Alternative Breaks Spring 2016Newsletter

A Call to Conscious Action

� Introduction

� Welcome, Rajelin!

� Thank You, Scott!

� Thank you, Director Team & Break Leaders!

� All Community Meeting - Highlights

� Animal Welfare○ Where The Wild Things Are: Exploring the Human-Animal Relationship

� Arizona Immigration○ “Do I look Illegal?” The Criminalization of Undocumented Communities in

Arizona

� Central Valley○ Fruitful Lands, With a Thirst for More Than Water

� Environmental Justice○ Who Carries the Burden: Connecting the Dots Between Race, Class, and

Environmental Hazards

� Food Justice○ Sowing Food, Growing Justice, and Harvesting Fruitful Change

� Magnolia Project○ Ten Years After the Storm: Beyond Outrage, Towards Praxis and

Consciousness Through Action

� Native American Rights○ Voices of the Unheard: Exploring Native American Identities

� San Diego Immigration○ Deconstructing the Immigrant Narrative, One Story at a Time

� Urban Pathways Project○ The Tangles of Urban Health: The History Behind the Disparities and the

Persistently Uninsured

Table of Contents

IntroductionWelcome to the Alternative Breaks Spring 2016 Newsletter! Our Spring trips and Decals have come to a close and participants, break leaders, and directors are mapping out their journeys once the Alternative Breaks chapter closes in their lives. This issue of the newsletter explores the thoughts and critical reflections of our participants and Break Leaders; it contains prose, art, poetry, and images that attempt to capture the unique experiences of the members of the AltBreaks Community.

Alternative Breaks has continuously grown since 2001; our trips have expanded, our community partners have grown, but this doesn’t mean that we are any closer to uncovering the just society that we all envision. This year alone has shown that injustice is as strong as ever. Ccommunities of color in Flint, Michigan fight environmental racism as their water became contaminated due to government neglect,. Agricultural communities continue to fight for uncontaminated drinking water and rights that would give them the income to purchase the foods they have been working to produce for hours on end. Racism has found its way into the Presidential race and is fueling the fire of one candidate that is continuing to gain popularity. How can this nation support a man that wants to rid a nation of immigrants when this nation was built on immigration? These injustices continue to intensify as the years go by; we need a revolution in the United States to end these issues, we need to plant seeds in the minds and hearts of individuals to stand for what they believe in and win this fight.

Spending a week in a community fighting numerous injustices and studying the historical roots that allow these injustices to exist today are the actions that Alternative Breaks takes to plant seeds in the minds of the participants. This program allows students to engage with an issue, attempt to understand the realities of the world, and aims to encourage individuals to continue fighting -- whether that be through attending rallies or interning with an organization that works toward immigration reform. The road toward justice seems to be never-ending, but as a society we can’t give up, we have to continuously fuel the fire in our hearts, listen to community wisdom, and fight. This newsletter aims to share this community wisdom and ignite the flame that will set a fire in the hearts of those around you.

Team of Directors

Peggy Hsieh, Finance Director Alejandra Lopez, Community Partnerships

Scott Hovdey, Program CoordinatorEmily Droge, Communications Director

Pilar Manriquez, Training and Sustainability Director

Welcome, Rajelin!

Starting this May, Rajelin Escondo has switched roles in the Public Service Center and has begun working as the Alternative Breaks Coordinator as Scott Hovdey transitions

into a different chapter in his life. Rajelin will support summer interns in New Orleans and Los Angeles, supervise the Alternative Breaks Student Director Team, and support

winter and spring trip Break Leaders as they prepare for their trips.

The program is incredibly happy to have her as the new Program Coordinator as she has an extremely diverse background in the social justice world and a wealth of

experience and wisdom to share with the Directors, Break Leader,s and Interns. Some of her experience includes: serving as a peer mentor for first-generation and

underrepresented students at Loyola University Chicago, participating in the Freedom Ride Alternative Break Immersion with Loyola University, and organizing Loyola

students to participate in the MArch for America in 2010. She finished her undergraduate career and completed her Masters in Education in Student Affairs

program at UCLA.

