By Corinne Dorsey, Staff Reporter
On Sunday, March 1, Howard students began preparation for their 26th Annual Alternative Spring Break Trip. Alternative Spring Break is a program shaped around social justice work and service on a national and global scale throughout the week of spring break each school year. The program received 1100 student applications and will be traveling to 22 sites including four international sites.
The program is under the leadership of the executive student director, Sydney Montgomery. Montgomery is a junior political science and sociology double major with a minor in political science, with longstanding experience and history with the Alternative Spring Break program.
From her experience as an intern in her freshman year, to becoming the director of internal and external affairs, to being site coordinator in her sophomore year, she has a deep passion for the work being done through the ASB program.
“I just want you all to know that the journey that everyone out there is about to embark on is going to be one that one changes your life, two that you’re going to learn more about yourself, and three may change your career path,” says the ASB veteran to the new 2020 ASB participants.
The theme for the 2020 Alternative Spring Break Program is the “HU Service Continues,” inspired by the late Nipsey Hustle’s movement, “the marathon continues.” The theme of ASB sets the central purpose and tone for the 22 sites that Howard students will be serving in spring break 2020.
The introductory meeting for ASB in Cramton Auditorium was filled with excited Howard students on Sunday, Feb. 2. The auditorium was separated by the 22 destinations that the participants will be traveling to, granting students the opportunity to bond with their future team members on the trip. The program even had a song dedicated to showcasing the mission and purpose of the historic ASB service program.
ASB will have three more participant meetings as they prepare for the 2020 spring break service program. Participants will also be participating in a 2020 Helping Hands Radiothon, ASB’s biggest annual fundraiser sponsored by WHUR 96.3FM, on March 1.
This year, the program will have participants visit service sites in Baltimore, Maryland; Camden, New Jersey; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Washington, D.C.; Richmond, Virginia; Wilkinson, South Carolina; Memphis, Tennessee; Lumberton, North Carolina; Savannah, Georgia; New Orleans, Louisiana; Birmingham, Alabama; Oakland, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Flint, Michigan; Charleston, West Virginia; Chicago, Illinois; Pine Bluff, Arkansas; Little Rock, Arkansas; St.Louis, Missouri; Detroit, Michigan; Puerto Rico; Ghana and The Bahamas.
