the gymnasium with one of the units. I was the only girl who participated in multiple games of knock out and five on five basketball. While playing with the youth, I usually forgot that they were in that facility for committing some serious crime. Circleville is where the most violent offenders in the state of Ohio are sent, but it wasn’t evident in everyday activities. After another panel with three of the youth at Circleville, we left the facility and went to a middle school in Columbus. This specific middle school was considered to have one of the lowest graduation rates in Columbus. We assisted the kids age 6-8th grade with their homework in classrooms as well as helped out during their after school programs like fencing. We then traveled to the Franklin Country Juvenile Detention Center for a different experience than we had in the correctional facilities. At the detention center, the boys are only there while their cases are being processed and don’t usually stay for more than a couple weeks or months. At this department, we attended a group session that one of our directors set up for us. There were about ten boys that meet once a week with whom we casually spoke. They asked us questions about Kansas, college, our backgrounds, goals, aspirations, and what we thought about our trip so far. I enjoyed this part of the day the most because I felt like it was the most eye opening for myself. While we all told about our backgrounds and how we got to KU, it was obvious that we all came from a privileged middle-class white background. The environments and families that the boys we were talking with were a good example about how much of a vicious cycle they are in. They are introduced to gangs at such young ages that they grow up not knowing any different. After hearing their home lives and education in school and common knowledge, their crimes seemed to almost make sense. One youth shared that he was convicted for kidnapping a woman, but he only did so because his mom was sick and they didn’t have money to pay for her medical bills. So he thought that if he kidnapped a woman, she could not only serve as a mother figure but also he could get some ransom from the police for her return. At the young age of 14, I thought what would I have done in his situation? He was desperate to save not only his mom, but the rest of his family, too.

Courtney - ODYS - Blog 3

Today was our first day at the Circleville correctional facility. This specific facility was maximum security with four close units and two medium units. A close unit is the maximum security with the least amount of privileges a youth can have, while medium security is one level below that, and minimum the least amount of security a youth can have. We received many warnings about Circleville the past few days, but I was presently surprised. We were told that we would be flashed, groped, and receive really inappropriate and rude comments from the youth, but I didn’t personally witness any of these actions. After we observed and shadowed multiple Unit Managers and school teachers, we drove up to Columbus for a gang intervention program that a couple Ohio State University students are currently running. We sat with fifth through eighth graders and talked about many issues related to gang affiliation, but they were unaware of that. We all shared what we are scared of, how we overcome that fear, the difference between fear and respect, as well as people we respect and why. While the kids were probably unaware of how that all relates to gang affiliation, it was perfectly clear to us when talking with these kids how high of a risk they are at for being forced to join a gang. The director of this gang intervention program spoke with us afterwards and explained that she wanted us to see the system and the cycle. Majority of the youth in correctional facilities come from terrible home lives and are at a much higher risk of committing crimes than other kids. They are scared into joining gangs at a young age and commit crimes for their members in order to maintain membership. Poverty, poor education, and lack of guidance or parenting increase the kids’ chances of being convicted. I liked that we not only got the opportunity to see the correctional facilities, but also then got the chance to see what the state of Ohio is doing to prevent their youth from entering those facilities. It was really sad to see the cycle and how the kids have to overcome so many obstacles and trials just to have what we consider a “normal” life.

Courtney - ODYS - Blog 2

Today was just as much a learning experience as the first day was. We went to an all boys’ correctional facility called Indian River. In the morning, we toured their campus because it was laid out differently than the facility we toured the day before at Scioto. This specific correctional facility was a two story single building that had all of the units where the boys’ rooms were, including the medical unit, gymnasium, cafeterias, and administration offices. Separate from the main building is the high school, which is also accredited like Scioto was. They had many programs like auto mechanics and wood shop that the boys can utilize. They build sheds for Habitat for Humanity as well as sell them to customers. I spent the majority of my day in one of the two mental health units the facility had. They are the only facility that houses mental health youth in the state. Each unit had 10-12 boys that needed special and more attention and watch. I had the opportunity to talk and socialize with two boys aged 18 and 19 that were in the “mentor program” at Indian River. These boys had to apply and interview for their positions, and were selected based on their previous behavior and trustworthiness. They are responsible for assisting in the mental health units. They both live in this unit, and serve as a mediator between staff and the youth. One boy was a high school graduate and attending college courses, while the other is on schedule to graduate in May of this year. To talk with them about how they have used and are using their time in juvenile correction facilities to better themselves and learn from their mistakes was inspiring. Both of the boys told me the crimes that landed them in the correction facility, but went on to explain why they were wrong and what they were working on to be better citizens when they leave. While I enjoyed talking with them about their personal lives and lives in prison, I had even more fun arguing and debating with them about all kinds of sports. I loved talking about Kansas basketball and Ohio State football with them because it was something that we both had in common, even though our current situations are so incredibly different. One of the boys was even given permission to allow me to leave with a small piece of notebook paper with the name of his rap song on YouTube. Not only did this show me how trusted those two boys in the mentor program are, but it also showed me how they have ambitions and passions just like any other 18 year old.

Courtney - Ohio Department of Youth Services - Blog 1

We started out at the Scioto Juvenile Correctional Facility that is scheduled to close in April. We spent our morning touring the facility and learning about the operations, procedures, and the youth that they house. This specific facility is the only facility that houses girls. When we visited, they only had 18 girls total, which is over 400 less than they usually do. The reasons behind the closing of the facility seemed to be financially based, as we learned throughout the day that they obviously have the most programs and opportunities available to their youth than any other facility. While most people thought the staff of Scioto was insane for allowing their youth to participate in wood shop using tools like saws and hammers, the youth were able to build “corn hole boards” and sell them for money. The facility also had an accredited high school where majority of the students were taking classes. They are able to receive a high school diploma or GED from Scioto. Four of the girls were also attending college, both online and at a local community college off campus. In the afternoon we received volunteer training and had the opportunity to talk with four of the girls. They told us what crime(s) they had committed, how long they had to serve, and a little bit of their background and home life. For me, this was the most eye opening part of the first day. I learned so much listening to the girls be 100% honest with complete strangers about their private lives. None of the girls were bad kids, they aren’t any different from us, and they just came from tough and difficult backgrounds and home lives. They stole to survive or so that their moms didn’t have to work so much and spend money on them. One of the girls shared that her home life was so awful and stressful that she found comfort in the youth detention service system. She enjoyed the structure of the days, receiving three meals per day, and in general being away from her family. I was able to identify with her because I lost my mom at a young age, as hers wasn’t around, and felt the pressure of being both a mom to my younger siblings and a normal teenager. While I escaped the pressures of my home life with friends or school, she found comfort in the detention system.