We’re excited to welcome her to the AltBreaks Team and know that the program will transform and blossom as she builds community and creates a supportive environment

for the directors and break leaders as the year progresses.

The lovely Public Service Center Staff

Thank you, Scott!

“Scott, we were so lucky to have you this year. I really appreciated

your ability to bring calmness (and sometimes even humor)

when things went wrong. Thanks for all your hard work and for

always being there for us!”

“I admire his dedication and determination to play

a role in social justice”

“.Fierce and supportive”

“A calm voice and an understanding, forever

compassionate demeanor among all the incredible stresses that Alt

Breaks entails”

Although you’ve only been a program director for a year, your work will last a lifetime. You flawlessly transitioned into your role and allowed the program to

flourish and go through growing pains as the year progressed. You provided a cool, relaxed environment and inspired others through your many discussions about social

justice and cultural humility. Wherever you end up, you will continue to do great things and bring a passion, tranquility, and realness to any space you enter. Thank you for an incredible year, and thank you for leaving your mark on this program

forever! The following are affirmations from Break Leaders and Directors.

“I appreciate Scott for the incredible support he has provided to the Student Director team and

to the Break Leaders. Scott is very approachable, friendly, and quite funny. He

strives to create welcoming, safe, and courageous spaces anywhere he steps in to

facilitate. I love Scott's tranquil vibes and cool energy. Much love and appreciation for Scott

and all of his hard work this year!”

Break Leaders

Emily Plummer and Audrey Mancini

Edgar Gonzales and Melissa Candell

Jenny Zong and Andre Solís-Flores

Drew McPherson and Aishah Abdala

Meli Catalan and Silvia

Avila

Lupe Rubalcava and

Julian Ponce

Nazia Rahman and Miriam Perales

Celine Chen and Lexi Picard

ACM HighlightsAll Community Meetings happen in the fall and the spring as a way to build community and

understand the intersectionalities between trips and across social justice issues. This year we had Fela Thomas speak at the Fall ACM and Alt Breaks alum, Emily Gillespie, at the Spring ACM.

The Food Justice trip explores the meaning of justice and service during group discussion

Fela Thomas, Public Service Center Student Leaderships Program Manager, inspires the Alt Breaks community by speaking about the journey of social justice and explains that we are always changing and growing

Participants build community and share how they were drawn to the program

Emily Gillespie speaks on the post-Alt Breaks Journey

Animal Welfare: Central Oregon

On our voyage , we will navigate the quagmires of, “What happened to the Orcas who played Shamu?“ and “Why is it an insult to be called an animal?“ We will wade through murky issues

such as factory farming and animals in research and entertainment. We’ll also uncover the parallels between animals and other marginalized identities, and explore how animals

themselves see the world we share.As we venture into the controversies surrounding animal welfare, we will encounter surprising insights, cultivate juicy dialog, and forge meaningful relationships with each other, and, if we’re lucky, the Wild Things we set out to find. Over Spring Break, we’ll trek through the enchanting land of Oregon to learn and serve at organizations including a wildlife rehabilitation center and a sanctuary for domesticated animals. We’ll feel the cool Oregon air at our backs as we dig into our service and discover the wonders of the people and animals around us–people and

animals who will push us to rethink the world we thought we knew.

The Animal Welfare team shows off their goofy side, “gives a hand” to their organizations, and creates “amazing memories along the way.”

Reflection at a river - contemplating the animal-human relationship and its role in today’s society

Mikaela Luke bonds with a dog as the group composts in Central Oregon

Arizona ImmigrationWe explore the geo-policies enacted in Arizona that criminalize and terrorize immigrants and

communities of color. The goal is to provide participants with a space to learn how each of us can play a role in the fight for immigrant rights, because no human is “illegal”, no human is an “alien”, and

no human deserves to be mistreated for engaging in the natural process of migration

The Arizona Team boycotts hate and racism at the United Against Hate Rally in Arizona

Belongings lost and found at the border between Mexico and Arizona

Learning about immigration reform and reflecting on one’s role in the issue

Central Valley: “Fruitful Lands, With a Thirst For More Than

Water”

Throughout our decal & trip, we grappled with issues such as water accessibility, pesticide use, farmworker rights and food insecurity-all issues that affect low-

income rural communities all over the Central Valley. We explored the intersectionalities between all these issues and continuously challenged why the

Central Valley is too often overlooked and undermined.

