The Alternative Spring Break program will offer two new trips this spring, delving into changing social issues with one trip to New York and Washington, D.C., and another to Detroit.
The two trips, which bring the total number of ASB options to 17, will explore issues of education and race, respectively.
The “Urban Education Immersion” trip will visit a variety of public, parochial and charter schools in the District and New York City in order to introduce students to a variety of education approaches.
Colleen Gravens (COL ’14), one of the trip’s leaders, hopes that the week can allow students who do not participate in education-based service throughout the academic year to get hands-on experience in the area.
“You can tell from the participation in DC Reads and DC Schools that there is a large interest in education at Georgetown,” she said. “This trip will be a great opportunity [for] students who don’t have time for that commitment to meet different students, teachers [and] educational leaders and hear their thoughts on how to provide better education in urban areas.”
Arianna Pattek (SFS ’12), training chair for the ASB planning board, said the trip is important for the university, especially as its new education minor continues to grow and develop.
“The program will foster dialogues about the challenges of urban education,” she said.
One of the goals of the trip is to translate the week’s experiences into continued service work when students return to the District, according Sasha Panaram (COL ’13), the other student leader for the trip.
“We hope to invite students to think about innovative approaches used to combat the achievement gap and inspire them to take what they learn and determine how best to share and apply that knowledge with the D.C. community,” she wrote in an email.
The “Race, Dialogue, Renewal: Detroit” trip will explore the history of racial tensions and shifting demographics in the city.
“ASB trips have rarely traveled to places north of D.C.,” said trip co-leader Eileen McFarland (COL ’12). “Detroit would be an interesting city to explore because of the revival going on after its economic struggles and population [loss].”
McFarland added that she hopes to foster a comfortable environment to discuss how racial identity affects society and to engage participants in community service.
According to trip co-leader Kevin Flannery (COL ’12), the students will partner with Detroit’s Jesuit Volunteer Corps during their time in the city.
“We want to explore the challenges Detroit is facing,” Flannery said. “The city has a rich history with its automobile industry, racial separation and significant Jesuit presence.”
Both trips are designed to complement the other 15 ASB options.
“We share the same objective as other ASBs,” Flannery said. “We strive to look in-depth [at] social justice and give the participants the opportunity to reflect and rejuvenate through the trip.”