Madeline - TFA - Blog 5

Our last day at Manley has come to an end. I’d be lying if I said that in my four days there I altered the course of any students’ lives. I feel like today was the first day I was even able to really communicate with the students on a very real level. Sure I’ve interacted with many regarding the class material or my experience as a KU student, but today I was able to completely put my guard down—joking with the students and asking them about their own lives and experiences. As I mentioned earlier in the week, I realized that I’d been distancing myself from the students, failing to recognize any common ground we shared as young people. So, from a personal standpoint, I feel better. It’s nice to know that I’m capable of adapting to such a foreign situation. As far as the students are concerned, however, I am beyond frustrated. Not frustrated at them, but for them. How is it okay for our society to fail them in this way? How is it okay for a junior in high school to not understand how to add negative numbers? How is it okay for a student to skip almost half of their classes without any repercussions? I’m beginning to question whether or not poverty is the central issue at play regarding educational inequality. It seems to me that the government could make so many changes that could help these students achieve success in school. Attracting better quality teachers, providing necessary resources to classrooms, enforcing more strict attendance policies, getting rid of ridiculous and illogical achievement requirements for schools that desperately need government funding—there are so many things that need to be done that are in the hands of the government. When I think of my own public school experience, I feel guilty. I also wonder how I would have turned out had I not been handed so many opportunities just because of where I grew up. Having had this experience, I really feel more motivated than ever to seek out  solutions to some of these problems, regardless of our government’s inability to solve such critical shortcomings.

Madeline - TFA - Blog 4

Our last day at Manley has come to an end. I’d be lying if I said that in my four days there I altered the course of any students’ lives. I feel like today was the first day I was even able to really communicate with the students on a very real level. Sure I’ve interacted with many regarding the class material or my experience as a KU student, but today I was able to completely put my guard down—joking with the students and asking them about their own lives and experiences. As I mentioned earlier in the week, I realized that I’d been distancing myself from the students, failing to recognize any common ground we shared as young people. So, from a personal standpoint, I feel better. It’s nice to know that I’m capable of adapting to such a foreign situation. As far as the students are concerned, however, I am beyond frustrated. Not frustrated at them, but for them. How is it okay for our society to fail them in this way? How is it okay for a junior in high school to not understand how to add negative numbers? How is it okay for a student to skip almost half of their classes without any repercussions? I’m beginning to question whether or not poverty is the central issue at play regarding educational inequality. It seems to me that the government could make so many changes that could help these students achieve success in school. Attracting better quality teachers, providing necessary resources to classrooms, enforcing more strict attendance policies, getting rid of ridiculous and illogical achievement requirements for schools that desperately need government funding—there are so many things that need to be done that are in the hands of the government. When I think of my own public school experience, I feel guilty. I also wonder how I would have turned out had I not been handed so many opportunities just because of where I grew up. Having had this experience, I really feel more motivated than ever to seek out  solutions to some of these problems, regardless of our government’s inability to solve such critical shortcomings.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 5

Fridays in the classroom consist of a period of hard work in the morning and fun in the afternoon, providing an incentive for good behavior all week. We had a lecture in the morning about several different life lessons. We discussed Langston Hughes’ poems about dreams, Everything I needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten and many other inspirational pieces. Everyone was open to sharing his or her dreams and passions that were becoming possible due to the services at Epworth. It was amazing knowing that these students could-and wanted to-catch up to their peers academically, socially and behaviorally. After an intense morning, we watched Gridiron Gang and said my goodbyes. One member of the class was also moving to a less restricted dorm, so we were able to celebrate her achievements for a positive end to the week. This week definitely went by quickly, and I wish I could spend one more week with my wonderful classroom. I definitely felt that one week was not enough to make the difference that I wanted to make, but I formed some great relationships with the individuals in my class as well as my fellow alternative breaks members. After leaving I felt guilty knowing how beneficial it was to have another person to assist in the classroom, but I know that the students are under fantastic guidance. That afternoon we hung out at open rec time, where students in Epworth Dormitories can play sports and socialize. It was a fun and relaxed ending to our time at Epworth.  I learned many lessons this week about how to become a more resilient and adapting individual. I learned how to teach on an individual basis and how to make someone feel empowered as opposed to dumb when they are far behind their peers. I learned how to be a mentor and a friend at the same time. I was able to prove many of my assumptions about my students wrong and experienced a different culture and many levels of privilege. There is no way to express the value this week had to me, and I will miss my wonderful students at Epworth.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 4

I was hoping for a better day today and luckily it happened. When I arrived, the students were working independently and there were no major disruptions during the morning because each adult was responsible for only one or two students. After workbook time I led art therapy, which consisted of designing an illustrated book to be shared with the other students about each other’s likes, fears and goals. I hoped this would build upon the idea of different perspectives from yesterday. When planning out the activity I had to make several modifications to accommodate students who could barely read and write. Even before I arrived at Epworth I understood my privilege of having a positive, stable and encouraging home, but I never thought in modern America I would say I have the privilege of knowing basic reading and handwriting. By this point in the week, any stereotypes I had heard about inner city kids were gone. I spent my week working with amazing kids who were in gangs, foster homes and mental facilities and had behavioral issues develop due to their situation. But when they moved to Epworth’s intensive care dormitory they made amazing improvements because they could worry about more than their safety. That evening we visited YES, the youth emergency homeless shelter, which was the highlight of the break so far. I really enjoyed being around the other members of this Alternative Break while interacting with the guests at the shelter. I heard some inspirational stories about guests trying to complete a college degree while struggling with homelessness. The guests were positive and friendly despite their circumstance. This was a definite reminder of my own privileges, such as how getting a college degree is an expectation, not just a dream.  After such a great day, I really wish we had been able to visit more of the services that Epworth manages, but I’m glad we spent a majority of our time at the schools because I’ve had an incredible experience. The more I learn about Epworth, the more I support their model of many different services under an umbrella mission, because its made it a lot simpler for their clients to receive what they need and transition to independent living.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 3

Today was a rough day for my classroom. Since there are a few new students, the group dynamics have yet to be figured out and there were several arguments and disruptions today. We reviewed the class rules as a group and worked with the new students to figure out what grade level they were at in reading and math. One student taught me how to rap and we wrote lyrics about school subjects and appropriate behavior in the classroom, which really made my day. This was just one element of the cultures I experience at Epworth. Working with students of a very different culture turned out to be a lot easier than I had assumed. I also learned another way to engage the students in their learning and culture during art therapy. The therapist let everyone make inkblot images and interpret the pictures from different angles. She then related this to the perspectives different people hold on the same subject, and how these differences in perspectives often lead to fights. The lesson was phenomenal and had a positive influence on the student’s behavior the rest of the day. I also met a regular volunteer today who had a lot of praise for Epworth’s involvement in the community. He had been at Epworth over a year and was very positive about his experience despite the struggles he had trying to win over the student’s trust. The many events of the day left me exhausted, and I felt a lot of respect towards the teachers who had the energy to run the classroom. After school, our group spent several hours talking about the lessons we have learned so far this break. What seemed to stick out was that even though the students had severe behavior outburst, fights and mishaps they were always able to walk away from a situation and later return without holding a grudge, which we couldn’t say about ourselves. It was also clear that many students had behavioral problems, mostly ADHD and Autism that made them vulnerable to the disruptive behaviors that sent them to Epworth, which made it difficult for them to improve without support at their home. Although it was clear Epworth dramatically improved the behavior of the students, it seemed difficult to teach in a classroom where each student was at a different cognitive and academic level of ability. Despite the flaws of Epworth, we were very satisfied with the work we’d done so far.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 2

With more knowledge about what to expect today I had more confidence in the classroom and interacted much more with the student’s work. I especially connected with one girl who was a few years younger than me with a bold personality and dreams of becoming a lawyer. We spent a few hours going through workbooks about geography and zoology and I could tell she really appreciated someone teaching and talking to her since she was the youngest in the class and often left out. The other students were settling back into their school routine so I had more opportunities to tutor them, which was when I began to realize how far behind everyone was in their academic career; it seemed that everyone was on a third grade level. The older students were interested in joining the job corps, which is a program for adults to obtain a GED and employment experience, or the military, but will likely return to public high school in a few months. After tutoring, I spent some time grading papers and learning about the class rules, which seemed to be behaviorally, rather than academically, based. As a person who likes to keep busy, the relaxed pace of the class upset me initially but I discussed the subject with the teacher and learned how this was beneficial for students. Since most are behind and struggle with learning, the independent work creates less stress, which prevents arguments and other disruptive behaviors. I also learned many students don’t attend school for months or years before coming to a residential program at Epworth, so this classroom is meant to transition the students for a few months before they move to a less restricted dorm and attend a public or alternative high school. Today I experienced the goals of attending this class at Epworth and I learned that my role should be to encourage appropriate behaviors and set an example for these students about how to transition to a public school. I took time to consider Epworth with other nonprofits I have volunteered with in the past, and they stand out to me because of their organization of several services under one mission. I have always thought of nonprofits to be important because they serve the function of bridging needs to resources, and Epworth definitely fits that definition.