After volunteering with the United Farm Workers organization in Madera, we then

joined them , along with multiple farmworkers and their families, in Fresno in a strike against the agricultural company,

Gerawan. We were demanding Gerawan to hold themselves accountable for spraying a

group of farm workers with pesticides and to provide them with adequate care. It was an unexplainable feeling being able to stand alongside these farm workers who had

experienced a violation of rights and abuse firsthand, and show solidarity. It is one thing to read about historical farmworker strikes,

but it is another to witness all the resiliency, strength, and unity that comes with

experiencing one firsthand.

On our first day,we worked in Tulare with Sarah Ramirez and Harvesting Hope, as well as with local community members and high school students, gleaning hundreds of pounds of

oranges and grapefruit that we later donated to a local food bank.

Who Carries the Burden: Connecting the Dots

Between Race, Class, and Environmental Hazards

EJ 2016 participants on a tour of the history of environmental exposures in the

community of Richmond.

I cannot even begin to sum up how my experience with the Environmental Justice (EJ) service trip affected me, but I can definitely start by saying this trip was different from any other service I've done in the past. Typically, I'm a very introspective person; I reflect a lot on my own, I act because I think it through, and I try to not take what I see for face value. I didn't know what I was walking into necessarily when I signed up for Alternative Breaks. But what had happened on this trip was much more than hands on service; it was a time to dig deeper into our souls, connect with the communities we were serving, and find how our issues and liberation were bound up with one another.

Environmental JusticeBay Area, Ca

Throughout our trip, my team and I were witnesses to the environmental racism that is occurring right here in the Bay Area. It's obvious how Berkeley has its own political, economic, and social issues, but to put it all in perspective with our surrounding areas of Richmond, West Oakland and San Francisco brings light to a bigger issue at hand: There are large, structural problems in existence which continue to marginalize the voices of communities of color, as well as dis invest in their health and well being. The communities we entered have rich hxstories, and their people are not only passionate about justice but compassionate about each other.

Isang Bagsak: My Love for Resilient CommunitiesA reflection by EJ 2016 participant Eril Morales

EJ 2016 with Alumni, Johanna Romero during their community dinner.

they fight back, they educate, and they empower. Not only do these communities hold pivotal roles in society, but they contribute to a catalyst for revolution, for positive change that is needed in our world. Alternative Breaks offered me a space to explore environmental justice through means of strength and vulnerability, knowledge and ignorance, and "isang bagsak." To put this into context, isang bagsak is a saying that originated during the United Farm Workers Movement, when farmers and allies of different ethnicities found their liberation bound together. Because of the language barrier, which can be metaphorical for us Berkeley students not completely understanding the language of the communities we served, it felt near to impossible for us to be on the same page. However, "isang bagsak," was a way to unite them all, through the beats of our hearts which hope and yearn for equality, peace, love, and justice. It means "When one falls, we all fall. But when one rises, we all rise."

Being in this space (hopefully now "our" space) has helped ground me in my own values and core beliefs, helping me understand myself and the world from a different point of view.

What constantly amazes me about the communities we serve is how people don't settle for injustice; they speak up,

Through the downfalls and injustices faced by nearby communities, entering and serving these communities means we have fell with them. But our service to them, to the bigger picture and eventual impact of their work, means we will all rise. We will all rise above, and justice will be achieved.

We might not have been serving a holy purpose like the kind that Buddha would have offered his hands to—or maybe we were, and the smiling statue was his way of showing support. Regardless, those of us on the trip really were like hands in a certain way.

As I was in Alameda, staying in repurposed military housing at Alameda Point Collaborative, I spent some time thinking about Alt Breaks’ theme this year—hands. The image seemed to anchor all of my thoughts naturally. I’m the kind of person who likes symbolism—I read my horoscope regularly, and even carry crystals in my pocket sometimes.

