Alternative Breaks at George Mason University

04/05/2022

08/30/2021

We are pleased to share with that this year’s Mason Nation 9/11 Day of Service is scheduled for Friday, September 10, 2021. Join us and register to volunteer today! https://911dayofservice2021.eventbrite.com

08/27/2021

Join us for a great afternoon of engaging with our local community partners, and learn more about the issues facing our diverse local communities! http://ow.ly/fI5q50FTwBj

08/23/2021

Welcome Patriots! Have an Amazing 2021-2022 Academic Year!

07/15/2021

Applications For Trip Leaders: If you are interested in leading an Alternative Break Trip, you must complete the AB Trip Leader application and...

06/16/2021

Calling all Alternative Breakers Past and Present!

Hi everyone, thank you for taking the time to check out our fundraiser!… Amy Hannum needs your support for Supporting the Resilience of the Kamalbe School

05/13/2021

It's Alternative Break week!

Today we spotlight our Art for Social Change: Indigenous Culture in Guatemala led by Amy Hannum and Michelle Adye with Learning Partner Dr. Shayna Maskell Yuhasz, faculty in the School of Integrative Studies.

Participants are enjoying a virtual trip, while staying in the comfort of their own homes, to Xela, Guatemala, where we will explore Mayan indigenous culture and traditions like weaving, songwriting, painting, and more. Communities throughout history have relied on art to show the world their cultures and experiences.

We are collaborating with our long term friends and partners through the Kamalbe Spanish School Guatemala. We are so grateful to David Mazariegos and his team for his continued support, thoughtfulness and kindness over the past decade.

05/12/2021

Happy Alternative Break Week!

Today we will spotlight the experience: Color of Justice: Racial Equity and Community Action led by Erin Rodgers and Alex Elliott with Learning Partner Amani Walker. As protests continue throughout the nation, there is a continued need to confront and acknowledge the injustices that Black people face. The policing of Black bodies in the US is woven throughout history. This Alternative Break experience will examine this history and how the legacy of institutionalized racism impacts access to food and housing security and the criminal justice system in our own backyard. Participants will explore how they can become more anti-racist and advocate for a more just and equitable world. Moving from a historical perspective participants will examine social concerns such as mass incarceration, food and housing insecurity and will end with a focus on activism, advocacy and acknowledgement.

We are so grateful to our fantastic partners for this trip and hope you'll take some time to check out their impactful work: Virginia Organizing, Shepherd's Table, the Graterford Think Tank, and Virginia Student Power Network as well as fantastic speakers including Kendra Norrel from Richmond's Office of Sustainability, Arthuretta Holmes-Martin from ArthurettaSpeaks, Kalia Harris and Stephanie Sosa from Virginia Student Power Network and New Virginia Majority and Mason Faculty member Dr. Wendi Manuel-Scott from the School of Integrative Studies at George Mason University.

We are so grateful to all of our fantastic partners and can't wait to hear how it all goes! Thank you for taking the time and sharing about this very important topic.

05/11/2021

It's Alternative Breaks week! Each day we will highlight one of our amazing Alternative Break experiences carefully created and organized by our fantastic trip leaders!
See below as we share more about our It’s Not Them but Us - Turning the Tide on HIV and AIDS: Washington, DC with Trip Leaders Blythe Dellinger and Maanvi Vij and Learning Partner Shannyn Bishop Snyder faculty member in Global and Community Health!

It's Alternative Breaks week! Each day we will highlight one of our amazing Alternative Break experiences carefully created and organized by our fantastic trip leaders!

Today we will share more about our It’s Not Them but Us - Turning the Tide on HIV and AIDS: Washington, DC with Trip Leaders Blythe Dellinger and Maanvi Vij and Learning Partner Shannyn Bishop Snyder faculty member in Global and Community Health!

During this trip, students are partnering with community agencies and distinguished faculty and guests to learn about the complexities associated with HIV, AIDS, and stigma in the metro Washington and DMV areas. Through virtual interaction with our community partners, participants will examine the role of racial injustices, substance use, s*x work, gender identity, people experiencing homelessness, and access to resources in relation to HIV and AIDS. Moreover, participants will begin to see stigma as a method of transmission and tool of oppression, and how relationship-building can be used to transform and heal communities. With partners from across the country as well as Amsterdam this is sure to be an incredible experience!

We are grateful to our fantastic partners for this trip and hope you'll take some time to check out their impactful work:
NovaSalud, Inc., HIPS, NASTAD,

We are also thrilled to have several speakers including: Dr. Angie Hattery from the University of Delaware, Dr. Monica Ruiz from The George Washington University, Dr. Nour Alamiri and Dr. Craig Willse from George Mason University, Janeli Alejandra The Esposa Experience an inspiring social media personality who shares her personal experience, and Sebastian Behringer joining us all the way from Amsterdam!

We are so grateful to all of our fantastic partners and can't wait to hear how it all goes! Thank you for taking the time!

04/26/2021

Congratulations to all 2021 Seeds of Change Awardees! The Seeds of Change event was designed to celebrate and honor the many individuals, programs and events that have contributed to making Mason a more civically engaged community.

View press release: https://sail.gmu.edu/articles/15835