Abby - Epworth - Blog 1

At our first day at Epworth Child and Family services, we were all nervous and excited for the week to begin. We had assumed that we would be grading paperwork and doing small tasks at the various education programs that Epworth had, but at our orientation we learned that each member of our group would be assigned a classroom and given the responsibilities of a Teacher’s Assistant. I enjoy being around children, but have never taught, so I was nervous. But I was also optimistic because I knew I would be working hands-on with at-risk children, meaning I would have more opportunities to make a direct impact on someone’s life. My classroom assignment was at a secure residential building for teenagers who were transitioning from a variety of situations and are at risk of running away or hurting themselves or others. These youth attend school in the basement of their dormitory, independently reading and doing worksheets on subjects that interested them and learning social skills through interactions with volunteers and teachers. When I met my class they were in P.E. and playing basketball. As soon as I joined in, I felt like the new kid at school, trying to win over my peers. My goal was to be a role model and tutor but I kept my expectations low because I was the same age as many of the people I was there for.  Fortunately, they were accepting of me in the gym, but I soon learned that they were reluctant to ask for help in the classroom. Since today was their first day back from Winter Break, the students were a little restless and the class structure was very relaxed. I was shocked at how different this classroom was from my high school experience. Every student had an assigned spot, and genders were separated from each other. Since every student was at a different level academically, they worked independently for a few hours and then convened to play games such as puzzles, cards and scrabble that built on academic skills without pushing the limits of these students. I spent most of the day with a girl who was also experiencing her first day at the school, and we adjusted to this new setting by playing cards and making small talk. As I learned more of her story, I was surprised to know how easy she was to get along with, even though her life had taken a radically different path. I learned many students are ex gang members and have been to juvenile detention, yet they looked like normal high school students to me. The first day left me with a promising first impression. I realized many of these students have been left behind academically and socially and that they could use as much one on one time as possible, so I already felt confident about what I could accomplish. But I could tell that academics weren’t as of high value to these students as they are to me, which is going to be a large obstacle for me this week. When I discussed my day with the other members of the group we were all shocked at how different the curriculum and structure of the school day was in comparison to our experiences at school, and we were all pleasantly surprised with how sweet these kids were besides their behavioral outbursts. I was glad to hear that everyone felt like they were in the right place and enjoying their assignments.

James - Epworth - Blog 5

Today was my last day at Epworth.  The students were better behaved because of “Fun Friday.”  Those who were better behaved got to spend Friday afternoons watching movies, eating snacks, or playing games.  The morning lessons continued on as usual but the staff knew it was our last day of volunteering and wanted to make it special.  During p.e., Coach had us play dodge ball again.  To put his twist on the final day he brought in as many people as possible.  The students loved this and took every advantage to hit me as hard as I could.  After class coach said, “It’s funny how these students take every possibility to pummel each other in class.  But when we play a competitive game like dodge ball they are the best of friends and no fights break out.”  It sounds weird to say but it is true.  Multiple times I saw arguments and a few close calls during regular class but never when we were in p.e.  It seems as though a little guidance and a way to release their energy is a great deterrent from fighting.  Now I saw why the physical education building was named Physical Therapy.  During Fun Friday, the students were entertained with a movie which allowed me to talk with Pete and Ms. Johnson during the afternoon.  As a goodbye gift Pete and I drove into the city to pick up some food that he had been telling me to try before I left St. Louis.  It was a special moment for me because it showed that I had bonded with the teacher and the teaching assistant.  During this time we continued our talk on the students and I learned even more about their situations and how they had evolved in their time at Epworth.  At the end of the day the buses came and it was a moment I hadn’t been looking towards since the first day.  Some students left without while others made sure to come up to me and personally say goodbye.  The troublemaker of the class was sad that I was leaving and said that he wanted me to stay for a month.  It was an emotional goodbye and reaffirmed the thought that I knew all along: This was one of the best weeks of my life and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

James - Epworth - Blog 4

Today at the experience at Epworth felt normal for me.  The day went fast but it almost felt like a job or something that I had been doing for a while.  The outbursts, arguments, and their overall behavior didn’t surprise me anymore.  When I came to this realization early in the day I was a little surprised at how normal things had become so quickly.  I spent most of my day doing on-on-one help with the students in the class.  I had learned the differences in each student and my explanations reflected this.  All of the students were on a different level in one subject or another and it was much easier to teach the students once I figured this out.

After school we went to St. Louis for the first time.  Everyone native to the city told us to visit the Loop.  The Loop was located a few blocks from our evening volunteer location so we finally left the church for the night.  The location was very similar to Mass. Street however it held lots of information about famous residents of St. Louis that kept our attention for a while.  While the trip had been a great time so far it was nice to get out of the normal routine that we had already established.

Following the loop we went to our Thursday night volunteer opportunity at the YES house.  The house is a part of Epworth that lets teens who are homeless have a place to stay.  We played board games with some of the residents who were receptive to the idea.  Everyone seemed to have a good time but some of the conversations I overheard quickly made this the most depressing part of the trip.  There was one resident who refused to take part in any of the activities so I tried to figure out why.  I overheard his friends talking with him and I found out that he wanted to leave the YES house.  The problem was he had nowhere else to go except the streets.  It had been snowing off and on today and was miserably cold.  His friends tried to talk him out of it and tried to remind him of how horrible it had been living on the streets.  He rejected any input from his friends and said that he was leaving tonight.  He was still there when we left and I haven’t stopped thinking about this incident.  Like those at Epworth he is too young to have to be worrying about issues such as this, it’s heartbreaking.

James - Epworth - Blog 3

I wanted to use today’s blog post to talk about the six other people that I went to Epworth with.  At the beginning of each day we were split up effectively leaving us to our own devices until we met up at the administration building to leave.  During the ride home we would talk about our day; the good, the bad, the humorous, and the depressing.  It was our way to debrief after the sometime long days of being alone.  We became a support group.  During my times in the class the students would share some of their stories with me that usually left me feeling depressed.  I knew that the others in the Epworth group would listen to what I had to say and cheer me up if I needed it.  