“But so what?” I hear you say.I’ll start with a story from our trip. On the last day, we were working on the farm that’s run by the Alameda Point Collaborative at their facilities, shoveling compost out of the back of a green pickup. When one batch was finished, one of the community members that we were working with grabbed four of us to come refill the truck. We crammed into the three-person-wide backseat. When we were all sort of comfortable, I noticed a tiny red statue on the dashboard. “Is that a statue of Buddha?” I asked.“Huh, I don’t know…” said the driver.

“Do you know why he doesn’t have any hands?”

“No” she laughed, “You all must be his hands.”

“Oh wow cool,” I replied laughing, but I was actually troubled by the fact that the little, red, chubby Buddha statue was missing his hands. I didn’t feel like we were his hands at all. I’m not at all involved in Buddhism, so I can’t interpret the religious meaning of the statue and its disfigurement, but I still think that our driver friend was on to something.

A reflection by EJ 2016 participant, Trevin

Smith

So this is what I mean when I say that the theme of our trip has been more meaningful to me than I think the people in Eschleman at the Public Service Center intended when they came up with it. We were asked in our class to come into these communities to serve, not to look down on them to fix them. In doing service, it means a lot to think about our bodies and how we use them and the space they take up.I hope that reading this inspires some reflection

We were a point of contact between the heads of these incredible volunteer groups—Planting Justice, Urban Releaf, Asian Pacific Environmental Network, the West Oakland Environmental Indicators Project—and the world out there, where there was work to be done. Each community partner had goals and plans for how to bring about the kind of environmental reform necessary to stop the suffering of those in communities like West Oakland or Richmond or Bayview, who are disproportionately affected by pollution and industry. But, that kind of aid is more than one person or even a handful of people can do on their own, which is why those of us on our Alt Breaks trips all still felt useful. We were there to be extra bodies and to listen in order to further the goals of the organizations. In this way, we were a lot like the hands of the organizations we were working with—we were the hands that spread flyers or handed out petitions on busy streets, we were the hands that reached down into the dirt to clear a new patch for an elm tree.

A lot of the time we were bouncing around from organization to organization, without allowing ourselves to dive deep in one group’s struggle for environmental justice. At the same time though, I never felt like what we were doing didn’t matter. Despite the fact that we would only be there for a day, we were still able to work hard for each organization that we had the pleasure to meet with. And every day I was using my hands differently—pulling up weeds, handing out flyers, planting blueberries in soil.

in you, fellow Alt-Breaks 2016 participants, break-leaders, alumni, and UC faculty.

I’ll end with another story from our trip. On the first night together, during reflections, we were asked to take out a piece of paper and fold it down the middle. On one side, we were supposed to write something we might need from each other and on the other, we wrote something that we could give. All of these thoughts weren’t in my head yet. On mine, I offered a helping hand.

Our goal is to understand how socio-economic conditions, gentrification, and the commodification of food have led to limited access of healthy, fresh food in low-income urban communities (while not

losing sight of the impact food insecurity has on other populations). We will explore our understanding of food insecurity by tracing the histories of food deserts, which lack access to

affordable, nutritious foods, and by unpacking the elements of the (broken) food system. In exploring the food system, we will examine the history of agriculture and food production, the politics that

transformed farming into an industry, how retail and consumerism target the poor, and why we live in a nation that can afford to throw away 40% of its food supply but still be home to 17.5 million

food insecure families.

Food Justice, Bay Area, CA

In essence, we are all "still becoming".

Community organizations engaged in direct service are "still becoming," learning to grow and flourish in systems that continue to rip their wings.

Students engaged in critical service-learning are "still becoming," learning to challenge their own assumptions, critique their roles in social justice movements, and raise awareness in the spaces they are a part of.

I am "still becoming," learning that my role as a Break Leader was to facilitate a space that caterpillars could claim to build their own critical consciousness and grow their wings. The participants I watched grow this semester helped me grow wings as well.

We are all "still becoming".

