A Legacy of Paying It Forward: 30 Years of Howard's Alternative Spring Break

Update: 2024-08-28

Description

Throughout the 30-year history of Alternative Spring Break (ASB), Howard University students have demonstrated that community service does not have to be exclusively for your own community. When was the last time you've offered help to someone in need? Did you do it without thinking about what you might get in return?

If so, you already know a thing or two about how Howard University students spend their spring break. Traveling to different locations all over the country, Rankin Chapel's Alternative Spring Break participants commit their week-long break to serving others.

The yearly event seeks to involve students in meaningful service projects to develop the next generation of servant leaders. And in this episode oh HU2U, we let Autumn Coleman take over as host, our student correspondent for University Communications.

By traveling and serving various communities across the United States, Howard students embrace the university's motto of Truth in Service. This year's theme, 'A Legacy of Paying It Forward, 30 Years of Service,' continues to celebrate those decades of impactful work. The episode features personal stories from students and organizers, including student site coordinators like Alina Britt and staff advisors like Deborah Boatwright, showcasing the program's planning, challenges, and rewards.

From HU2U is a production of Howard University and is produced by University FM.

Episode Quotes:

What drives Britt to do the ASB?

Alena Britt [02:23 ]: There were a lot of times where I was like, okay, I'm drained because it would either be during finals or midterms, and it would be a lot, but at the end of the day, I remember my purpose. I remember why. And I just kept going with that. [02:48 ] I had a vision for how I wanted this to go. And I want to keep in mind that it's also spring break, and I want to keep in mind that this is also a service trip. I was like, okay, people like music; people like instruments. Let's do this. So with all these ideas in mind, it's just like, whatever I want to do, we can do it.

Living out ASB’s mission truth and service

Melvin McLawhorn [08:12 ]: I wanted to create a capstone before I go out into the real world, per se, just to give back to my community. I could have spent any of my time, especially my break, maybe out partying or something, but truth and service have always been instilled in me, so I couldn't find a better way to spend my time.

Howard students making a difference with Ignite Chicago

Emily Summers [06:16 ]: Last year, you all came and helped us keep our space beautiful for our clients. We did a talking circle about college experience, and it helped expose some of our clients who were thinking about college, or still in high school, to the benefits and the kind of scope of experience that they could have in college. And today, you are helping us beautify our wonderful neighborhood of Bronzeville, which is so important because we know that if you look around and the community you're in feels cared for, you feel like you want to care for it and you want to care for yourself.