After class on Wednesday everyone seemed exhausted.  Each day we tried to plan out our evenings by visiting some place in town or other events, but usually those plans would go out the window when half the group would be sleeping after school.  Wednesday was no different and we went back to the church and relaxed.  During this time it was normal for us to talk about a wide variety of subjects but today was different, we didn’t stop talking.  Everyone in the group talked for hours.  The conversations became deep and personal.  We discussed our lives, goals, and everything else that you normally only share with a good friend.  With each passing day we became better friends but this event which we named “The Breakfast Club” solidified this notion.  I felt a deep connection with the other people in the group.  When we got in the van on Sunday I barely knew the people who I would be spending the next week with.  By this point on Wednesday it felt like we had known each other for much longer.  The classes during last semester allowed us to get to know each other but it was nothing compared to the actual trip itself.

James - Epworth - Blog 2

Today was an emotionally taxing day.  I left the school feeling drained this afternoon.  During the day Pete had shared some of the reasons why kids end up at Epworth and most of it comes from family problems and it certainly showed in the way they acted.

I came close to a breaking point when a normally bad student asked for help on a worksheet.  While this trivial request makes it hard to imagine a deep emotional response from myself I can assure you it did.  This student normally refused to do any work, threatened kids, and argued constantly.  After worksheets were handed out I felt someone tapping on my shoulder and it was him.  His tough guy attitude was gone and he politely asked if I could help him.  On the surface it seemed like a simple request but in my head I had a mix of thoughts and emotions.  It is difficult to convey in writing how the question was asked.  The tough guy attitude had left paving the way for an air of innocence in his voice.  He was not asking for help so that I would do his homework for him.  He truly wanted help.  My mind raced with questions wondering if this was an experience that was rare at home.  I wondered if anyone had helped him before he came to Epworth.  Against everything that I have been taught at KU I answered the question for myself without any of the facts.  I guessed that no, he had not been receiving any help from an adult figure in his life until he came into the classroom of Pete and Ms. Johnson.  They are wonderful at their job and provide support to these students where others have failed.  It is a sad realization to come too.  I have never had to endure any experience in my life that each and every student in the class had to go through every day.

Throughout the day the students opened up to me and told me their situations.  Most, if not all were down right depressing.  Weeks ago during class we were told that we couldn’t change the world in one week.  I know this to be true but I still found it frustrating that there was little I could do.  Today was an important lesson for me, one that wasn’t easy.

James - Epworth - Blog 1

I was nervous during the volunteer orientation this morning.  I had never worked with children in a school setting and certainly never any kids with bad enough behavioral issues to warrant a special school.  Everyone was assigned to a different classroom so we were going in this alone.  I was assigned to the middle school class where the ages ranged from 12-15.  This is the same age group that my mom teaches and I have heard so many stories that my nerves were shot before I even entered the class.  

I was welcomed to the class by the teacher Pete, and his teaching assistant Ms. Johnson.  My job was to help the teacher in any way possible which was usually one-on-one teaching.  It took all of ten minutes for me to figure out how the class would behave.  Outbursts, curse words, and threats were a part of the daily lectures in teaching these extremely hyper kids.  I did my best to talk to each kid in the classroom as I was trying to figure out the best way to help them.  I was successful with some and couldn’t motivate others to do their work.  

During orientation we were told that some of the kids might latch on to you.  I figured it was possible to happen but I did not realize how quickly it could happen.  Throughout the day I realized that the same four students were always asking me to sit at their table and help them with their assignments.  At first I thought it was so I would help them and make their work go by faster so they could do other things.  But the way they listened to my instructions and tried to do their best showed me I was wrong.  

I left exhausted, not physically but mentally.  I’ve always had a decent amount of respect for teachers since a lot of my family members are in that profession.  Today’s experience at Epworth showed a glimpse of what they have to go through every day.

Nicole - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 3

The way our trip was structured was that we would go to the first site for our first two days, and then the next site for the following few days. I would say that the second day was more routine. Even though I was instructed to do a different job, I felt more comfortable in what I was doing and wasn’t afraid to ask for help. By the end of the day, I felt that I had a deeper relationship with the builders than I did initially. You’d be surprised at how fast you build a relationship with someone when you’re in such close quarters. And the same goes for my group members. We all acknowledged at the beginning of the trip that we couldn’t come from more different backgrounds if we tried. It was very meaningful that we all cared about and respected each other enough to put aside our differences, and bond on a level that we didn’t know we could. I’m very happy at the new friendships that I’ve built, but I digress. It was all in a day’s work, and I really do think that one day can make a difference. It was like we were on joking terms already, and I feel like we could not have met nicer “teachers” and or site leaders. The builders and contractors were laid back and easy on us, but they also recognized that we were there for a purpose. I think there was a great balance, and I was proud of my work once again.

Nicole - Habitat for Humanity - Blog 2

When I first arrived to the site on Tuesday, I couldn’t believe my eyes. All I saw was what looked to be an outline of what was going to be a house. I could see straight through the front door, and I really didn’t know how we were going to complete this task. Before coming to Habitat for Humanity, I had honestly never built, or even attempted to build anything in my life. However, I was very excited to tackle this project because I knew that I would feel so much better once it was done. As far as diverse and different backgrounds of people go, I would say that this day was the most apparent. The contractor was explaining what we should do for the day, and then he broke into prayer. He told us that it was a “Christian site” and we couldn’t curse, and kept thanking the Lord. I thought that was very special because many a times we forget to give back and say thank you for the things that we take for granted. There was a Jewish girl in our group and she told us later that that made her feel uncomfortable, but I just assume that’s part of life. This entire experience was out of all of our comfort zones, and the people who were helping us respected our boundaries and beliefs, and we should do the same for them. As I began building, I couldn’t believe how well I was doing. The other builders and volunteers kept encouraging me to keep going, even at the end of the day when I felt like giving up. And keep in mind, this is still the first day, and we had an entire week left at this point. It was good to have people not judge me on my appearance, and treat me like I was a veteran rather than a rookie. And I say appearance because I don’t have the look of a builder, per say.

Nicole - Habitat for Humanity- Blog 1

Our first day we had off, so we thought it would be fun to go to the memorial of the bombing that took place in Oklahoma City in 1995. I wasn’t sure what to expect since I wasn’t too informed about what had actually happened. First we walked around the outside of the memorial, which also happened to be the gravesite to all of the individuals who lost their lives on that dreadful day. It was bittersweet because there were many things at the memorial that reminded us that the people were heroes and that they would always be remembered, but there was still the eerie feeling that we were walking around right where the bombing had happened. As we proceeded through the memorial, I was getting more and more choked up. There were a few stories hanging on the walls that were just heartbreaking, I recall one about a woman running into the building to rescue people who were trapped under the explosion. She was a trained medical technician, and had already saved two people a few minutes earlier. Upon going back into what was left of the building, she was hit straight on with concrete right in the head. She was taken to the hospital where they thought she was doing better, but it turned out that she took a turn for the worse and passed away. Her husband was given a hand written note from Bill Clinton naming her one of five heroes in the year of 1995. I thought that was extremely heartwarming and that shows just how much of a disaster this bombing really was.