Pencil Drawing by Andre Solís-Flores, FJ Break Leader 2016

Reflection by Charlie James, FJ Participant 2016

I thought I knew what service was. It was only until after my service learning trip with my Alternative

Breaks: Food Justice cohort that I learned how little I know. “Service is good,” that’s what I thought. “You

just go out and serve people; what could be more admirable?” After I took the DeCal, I began to think

differently, and on the trip, I discovered a new way of interpreting forms of service – by critiquing the

organization through which it’s provided. After each service experience, we had a deep and meaningful

reflection about our partner organization, and while we would always assume good intent, we

uncovered surprising facts; one resonant example is of how City Slicker Farms was contributing to

gentrification in West Oakland while being insensitive to food waste. I was instructed to compost

buckets of fully edible chard and kale just because they weren’t aesthetically pleasing; it broke my heart

since it was in the midst of a community deprived of greens, especially organic ones. I learned that

while certain service organizations have good intent, they need to be critiqued. Otherwise, people like me,

who assumed all community service is beneficial, will continue to serve organizations that are

damaging to local communities. Another important lesson I retained is to make sure my definition of

social justice aligns with the organization I’m serving. City Slicker Farms may not view food waste as a

considerable issue of food justice, but I do.

The Friday before my Alt Breaks journey began, I was feeling really hesitant. I wanted to go home like my friends were doing and take some time away from Berkeley to be with family, with friends, with food and sleep - I wanted to get away from the semester, but

I was going to West Oakland which seemed no different than staying in Berkeley.

But now that my Alt Breaks journey is over - I can honestly say that this was one of the best experiences I've had this year so far.

I saw more snails than I ever thought I would in one bucket.I ate the freshest egg that I will probably eat in my life.

I was accused of being evil in Avalon way too many times.I sunburned and tanned more than I intended to.

I ate more bananas than a person should physically have to.

But most importantly, I got to experience, learn, and join the beauty of service, of community, of people.

It has been so amazing and humanizing and humbling, and it's taught me so much. Learning about social justice in the classroom is one thing. Actually going out there and meeting the community, doing the work, and having a dialogue with other passionate

and amazing folks has been entirely different experience.

I couldn't have asked for a better way to spend my Spring Break. It's allowed me to deconstruct, understand, and reconstruct my definition and understanding of service, of

community, of power and privilege all while realizing my own lens of privilege and understanding that I have. It's helped humble me in ways that have left me wowed. It's given me hope in areas that this semester has drained from me. It's made realize how

much I have in my life and how grateful I am.

For me, Alt Breaks came at the right time - this semester I was taking an Education class and a Dialogue Facilitation seminar. Combining both of these two alongside my involvement with The Berkeley Project, the Undocumented Student Community, and

other spaces gave me much to think about and question. Alt Breaks became an avenue to put theory and writing into practicality and action - and I can't be more thankful that

I had the chance to learn what I learned.

It's hard to say that Alt Breaks is what I envision as "perfect" service. It has it's pros and cons but regardless, it's inspired me to bring what we do in Alt Breaks in all other areas of service. Through Alt Breaks, I now critically think about service beyond the actions and

results, but also why service matters - to dig at the roots of service.

Reflection by Yongbin Chang, FJ Participant 2016

Magnolia Project

Ten Years After the Storm: Beyond Outrage, Towards Praxis and Consciousness in Action

“Our being surprised, and disgusted, by the poverty that Katrina revealed is a way of remaining deliberately naive about the poor while dodging the responsibility that knowledge of their lives

would entail.” - Michael Eric Dyson

It is ten years later and the effects of Hurricane Katrina continue to be felt in New Orleans, revealing the deeply entrenched systems of poverty in this country and the practices of

disaster capitalism that have invested in for profit and private growth sectors often at the expense of the poor and displaced. The Magnolia Project brought participants to New Orleans to

take on an active role in learning about poverty and homelessness, as well as strategies to address these. Participants explored root causes of these issues in order to understand their

development and discern what solutions have been effectively implemented in the decade following Hurricane Katrina.

