Alternative Service Break

Alternative Service Break (ASB) is a unique volunteer experience during which students forgo their traditional spring break activities and engage in direct service in a community outside of their own. Whether students are building houses, cleaning up after storms, or playing with kids/animals; students will learn about new cultures, social issues, and how to be an active citizen.

We are seeking funding for Alternative Service Break in order to make the trips more affordable for our students and create a program that can grow to reach more locations in and outside of the United States. Our hope is to use these funds to help offset the cost of food and lodging for these trips, in addition to creating scholarships for the students. 

Alternative Service Break began in the 2019-2020 year and while the pandemic affected how this trips looked for a year, the program picked back up and grew to three trips, then four, and this year five in total. 

The ASB Team is made up of wonderful students and staff. There is one advisor for the program, Mikala Harvey, then two ASB student Coordinators, Breyonna Brannon and Jessica Whitaker.

Each trip has two students who serve as Site Leaders. Site Leaders are the heart and soul of these trips as they plan and organize the trips from beginning to end. They connect with our community partners, plan the travel, and recruit the participants. Each trip has one staff member, or Learning Partner, to chaperone. Learning Partners are active participants in the week of service, but also ensure safety for the extent of the trip. 

SPRING LEADERS:

Kaitlyn Hazuka

Major: Graphic Design

Year: Sophomore

Sustainability Site Leader

*No Picture*

Efupom Fang 

Major: Chemistry

Year: Sophomore

Sustainability Site Leader

Makayla Sutton

Major: Sociology

Year: Junior

Racial Justice Site Leader

AnaCarolyna Harris

Major: Psychology Minor in Child and Family Development

Year: Junior

Racial Justice Site Leader

Evan Nazareth

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Year: Sophomore 

Environmental Justice Site Leader

*No Picture*

Varshi Rayapalli

Major: Mechanical Engineering

Year: Sophomore 

Environmental Justice Site Leader

Please see the following links to learn more about each of the spring 2024 trips!

1. Sustainability 
2. Environmental Justice 
3. Racial Justice

Cost Breakdown:

Food is one of our biggest expenses of these trips and the food is one of the toughest things to anticipate. Any donation is incredibly helpful.

Testimonials

• "Being able to volunteer during the Alternative Service Break helped me to realize how one person can create a massive change and built my passion into being that person for my future communities" (2022 Participant).
• "This trip was one of the best experiences I have ever had. It was SO refreshing to spend time with genuine people and do things that benefit a community in need at the same time. It was truly an uplifting experience that I will always keep with me" (2020 Participant).
• "I am forever humbled by this experience because it gave me an opportunity to understand how I can serve communities other than my own but most importantly how to understand people for their stories and how they cope with difficult situations" (2020 Participant).

How to contact us: Instragram, @CLT_LEAD

You can double or triple the impact of your gift if your employer participates in a matching gift program.  To see if your employer has a matching gift program, click here. If your company matches, complete your matching gift form and submit it to UNC Charlotte via mail (UNC Charlotte Foundation, 9201 University City Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28223), fax (704-687-7259) or email (mwinslow@charlotte.edu).