Susie - Friends of Refugees - Blog 5

We were planning to take this day off to see Atlanta. However, the day before I had been talking to the director of the Mommy and Me program. She had once again told us how grateful she was for us volunteering there for the week and mentioned that she didn't know what she was going to do Friday without our help since the regular volunteers didn't start until the third week of classes. She was clearly stressed and worried about it and I felt so touched she was so thankful for our help. As I mentioned on day 1, we all went in thinking we would just be doing indirect work that was helpful, but not exactly desperately needed by the organization. However, working at Friends of Refugees I definitely felt needed, appreciated, and welcomed by every single person there. Thus Thursday, during lunch I brought up this issue with the rest of my group and we all immediately decided that we would come in the next day to help out. We had come to Georgia to volunteer and so we told her that we would actually be coming the next day as well unlike previously planned. She started crying on the spot because it was such a stress relief for her. I seriously cannot explain how much I have come to care about this organization. I know I have already raved about how amazing everyone was, how much dedication and effort they put into their jobs and just how much they sincerely cared about everyone there. The final day everyone on Alternative Breaks was so sad to think that this would be our last day at the site. All of us were surprised and thrilled by the work we had done and the community at Friends of Refugees. I am so glad that I ended up going to Friends of Refugees through Alternative Breaks.

Susie - Friends of Refugees - Blog 4

Since I have focused my first three entries on the Mommy and Me program, I want to take this one to focus on what I learned at Cafe Clarkston. During this afternoon at Cafe Clarkston, I worked with a man from Myanmar, who had significant experience in maintenance work but, lacking certification in it in the United States, was unable to get a job in that field. This was not an uncommon problem. In fact many refugees who had a strong educational background and respected career in their home countries were forced to work as taxi drivers or factory workers in this country. What amazed me even more was by how unfazed they were by this. They showed no bitterness that their skills were going unrecognized and simply grateful we were helping them find a job. Any job. The man from Myanmar told me he had no problem working any day of the week any shift and this was also the common attitude taken by many of the refugees. They were literally willing to work practically any job any time anywhere. Friends of Refugees told us that many of the factories and other industries with high turnover rates loved to hire refugees because they were the only legal workers who stayed in those jobs. Even during the height of the economic crisis of 2008 and anti-immigrant attitudes out of fear that foreigners were taking American jobs, Americans were simply unwilling to work the jobs that the refugees filled  due to the poor conditions, hours, and wages. Needless to say I was blown away by their attitudes taken towards employment and their gratefulness towards us volunteers who helped them find such jobs. I have no idea where they find such resilience inside themselves, but I was so glad that I could help in any way possible.

Susie - Friends of Refugees - Blog 3

I decided to go back to the toddler room today. Despite it being only the second time these toddlers had come to the program, you could notice an immediate difference in their behavior. (The classes were scheduled Monday, Wednesday, Friday from 9 am – 12 pm or Tuesday and Thursday from 9 am – 1 pm so this was only the second day for the children from Monday). For example, one of the toddlers I had held the entirety of Monday. Every time I had tried to set her down she would start crying again. She also would be unhappy if I tried to hold another toddler at the same time and she would try to push the other toddler off my lap. On this day, she did want to be held some of the time, but part of the time she was willing to sit contentedly by herself, which was marked improvement from day 1. A lot of the other children had also improved, realizing that their mothers would indeed come back for them, although separation from their mothers was still hard for them. I was also amazed at the director of the Mommy and Me program who somehow managed to continuously go from room to room checking on all the children, the vast majority of which she knew by name despite it being the first week of classes, often while carrying a child on her back to soothe him or her. (Many of the children were accustomed to being carried on their mothers’ backs tied in by a scarf fashioned into a sling wrapped around the mothers’ bodies.) She was also exceedingly gracious and supportive, giving us encouragement and making us feel exceedingly welcomed at the organization. Afterwards, I went to volunteer at Cafe Clarkston again.

Susie - Friends of Refugees - Bog 2

This morning at Mommy and Me I decided to volunteer with infants. I was rather nervous about this decision because to be honest I’m not exactly the biggest fan of children, especially those with no verbal communication skills. I had also heard from the KU students in the infant room yesterday that there was a lot of babies and a lot of crying the whole entire time, which is not exactly an ideal way to spend three hours. However, when another KU student and I walked in the room was practically silent. Three refugee women, who were all working or volunteering there, had the five babies happy and silent. After all the mothers had gone to classes, we had a couple other babies, but they were all relatively quiet. It was not what I had expected at all. One of the babies was especially impressive as she was energetic, crawling everywhere, and keeping herself entertained. I think I was just so worried about uncontrollable crying that I was worried. It also definitely helped that the refugee women there had superhuman abilities in keeping the babies happy. I would barely be able to manage one baby at a time while they actively monitored three. I was also amazed at the attitude Friends of Refugees set with the program. While separating the mothers from their children, they encouraged for them to spend a couple minutes in the room with their infants or toddlers to acclimate them to the room before leaving for class, eve if that meant they were a couple minutes late. They didn’t want the mothers to feel pressured to separate from their children until the mothers felt they were ready. Also, the organization encouraged the mothers to breastfeed, so if an infant was hungry, we would take the baby to the mother’s classroom, and the mother would come out of class and back to the infant room to breastfeed her baby. We would also pull the mothers out if their children were sick or we felt really needed to be consoled by their mothers. While others might eschew this approach as disruptive to the education of the mothers, I think it was actually the best way to do things. When the mothers were in their classrooms they could focus on studying instead of worrying about their children since they knew that if their children really needed something, we wouldn't hesitate to seek them out. Even if we did have to pull them out, they could return to the classrooms as soon as they breastfed or consoled their child without feeling guilty for taking care of their children or pressured to choose between education and the welfare of their child(ren). Afterwards, I went to volunteer at Cafe Clarkston again.

Susie - Friends of Refugees - Blog 1

None of us really knew what to expect going in. We had all talked to each other, trying to make sure none of us had too high of expectations regarding the volunteer work we would be doing. We knew that we would only be there a week and thus were just temporary volunteers, which generally means that organizations have to find a way to keep us preoccupied for a week. I figured we would end up doing a lot of indirect service work—cleaning, landscaping, or computer work. This wasn't us being pessimistic about the volunteer work, but simply realistic. We arrived at Friends of Refugees, which is located in Clarkston, Georgia, and were given an orientation while the office was still essentially deserted. We learned that Clarkston had been chosen years ago by the federal government as an ideal place to relocate refugees coming to the United States, which is why there were so many refugees located in the town. They also explained that the government provided some funding and services to refugees for up to six months after arriving, but after that they were on their own. The role of Friends of Refugees was to pick up when the relocation organizations stopped providing assistance. One of the programs they had then is called Mommy and Me (although they plan to change the name soon), which provides English classes to mothers and daycare services to their children so that the mothers can attend and also get some adult time away from their children. When we walked back out into the hallway, sure enough the place was crowded with mothers and their young children.  This first day I decided to work with toddlers. After all the toddlers had come there were eighteen of them and five or six volunteers in the room.  While this seems like a pretty high ratio, it is not when half of the children are screaming for their mothers and need constant attention. A lot of the children were being separated from their mothers for the first time ever which was understandably stressful to them. I was surprised though when an hour later how much quieter the room had become. The toddlers were all incredibly adorable and fun to play with once they had calmed down. After the classes were over, we went to help out in another program—Cafe Clarkston—that helps refugees and immigrants create resumes and locate jobs in the area. I worked with an Ethiopian man with limited English for an hour or two, which really made me aware of how hard job searches are when you have limited skills. I also realized how little I actually knew about employment searches, which made me feel rather under-qualified to help others in this area.