“Biggest takeaway, echoing community members at Voice of the Ex Offender, is that "at times the social justice work we engage in does not necessarily benefit us directly, the fruits of that

arduous work ripen years later. It is still all too important and necessary to fight and take those small steps towards the light... "

-- A brief reflection from Johanna Romero, AltBreaks Alum and MP Winter Break Leader 2015

The New Orleans Winter Trip does service with Green Light, an organization that teaches the community about gardening and how food is grown. This works to end food insecurity and empower community

members

Native American Rights,Campo, California

Many consider America to be the “Land of the Free,” but its foundations are built on the forced removal, genocide, and oppression of Indigenous peoples. The Native American Rights trip travelled to Southern California to confront these issues by partnering with community members on the Campo Kumeyaay Reservation. The Campo community opened their home to nine Berkeley students this year, and shared stories of pain, injustice, resilience, and hope that shed new light on this country’s history, as well as its future. Through service and partnership with organizations in Campo including the Education Center, the Substance Abuse Center, and the Environmental Protection Agency, and interactions with tribal

elders and community members, this group gained an understanding of reservation life and Kumeyaay culture, and created invaluable bonds with the

people of Campo.. As one community member said, “Once you have met someone and have come to know them, it becomes near impossible to stand by in their

oppression.”

Participants Maddy Ing and Dylan Anselmo spend time playing with children at the Campo Education Center.

Community members teach Alt Breaks participants to play the native game of Peon.

Community members show Alt Breaks participants how to cut willow branches good for making traditional dream catchers.

San Diego Immigration

The San Diego immigration trip brought participants to the US-Mexico border, where they explored issues related to border politics, especially as they disproportionately affect the experiences of those

immigrants/socio-economic refugees who identify as women, queer and/or trans, and children.

Submissions by Kitty Jones, SD/TJ Participant 2016

This kid introduces himself to each of us, shaking our hands, when we first meet him at the gathering before the march to the border in solidarity with the San Quintin farmworkers. When we walk back from the march, out of the blue, he comes up to each of us and individually hands us flowers he picked.

The next day when we meet up with the organizers again, he goes around asking each of us, "What's your nickname?" When it's time for him to go home, he goes around hugging everyone goodbye. Since I am on the other side of the table in the crowded taqueria, I am surprised when all of a sudden he is beside me. "I didn't forget about you!" he tells me as he gives me a hug.

This little kid represents to me the beauty of an optimism that can be at once conscious of yet resistant to injustice. He is not sheltered. He is bright-eyed. He is uninhibited in his generosity of spirit and consideration for all the people around him.

I chose to quote him saying "I didn't forget about you!" because it captures his care for individuals while also doubling as a reminder to myself and my fellow AltBreaks participants to not forget him-- to not forget what he taught us by example, and to not forget any of the people we met on the trip. The flowers at the bottom of the drawing are like the ones he gave us-- celebrations of life.

Furthermore, in our remembrance, we not only honor those 11,000 individuals who have tragically passed due to the border, but those who still live whose lives are marred by the exploitation, cruelty, and injustice surrounding border politics. We honor their lives by committing ourselves to working toward better living conditions for all people.

Picture by Diana, SD/TJ Participant 2016

Journal entries by Jessica, SD/TJ Participant, 2016

Urban Health, Los Angeles, CAWith 3.1 million people in California uninsured after the ACA, South LA County leads the state with the most uninsured, at 639,000. But lack of insurance is not the only problem. While the U.S. healthcare system is one of the most expensive in the world, the quantity and quality of

care we provide to our citizens is lacking, and our health outcomes show it.On this trip, we will explore the systemic determinants of health in LA. In addition we want to

bring in conversation about social challenges, such as food and equity, cultural barriers, and prejudices.

Taking the time to explore, discuss, observe, and serve communities in South Los Angeles, was unforgettable. Whether we were at a small clinic or at a large county hospital, the dialogues that surged after became one of my favorite parts of the day; reflection, observation, and dialogue took priority once we arrived to our home base. Each time someone would contribute to the conversation –via questioning or sharing- I was able to see issues from a perspective different from my own. This trip allowed me to push myself out of my comfort zone, especially as we dove head-first into what the after effects are of the investment into mass incarceration instead of rehabilitation. Additionally, It is one thing to read about healthcare in a classroom, and another to see firsthand how the healthcare system molds to fit the needs of some people, but yet it may also unfairly filter the most vulnerable population out. I am from South Los Angeles, so personally it was empowering to be able to see the issues I saw –still may see- on a daily basis from a clearer perspective. It was both refreshing and liberating to give back to my community, meanwhile learning and sharing knowledge with my peers. I have a newfound appreciation for my Health peers, Alternative Break leaders, and the Public Service Center. -- Estefany Rodriguez, UH Participant 2016

