UTSA students from various majors came together last week to volunteer during their spring vacation through the university’s Alternative Break Program. Volunteers assisted nonprofit agencies in San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans. The groups, including 29 students and six professional staff members, provided support for important topics such as hurricane restoration, food insecurity, HIV/AIDS awareness, affordable housing and LGBTQIA+ rights and advocacy.
One of several programs sponsored by UTSA Leadership and Volunteer Services, the Alternative Break Program empowers and challenges students to understand their relationship with the communities across the globe through education, reflection and direct service during week-long trips over the break.
Alternative Break student leaders go through facilitation training during the fall semester and choose their service locations. They select social issues to focus on and identify service organizations to support. Two student leaders coordinate each experience including trip logistics and lead pre-trip meetings, service activities and reflections.
In New Orleans, volunteers focused on hurricane cleanup through Camp Restore, which focuses on environmental restoration and sustainability.
“Conversations with locals sit with me for a long time,” said Keilyn Richardson, a trip leader on the New Orleans experience. “And with each meaningful experience, I try to wedge that into my future and figure out what I can do.”
The Dallas volunteer group supported City Square, which provides advocacy and support for impoverished communities in the greater Dallas area. Among its programs are several affordable-housing initiatives and health care programs that focus on issues such as HIV awareness.
“I chose the alternative break program because I wanted to challenge myself by being immersed in a different environment, as well as understand social issues at a deeper level,” said Perla Ramirez, who served as a participant on the Dallas trip. “My favorite part of this trip is meeting new people and getting to learn from them.”
UTSA students volunteering in Dallas supported City Square.
Acknowledging the importance of serving underrepresented communities, the San Antonio team provided support to the Pride Center, San Antonio Food Bank, Thrive Center and LGBTQ Choir.
“At first, I thought it would be just a fun experience for volunteering and to connect with the LGBTQIA+ community. That is exactly what it is,” said Annu Chemata Venkata, a participant of the San Antonio experience group. “I got to meet so many incredible people in the community. I was able to find my connection to the community which I hadn’t before. It was a lot of fun.”
UTSA Leadership and Volunteer Services offers both spring and winter Alternative Break trips in addition to day-long volunteer opportunities. Alternative Break trip leader applications for the 2022–2023 academic year will open in May for students looking to take a leadership role in next year’s experiences.
