Full Description
This book constitutes a guide for student and staff leaders in alternative break (and other community engagement, both domestic and international) programs, offering practical advice, outlining effective program components and practices, and presenting the underlying community engagement and global learning theory. Readers will gain practical skills for implementing each of the eight components of a quality alternative break program developed by Break Away, the national alternative break organization. The book advances the field of student-led alternative breaks by identifying the core components of successful programs that develop active citizens. It demonstrates how to address complex social issues, encourage structural analysis of societal inequities, foster volunteer transformation, and identify methods of work in mutually beneficial partnerships. It emphasizes the importance of integrating a justice-centered foundation throughout alternative break programs to complement direct service activities, and promotes long-term work for justice and student transformation by offering strategies for post-travel reorientation and continuing engagement. The authors address student leadership development, issue-focused education, questions of power, privilege, and diversity, and the challenges of working in reciprocal partnerships with community organizations. They offer guidance on fundraising, budget management, student recruitment, program structures, the nuts and bolts of planning a trip, risk management, health and safety, and assessment and evaluation. They address the complexities of international service-learning and developing partnerships with grassroots community groups, non-governmental and nonprofit organizations, and intermediary organizations. For new programs, this book provides a starting point and resource to return to with each stage of development. For established programs, it offers a theoretical framework to reflect on and renew practices for creating active citizens and working for justice.
Contents
Figures and Tables Foreword Acknowledgments Introduction PART ONE. FOUNDATIONS 1. Alternative Breaks Defined 2. A Brief History of Alternative Breaks. The Beginnings of the Movement 3. Working Together for Justice. A Theoretical Framework 4. Developing Community Partnerships for Mutual Benefit 5. Alternative Breaks as Catalysts of Active Citizenship PART TWO. KEY COMPONENTS OF ALTERNATIVE BREAKS 6. The Eight Components. Foundations of a Successful Alternative Break Program 7. Diversity and Social Justice. Addressing Power, Privilege, and Systems of Oppression 8. Education. Understanding Social Issues 9. Orientation. Learning About the Organization, Location, and Context 10. Training. Building Skills 11. Strong Direct Service. Working With Communities 12. Alcohol- and Drug-Free Programs. Practicing Full Engagement 13. Reflection. Synthesizing Learning and Experience 14. Reorientation. Active Citizens Reorganizing Locally PART THREE. STUDENT LEADERSHIP, LEARNING, AND TRANSFORMATION 15. Student Leadership in Action 16. Program Structures and Leadership Roles 17. Training Student Leaders 18. Assessing Student Learning PART FOUR. DEVELOPING AND STRENGTHENING ALTERNATIVE BREAK PROGRAMS 19. Program Growth and Continual Improvement 20. Community Building 21. Recruiting Leaders and Participants 22. Budgeting, Finances, and Fund-raising 23. Risk Management and Other Logistics PART FIVE. GOING GLOBAL 24. The Complexities of International Alternative Breaks 25. Developing International Community Partnerships 26. Working with Intermediary Organizations PART SIX. A SOCIETY OF ACTIVE CITIZENS 27. Working Collaboratively Through Compacts and Collectives 28. The Power of Alternative Break Alumni Epilogue. A Call to Action References Index