This trip has taught me that I will never stop learning about myself. The people who I was surrounded with, the environment, and the location of both the trip and the place we stayed have enlightened me with new perspectives, new ideas, and new questions to ask. Every single person in this trip has one way or another influenced the way I think about my community and what ways am I able to help and assist others. This trip has sparked a soft side in me that I lost when I came to Berkeley. I chose this picture to embody this trip because it is an intimate photograph of all of us and I really do think we touched on a deeper surface. Everyday on the trip there was vulnerability, support, sympathy, empathy, acceptance but most importantly love. Love for each other. Love for our community. And love for the growth we hope to see within ourselves and our world. Overall, when I look at this picture I see stories, dreams, struggles, and drive coming from each individual. Not only does this photo embody love but it also captures resilience and hunger for a better us and future.

Image and writing by Evelyn Sandoval, UH Participant 2016

Art Work by residents of Skid Row in Los Angeles, CA

I remember applying for this program and prioritizing which trip I was more interested in; I was very conflicted over Urban Pathways and Food Justice. I don’t

remember what the deciding factor was, but ultimately I’m content with being involved in the critical dialogue for this trip. I’m including a photo, one where I stepped out of the circle of critical thinking to document the magic that was unraveling. I guess, now by sharing it, I am providing some critical thinking on what the picture symbolizes for folks and myself on

this trip. Our discussions were centered on spaces, providing service to these spaces instead of perpetuating harm, and how that service is is manifested through healthcare. Being a student

in the Gender and Womxn’s Studies department, I really enjoyed finding the presence of intersectionality in our discussion of health. If it wasn’t spoken about or acknowledged about,

how could we as a group and as service­-givers really be conscious of the systems and groups benefitting from the power they stole from other groups? Estefany once mentioned the

problem in her other service trip and how fascination/fetishization of community and lack of reflection really perpetuated harm to that community they had the opportunity to learn from.

That is a good contrast to our trip, where i feel we really did learn from the community we served and took a lot home from being in it.

--Yvette Alcala Hernandez

Urban Health critically reflecting on a day full of community wisdom and service

The urban health trip was such an amazing experience. In the span of a few days I managed to

build a new community filled with individuals who are just as passionate as I am about health

and social justice. If I could describe this trip in one would, I would say it is inspiring. First of all,

the organizations we visited were inspiring. Each community partner targeted a specific

community as best as they could. All of these organizations thrive on their own efforts and

through their own sustainability and self-determination. The area we visited was in its own way

also inspiring. This area of Los Angeles was inspiring in the sense that it pushed me to see the

disparities and all the work that still needs to be done. It inspired me to learn from it and be

inspired to get rid of all of the disparities it faces. Finally, my fellow break members were the

most inspiring component of the trip for me. Every member of our trip had a story to tell and

their passion and drive inspired me to keep going for them and for the communities we all

want to represent and fight for. Thinking back on this experience, I am only filled with positive

thoughts. As unpredictable as the trip was, looking back everything makes sense and probably

happened for a reason. Everything that happened on our trip made our group grow closer

together and learn together. This is why I chose this picture. This picture was taken on the day I

felt we had reached a complete level of comfort with each other. We had an incident with the

truck right after this picture was taken but even if we had taken the picture after I am sure we

would all still be smiling.. At this point we were accepting the challenges because we had each

other. We had each other to deal with the ups and downs of the trip but we also had each other

as motivators and inspiration to continue growing and learning. This was an amazing experience

and I will be forever grateful for being a part of this trip. -- Jessica Flores, UH Participant 2016

Thank you for reading!

Find us on our website: publicservice.berkeley.edu/alternativebreaks

Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/berkeleyaltbreaksFollow us on Instagram: @berkeleyaltbreaks

Special thanks to the Newsletter Committee:

Aishah AbdalaSilvia Avila

Emily PlummerLupe Rubalcava

Andre Solís-Flores

To all of our wonderful Community Partners: Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience with our program for

the past 14 years!