Kevin - Guadalupe - Blog 5

Our final day of volunteering began with moments of gratitude. We thanked all the park rangers for their continuous and over-the-top hospitality and they thanked us for our positive attitudes, hard work, and dedication to the park that we showed throughout the week. We started work by continuing where we left off the day before. Now very mechanic, the spreading and shoveling was very efficient. During this work, we noticed that physically we had recovered and had been well-acclimated; however, we were all mentally tired. We spent our breaks in between loads talking with park rangers instead of with ourselves. We learned about their journey to Guadalupe Mountains as well as their own goals and aspirations. Because of this, the time flew by and before we knew it, we had finished our week of service. Before we left the work site, the rangers informed us that because of our work, they were now weeks ahead of schedule. Humbled and grateful for their kind words, we departed McKittrick Canyon and set off in the van. I noticed that everyone looked back at the mountains more than once. Some looked with happiness, some with appreciation, and some with fatigue. However, no matter what the look was, there was still a glimmer of the original awe in everyone’s eye. The awe we all felt the first day on the job. In the van, we all commented that they work we had done was not a temporary service to the park, but a culmination of hundreds and hundreds of people before us who had worked so diligently to make the park where it is today. Without volunteers and the rangers to maintain the park, few would get to experience the humbling effect of nature that is so commonly overlooked. For all of us, it truly was a life changing experience.

Kevin - Guadalupe - Blog 4

Now fully acclimated, everyone in the group had a resurgence of energy to start the day. Lead by Bridget, we hiked back on McKittrick trail to where we finished the first day. Armed with our familiar McLeods, loppers, handsaws, and Pulaskis, we continued the trail the first day’s trail work of removing overhanging limbs and branches, expelling large rocks from the trail, and tightening the path so it was more even. We had now developed a bond among the group that ranged from inside jokes to playful insults. Even though this kind of trail work had become routine, our efficiency did not suffer. Everyone was in tune with their work and was determined to do it to the best of their abilities. Bridget noticed this and commented on our hard work and decided to have a friendly competition: whoever rids the trail of the most unnecessary large rocks wins a bag of tangerines. Busy clearing the brush with loppers, I could not participate in this competition, but I did notice comradery that followed the announcement of the winner. After lunch, we went back to the previous day’s work with different groups shoveling gravel into ATVs and spreading it along the trail. Having already shoveled, I chose to spread the gravel along the trail. Working in a small group allowed for more bonding between members of each small group. At the end of the day, I felt that this day was the most significant as far as group dynamics were concerned. Everyone got out of their shell and was able to connect with one another whether it was through humor, literature, movies, or life stories. After the work day, we attended an appetizer party hosted by the park rangers. Enjoying the food and the company of everyone there, our transformation became complete: we were no longer a group, we were a family.

Kevin - Guadalupe - Blog 3

We returned to McKittrick Canyon to do more trail work, but this time working our way inward. Using loppers, handsaws, and Pulaski’s, we started the day by clearing the sides of McKittrick trail from any bushes, trees, or shrubs that would get in the way of service vehicles that would deliver gravel to parts farther along the trail. Fighting through scratches and cuts, this work got us up close and personal with the dirt and plants of the park. When loppers and handsaws were not enough, I tried my hand at lumberjacking, wielding the Pulaski and chopping down tree limbs. This work was not without its fun. At one point in the morning a limb that was 16 inches in diameter needed to come down, estimating that it would take an hour with a Pulaski. Determined to best this time, I grabbed the Pulaski and went to work. After hard blows and no breaks, the limb came crashing down in only a fraction of the predicted time – 15 minutes. After lunch, we were directed to help in moving and spreading the smaller gravel that would protect the McKittrick trail if another flood were to happen. Our group split up into three groups: one group would shovel gravel into the passing ATVs and the other two groups would it along the trail. This work quickly became repetitive and tiring as the hours lolled on with its spotty breaks in between shoveling and spreading. The silver lining was that we bonded with each other in our smaller groups, discussing a wide-variety of topics which ultimately helped in passing the time. In the end, the day’s high point occurred as we were packing up our items for the trek back to the car. We spotted a few hikers who came up to us, noticed that we had been doing trail work, and thanked us for our hard work. It was at this point that we knew we were making a noticeable difference.

Kevin - Guadalupe - Blog 2

Sorer than the first day, but a little more acclimated, we grabbed tools from the shed and met up with Bridget who informed us that we would be hiking a closed trail with another ranger, Joel. Starting from the visitor’s center, we hiked 1.5 miles on the Frijole trail until we merged into the Bear Canyon trail which took us another 1.5 miles. These 1.5 miles, however, was considered as the most arduous path in the whole park. The Bear Canyon trail took us 3 hours to get to the summit while climbing 3000 feet. This difficult trail was not without its rewards – we enjoyed our lunch at the top of one of the mountains at 7200 feet. After lunch, we worked our way down the mountain, tools in hand, and restored the damaged trail that we had just conquered. One of the most challenging, yet exhilarating tasks I had to do was essentially recreate part of the trail that had washed away from the flood. This part of the trail, however, was right next to a shear in the mountain with a multitude of rocks at an angle above and a 3000 foot fall below. To prevent hikers from having to hop over the chasm in the path as we did, Joel informed us that we were going to fix it. We started by initiating a controlled rock slide by scraping the McLeods on the rocks above and having them descend to fill the hole from the bottom up. We then raked in moist dirt to fill the small gaps still present between the large rocks and followed by smashing in smaller rocks that would offer more support when the dirt hardened completely. As we continued our climb down, we cleared more of the trail from brush, fashioned steps from resting flat rocks, and removed any potentially hazardous rocks along the way. A hundredfold more difficult than the previous day, today presented us with a new realization about life: working hard to get to the top is only half the journey, working so others can climb brings it full circle.

Kevin - Guadalupe National Park - Blog 1

We began the week by receiving orientation about what we would be doing for the week. For us, we would mainly be doing trail restoration work due to the vast amount of flooding the park received earlier that fall. With tools in hand, we embarked on a 2.5 mile hike to our job site in McKittrick Canyon. We arrived deep in the heart of the canyon at Pratt Lodge. From there we used McLeods to pull the larger rocks on the outside inward in order to tighten the 2 mile trail. While a few people were doing that, others were using loppers to clip branches that were impeding the trail. The third and final group picked up large rocks that were on the trail and tossed them aside in order to make the trail easier to hike upon. At the end of the day, we finished 1.25 miles of the 2 mile trail. For all of us, it was immensely enjoyable to work with such a great view of the mountains and different kinds of plants all around us. It was not strange when someone in my group remarked on how small they felt in comparison to the lofty mountains and dense foliage because we all got that feeling. We noticed that there was a significant lack of wildlife presence in the park, but Bridget, our ranger and leader for the week, explained to us that even though it was in the mid-60s and considerably mild for January weather, it was considered winter for most of the desert creatures who live there.  Exhausted and barely acclimated to the 8000 feet difference in elevation, we finished the day with a substantial part of the McKittrick trail cleared, allowing for much easier passage, still in awe of the humbling mountains around us.

Sam - Humane Borders - Blog 5

Our last two days in Tucson were both busy and exciting. Our sixth day—our last before our “free day”—started out at the zoo where we were approved for a field trip. Not only did we each get a seven-dollar discount off of nine-dollar admittance tickets, but we also fed the giraffes for half price.

