COMMUNITY SERVICE-LEARNING
2017-2018 Alternative Spring Break & Alternative January Break
New Leader Application
Dear Alternative Break Leader Applicant:
The Alternative Break Program (ABP) at JMU both produces inspiring student leaders and relies upon outstanding student leadership. This letter aims to explain the application process for potential Alternative Spring Break (ASB) and Alternative January Break (AJB) leaders and to outline leaders’ responsibilities.
ABP partners JMU students with communities across the country and around the world. Breakers meet community needs, build mutually beneficial relationships, and develop leadership skills and active citizenship. All Alternative Breaks at JMU are organized around the following 9 Key Components:
· Strong Direct Service
· Education
· Orientation
· Training
· Reflection
· Reorientation
· Diversity and Social Justice
· Alcohol and Other Drug Free
· Conscientious Living
As a break leader, you would be an ambassador for the Alternative Break Program and would be expected to help communicate the mission and goals of the program to students and community members.
Leading a weeklong Alternative Break is demanding and requires a huge time commitment, intentional planning, and a strong commitment to team-building. Leaders are selected based on demonstrated skills, relevant experience, familiarity with each break’s social justice issue, and leadership potential. While we are open to receiving applications from two students interested in co-leading a break, all applications are considered individually, and co-leader pairings are not guaranteed. We strive both to maintain long-term partnerships with agencies and also to develop new partnerships. If you are interested in proposing a new site, there is a new site proposal, available on the ABP website, that must be submitted with your application.
All new break leaders are required to register for a 1-2 credit UNST course in the fall semester. ASB leaders will meet from 7-9pm on Mondays, and AJB leaders will meet on Fridays from 2:30-4:30pm. Class attendance is mandatory. All break leaders will be required to attend a retreat September 15-17, 2017. AJB leaders will participate in an additional day-long retreat on November 5, 2017. ASB leaders will register for a 1 credit UNST course in the spring, also taking place on Mondays from 7-9pm. Leaders should expect to devote an additional 5-10 hours/week to planning their breaks and leading various pre-break activities.
Please complete the application and return it by NOON, March 29th, 2017 to . Only electronic applications are accepted. Please put time and thought into each answer. If you have questions regarding the Alternative Break Program or this application, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thanks for your interest and we look forward to working with you!
Sincerely,
The ABP Team
Mark Your Calendar Now:
Please note any conflicts with these required events on the following page:
Alternative January Break / Alternative Spring Break· ASB Domestic and AJB Interviews: April 9, 2017
· Leader Match Social: April 18, 2017, 7-9 p.m., SSC 2107
· 1st Training Session: April 30, 2017, 6-8 p.m., SSC 2107
· Training Sessions: Fridays from 2:30-4:30pm in the EPIC Center (4th floor SSC)
· ABP Publicity Events: Participate in a minimum of 2 ABP publicity events (e.g., commons days). Dates/Times TBD
· Fall Leader Retreat: Friday (not before 3pm) through Sunday (no later than 2pm), September 15-17, 2017
· AJB Info Session: September 19, 2017, 4:30-6 p.m., Union 304
· AJB Lottery: September 27, 2017, 7:30-10 p.m., Highlands
· AJB Community Meeting and Letter Writing (Fundraising): October 11, 2017, 7:30-10 p.m., Allegheny
· AJB Retreat: November 5, 2017, Time and location TBD
· Alternative January Break: January 2, 2018-January 6, 2018
· AJB Community Celebration: January 10, 2018, 6:30-8:30 p.m., SSC 1075 / · ASB International Interviews: April 3-7, 2017
· ASB Domestic and AJB Interviews: April 9, 2017
· Leader Match Social: April 18, 2017, 7-9 p.m., SSC 2107
· 1st Training Session: April 30, 2017, 6-8 p.m., SSC 2107
· Training Sessions: Mondays from 7:00-9:00 p.m. in the EPIC Center (4th floor SSC). ASB leaders must be available at this time during both the fall and spring semesters.
· ASB International Training: An additional training session for International Break leaders. Date/Time TBD based on leaders’ availability.
· Camping Skills Training: An additional training session for camping break leaders. Date/Time TBD based on leaders’ availability.
· ABP Publicity Events: Participate in a minimum of 2 ABP publicity events (e.g., commons days). Dates/Times TBD
· Fall Leader Retreat: Friday (not before 3pm) through Sunday (no later than 2pm), September 15-17, 2017
· ASB Information Session: October 18, 2017, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Highlands
· ASB Flying Lottery Night: October 26, 2017, 7:30-11 p.m., Festival Ballroom (Attendance required for all ASB Leaders)
· ASB Driving Lottery Night: November 2, 2017, 7:30-11 p.m., Festival Ballroom (Attendance required for all ASB Leaders)
· ASB Letter Writing (Fundraising) Party: November 7, 2017, 7:30-10 p.m., Festival Ballroom
· ASB Spring Retreat: January 15, 2018, All day, Festival Ballroom
· Alternative Spring Break: March 2-March 11, 2018
· ASB Community Celebration: March 26, 2018, 7:30-10 p.m., Festival Ballroom
Which positions are you applying for? Please note that new leaders may lead either a January Break or a Spring Break, but not both.