On a more serious note, however, we also went to a court case where we met with Betzi for the last time, and met Lois, a woman who works with both Humane Borders and a similar group called No More Deaths, or No Mas Muertes. Nearly seventy undocumented migrants were condemned to a jail sentence before their deportation. The courts are able to sentence these large amounts of people by an act called Operation Streamline. The hope of the act was that, by sentencing large numbers of immigrants who crossed the border illegally to jail time, it would decrease the number who would attempt to reenter. This, however, has proven to be false, Lois told us, according to several in-depth studies. So rather than tax dollars being used effectively, they are used instead to house undocumented immigrants in private prisons, which make money for housing them. Lois also said that it has been years since she has seen these trials result in less than half a million dollars per day of tax revenue to private prisons. Because Operation Streamline is in operation five days per week, more than two and a half million dollars of taxes paid to the private prison business per week.

More upsetting than this fact is the way in which the immigrants were treated. They were called forward in groups of ten or so and, one by one, would plead guilty to the charges brought against them. Of the nearly seventy people on trial, all were found guilty. The entire process took less than two hours.

As we left the courthouse, we discussed the trial and said our goodbyes to Lois and Betzi, who’s departing words to us were, “The best way to spend your retirement is volunteering.”

Michaela - TFA - Blog 5

Today was a great last day of exploring everything Chicago has to offer. It also gave me a more realistic view of what the city was like rather just going back and fourth between a high-income area and a low-income area. One thing that we did today was go to a neighborhood called “Wicker Park”, this neighborhood felt a lot like Lawrence to me which was nice because I felt very at home. Before seeing this part of Chicago I had thought I would not want to live in a city. To me that just show me how much a city has to offer and how there is so much more out there than what you may sometimes think. We also went to the Field Museum where we saw an exhibit about the Chicago World Fair and Nazi Propaganda. And of course we went to “The Bean” and then had deep-dish pizza!

I couldn’t be more thankful for this amazing opportunity to have a first hand look at the issues with the school system, especially in the inner cities and to learn more about Teach For America. I am now thinking that I would like to join TFA when I graduate, though I am not sure I’d want to work in Chicago. After hearing about everyone’s teachers they worked with on the trip I think they should get an award. Many of them said they worked about 80 hours a week and then on top of that would do some work at home, this is something I can’t even imagine doing, especially seeing how tired I was after each day of doing half the work.


Overall, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Although on the first day I felt very uncomfortable in the neighborhood I was in, over the week it got better. But without the nine wonderful people I spent this week with I am not sure I could have lasted the whole week. Alternative Breaks has given me the perfect mix of volunteering, meeting new people, and getting to explore new places. I have now been on two Alternative Breaks and without them I would not have been able to do and see as much as I did in Chicago and Albuquerque (my previous Alternative Break).

Nikki - Playworks - Blog 5

Our final day was very tiring. By the end of this week we are all pretty worn out. I do not think I have played so much in five days ever!! It was an experience I will remember for the rest of my life though. Doing new adventurous things is not really how I normally live my life. I really had to put myself out there on this trip. I could not have been happier that I did so. I have met some amazing people who will be my friends for life. I have broadened my knowledge for different cultures. I have met many role models from Playworks that want to make a difference just like I do. I did not know anyone had such extreme empathy like me until I went on this trip and met the people from Playworks. They gave me hope that there are people who would like to change children’s lives. I also learned a very valuable lesson from almost all of the coaches and staff at Playworks. The best piece of advice I have received is that you will not be able to help every single child but jus by helping one you are doing a world of good. I have been struggling with this in my own life. I am trying to figure out what I can do to “change the world”. I must realize that I cannot change the whole entire world but I can start by doing little things for the good of society. I would like to be able to help all children but than is not realistic. Even on the playground this week I was able to break through the shells of some children but not others. At first I was very hard on myself when children did not understand me or want to listen to me. By the end of the week m confidence had grown and with that newfound confidence I realized I had touched many children’s lives, which is a good start even if I did not touch every single children’s life. I will take this experience with me wherever I go and I will not forget the wisdom I have gained.

Emily - CASA - Blog 5

As day five comes to a close, it’s fascinating to reflect back on the work we’ve been able to accomplish in Huntsville. Today began bright and early with house visits for CASA’s clients. The group was split into four different factions to visit four clients in their homes. The purpose of these appointments was to inquire on the progress and status of clients. This was accomplished by asking patients about their medical history and any changes they may have experienced since the last time they visited with CASA personnel. Some of the great opportunities CASA provides are repairs and maintenance for individuals who qualify. In order to complete this, CASA asks each client what their biggest need is. In my case, I was able to chat with Mattie, a lively eighty-seven year old full of stories and wisdom. The best part of the morning was just being able to sit with Mattie and learn about her long life spent in Alabama. It was fascinating to hear about Mattie’s journey and the history of Huntsville as a city. Just being able to talk to someone brought a smile to her face, and I was once again filled with gratitude at the opportunity to spend important quality time with such amazing people.

The latter part of the day was spent making food and necessity deliveries to clients in the countryside outside of Huntsville. CASA provides many important particulars throughout the city area such as non-perishables, blankets, clothing items, and other important necessities. We had to make seven separate deliveries, and for each person it seemed that those items really meant something special. It was an amazing opportunity to work one-on-one with the clients and individuals CASA and the city of Huntsville work diligently to provide for. As the week comes to a close, it’s great to see the things CASA has been able to do with only the short time we were here. We’ve been met with such kindness and hospitality throughout our stay in Huntsville. All together, this week has taught me a lot about service work, and it has dutifully proven, once again, that making a difference, however big or small, can be as simple as one wishes it to be.

Jenny - ACSC - Blog 5

On Thursday, we finished the clothes closet. It felt so great to finish such a large undertaking of a project. We finished early so those working on the closet helped to serve. I'm really getting used to incorporating serving into my schedule and interacting with the clients. It'll be sad leaving Atlanta at the end of the end of the week. After volunteering on Thursday, our group went to the aquarium.  We then had dinner with a congregation member's family. It was really cute to have their two daughters ask us about college life.

On Friday, we had our last morning at Café 458. Everyone was in the kitchen today so it was nice to work as a team. Also, the Café was out of deserts so Abby and I decided we wanted to run to the store and make a donation so everyone could have desert on the last day. It was amazing to see how well I had gotten to know the clients, just in a short weeks span. It was sad to tell them that we would not being seeing them next week.

Volunteering ended with kind words and more information about the organization. The lead volunteer told us that we were the best and most hardworking group of college students which felt really nice to hear. Allison, the volunteer coordinator, ended by telling us information we may not have picked up in the past week. One amazing fact was that the Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency serves 500-600 people in a year. Also, their CareerWorks program has 75% of participants find a job before graduating the program and having that job turn into a long-term career. They believe that teaching self-respect is key to that success. Allison also talked about the process when they take in new clients, which can be as often as every week. The first thing they do is find temporary house and eventually they move clients to permanent housing. They even help non-clients find permanent housing, often by providing loans for down payments.


I am so thankful for this alternative break because I feel as if I have learned so much and grown in my understanding of homelessness. Every client so desperately wants to change their situation in life. Not one of them wants to be a charity case, but to be respected. Everyone can go through tough times in life and it is crucial that those more fortunate fight for their justice, respect, and opportunity.

Morgan - CASA - Day 5

This has definitely been one of the fastest weeks of my life. However, as we woke up this morning and drove to CASA for the last time, the path was very familiar and easy to navigate compared to five days ago when we had to make a U-turn to get back to the build. This morning we made home visits with the nurse and social worker employed by CASA. Emily and I were assigned to a Mattie, and eighty-seven year old woman. Although she lived with her daughter and had friends from church visiting often, she was enthusiastic about having guests in her home. We asked her for various information regarding her concerns about her health, her finances, and the upkeep of her home. This information was to be passed along to CASA to determine what services they could provide for her to keep her comfortable. The nurse informed us that the individuals we would be visiting were most likely unable to afford residence in an assisted living facility. Mattie was incredibly sharp! She told us to make sure we take care of ourselves by wearing our coats and gave us the advice to stay away from men and marriage.

After lunch we were able to see the beautiful country side of Madison County with home deliveries of food, toiletries, and warm clothes. There were about eight clients out in the urban parts of the county that we delivered to. We were able to see some of the richest and poorest parts of the county along the way. One client lived in a trailer that didn't have a paved drive to the front porch. When we got inside, it became obvious that they were a hoarder and there were cockroaches crawling all over the walls around the stove in the kitchen. This trailer was a half a mile down the road from a new housing development where the massive brick homes had three car garages and massive front lawns. Seeing the economic gap of those who live in the mountain valleys was definitely one if not the most eye-opening experience of the trip for me. It was heartwarming how incredibly thankful those receiving CASA’s aid were to us when we arrived with the bags. In the south you get called “baby” or “child” as a term of endearment by the older generations. The kindness of the people of Alabama has definitely made an impression on me. I hope in my life I can try to spread some of their southern charm and make those who enter into my life, even for a short while, feel as accepted and appreciated as they have made me feel these past five days.

Michaela - TFA - Blog 4

Today was my last day at Howe Elementary School of Excellence and I was quite surprised by the student’s reactions when we left. While I thought they would be sad, I didn’t think they would be as sad as they were. I had almost every student come up to me and give me a hug, many asking if I could come back and visit. But there were a couple of students that I hadn’t particularly interacted with a lot that were attached to my hip, sobbing because they didn’t want me to leave. This brought me to tears not only because it broke my heart to see these kids so sad but I also wasn’t sure if the tears were because they would actually miss me or because they constantly have people coming in and out of their lives. At such a young age many of them will open up and become attached to people without any reservation and many times this leads to disappointment. When the students asked if I would be coming back, I came to the realization that there was a high likely hood I would never see these kids again and there is a high likely hood today could be the last time I communicate with them. This made me feel that this whole experience was a personal gain, but then I remember that regardless of how long I was there if I even motivated one child, than this experience was a success. And if nothing else than at least I have a better understanding of how the schools are in the inner cities.

Tomorrow is our group’s free day where we will get to explore more of Chicago. I am very interested to see the areas where the people are making a median income rather than the extremes I have been seeing,

Ill tell you about my explorations tomorrow!

Morgan - CASA - Blog 4

We started out at the assisted living facility, Country Cottage. Our job was to join the residents during their morning activities. Emily and I spent most of the time with a man named Jack, who loved to talk! He was full of interesting stories about his time in the service when he was stationed a number of intriguing places, including Saudi Arabia and Korea. He spent a great deal of time after his tours publishing poetry and with the ballet as a photographer and producer. Jack encouraged us to never give up our passions for learning and continuing our education. He was a true inspiration. He mentioned how he had come to the center after having suffered from a stroke. This debilitated his ability to remember things and gave him some trouble communicating words.

Later, another man, Roy joined the conversation. He had been in the Navy and was a World War II and Korean War veteran. He also spent some time in between tours pitching for a professional baseball league in Canada. If you just sit and listen and ask questions about the lives of older, wiser, more experienced individuals, you learn a lot about life. With nurses coming in and out to take blood pressure readings and family possibly living far away, they need some face-to-face interaction to pass on the story of their life and their accomplishments.

The second part of our day was spent at the Manna House once again. Fran was once again delighted to see us, as she is delighted to greet each and every volunteer. Many of the faces I recognized from Monday, and assumed them to be regular volunteers, as Fran stopped to chat with them. But there were new faces too. I was impressed with how quickly Fran welcomed everyone, old and new, and how quickly she would put them to work. She’s ambitions and get the job done but the kindness to ensure each and every visitor, be they volunteer or customer, leaves feeling satisfied. 

Emily - CASA - Blog 4

As Thursday’s work ended, it was sad to realize our time at Huntsville was coming to an end. Today was packed full of exciting adventures and rewarding time spent with seniors at the Country Cottage, an assisted living center located near CASA’s headquarters. The home works to provide care and aid to those who wish to maintain much of their independence. Once we arrived at the cottage, our job was to chat with the residents as they ate their snacks and told us about themselves. While the work was not particularly strenuous, it was absolutely amazing to hear the lively stories of the residents as they recounted the many adventures they had been on throughout their lives. Personally, I was able to get to know two of the residents, Roy and Jack, quite well. As they told of their exciting lives, the places they had traveled, the things they had done, and the wars they had fought in, I was filled with joy. It was so nice to be able to communicate one-on-one with the residents we have been trying to help throughout this journey, and it was so thrilling to see their faces as they strove to share their stories. I felt blessed to be the person they could share with, even for the short while that it lasted. Today’s morning reminded me that interaction and a willing ear can go a long way for people, and making a difference can be however small or big one wants it to be.

Today’s afternoon consisted of traveling to the Manna House once again for the delivery of food and necessities. Because we had been there before, everything seemed to run more smoothly, and it was easier to find a job that needed to be accomplished. Today I was able to help individuals carry food items out to their cars. This was a particularly rewarding experience because I was able to have some interaction with the very people we were working to serve. Even more pleasing was the ability to help these individuals with one simple task to make their time at the Manna House a little better. As the day winded down, it was hard to say goodbye to all of the staff and volunteers, but it was fulfilling to see the clients taken care of. All in all, the day could not have gotten any better. 

Nikki - Playworks - Blog 4

We started at a new school today. We arrived at DCIS Ford in the morning and waited until our Playworks coach told us what to do. We went out to the playground to start our first round of recess and explore the grounds. The playground was huge! It was way larger and more spread out than any of the other playgrounds we have visited. Since this particular Playworks coach had only been there for a few months the kids were not as disciplined. Some did not respect him like they respected the coach at AXL Academy. The kids did not have very much structure because the playground was so big. It was more like a traditional recess than the other Playworks playgrounds we have seen. The children played normal recess games like soccer, basketball, and foursquare. The children in each class just ran from game to game. It made me realize how important the structure on the playground is. The children seemed to enjoy the structured games a lot more. When there were only certain games they could play there was a lot more inclusion. We gave the new coach pointers from the other schools playgrounds, which I think helped him figure out how to make recess more structured. I also think it helps the coaches that we have been to different schools and also broadens our outlooks.
At DCIS a lot of the teachers spoke Spanish in order to accommodate the younger children who do not know English yet. I thought this was a good idea so the Spanish speaking children do not get behind and flustered by just jumping into English all the time. Most of the teachers were very considerate and seemed like they enjoyed teaching. One teacher really made me uncomfortable. She was constantly yelling at her second grade class, which was known for being the most disrespectful class. When her class was at recess they seemed incredibly well behaved. I was kind of angry at this teacher because the children were well behaved just not taking well to being constantly badgered and yelled at. This brings me to a point in the education system that may need some work. I understand that teachers do not get paid the best but wouldn’t you think that would mean they would really want to work next to kids and be a teacher? I think kids would behave better if they felt that the teachers actually enjoyed teaching them.