☐International Alternative Spring Break Leader / ☐Alternative January Break Leader☐Domestic Alternative Spring Break Leader
If applying to more than one position, please rank position(s) in order of preference: Click here to enter text.
Name: / Click here to enter text. / JAC # / Click here to enter text.Summer Address: / Click here to enter text.
E-mail: / Click here to enter text. Cell: Click here to enter text.
Current Academic Level: / Click here to enter text. / Expected Graduation Date: / Click here to enter text.
Major: / Click here to enter text. / Minor: / Click here to enter text.
Current GPA: / Click here to enter text. / Language proficiencies: / Click here to enter text.
I will be a full-time student for both fall and spring semesters ☐Yes ☐No (explain)Click here to enter text.
I have carefully examined the dates and times listed on the
previous page and have listed all conflicts below ☐Yes ☐No (explain)Click here to enter text.
I have the following conflicts with the dates and times listed on the previous page:
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We will likely work with the following agencies. Please review past break descriptions and/or conduct web searches to prepare a list of preferences (to negotiate with your co-leader once you’ve been selected and paired). Confirmation of all agency commitments is anticipated by late April 2017. We expect our international leaders to have had previous AB experience as a participant or break leader or international travel experience here at JMU.
Potential International Agency Partners:
Environment / Community Wellness / Health / YouthASTOP (Asociacion Salvemous Las Tortugas de Parismina)
Parismina, Costa Rica
Casa Nica
Masaya, Nicaragua / Costa Rican Adventures
Monteverde, Costa Rica
Mayan Power and Light
Quetzaltenango, Guatemala
Village Mountain Mission
Luperon, Dominican Republic / CUMI (Commitee for the Upliftment of the Mentally Ill)
Montego Bay, Jamaica / Espaanglisch
Trujillo, Peru
VIJON (Volunteer in Jamaica Opportunity Network)
Treasure Beach, Jamaica
Please note that, because New Year’s Day falls on a Monday in 2018, January Breaks will likely be limited to locations within a 10-hour drive. Potential January Break agency partners are indicated with an asterisk below.
Potential Domestic Agency Partners:
Flying / Driving / DrivingAIDS Project LA (APLA) & Being Alive
Focus: Health-HIV/AIDS
Los Angeles, CA
Arches National Park
Focus: Environment
Moab,Utah
Catholic Charities
Focus: Community Wellness – Refugee Resettlement
Phoenix, AZ
Cherokee Nation Head Start
Focus: Youth
Talequah, OK
Denver Rescue Mission
Focus: Homelessness
Denver, CO
Harvest Farm
Focus: Health
Wellington, CO
Joshua Tree National Park
Focus: Environment
Twentynine Palms, CA
La Union De Pueblo Entero (LUPE)
Focus: Community Wellness-Immigration
McAllen, TX
Spanish proficiency required
Redwoods National Park
Focus: Environment
Orick, CA
Rescue Houston/United Against Human Trafficking
Focus: Community Wellness-Human Trafficking
Houston, TX / Catholic Charities*
Focus: Community Wellness-Refugee Resettlement
Louisville, KY
Democracy Prep Elementary School
Focus: Youth
Baton Rouge, LA
Dismas House*
Focus: Community Wellness-Reintegration
South Bend, IN
East Coast Migrant Head Start
Focus: Youth
Lakeland, FL
Everglades Outpost
Focus: Animal Welfare & Environment
Homestead, FL
Fuller Center*
Focus: Community Wellness-Rebuilding
Macon, GA
Heart of Florida United Way
Focus: Homelessness
Orlando, FL
Heartland Health Outreach
Focus: Health-HIV/AIDS
Chicago, IL
LifeSpan*
Focus: Health-Developmental
Disabilities
Charlotte, NC
Lower Nine
Focus: Community Wellness-Rebuilding
New Orleans, LA / Mid Atlantic Border Collie Rescue (MABCR) *
Focus: Community Wellness-Animal Welfare
Chestertown, MD
Mystery Break
Focus: TBD
Location: TBD
Nature’s Conservancy
Focus: Environment
Bristol, FL
New England Center for Homeless Veterans (NECHV) *
Focus: Homelessness
Boston, MA
Project Lazarus
Focus: Health-HIV/AIDS
New Orleans, LA
St. Joseph Bay
Focus: Environment
Port St. Joe, FL
Sheffield Place
Focus: Homelessness & Youth
Kansas City, MOTravel Availability: ☐Driving Only ☐Domestic Driving or Flying ☐International
Camping Availability: ☐Yes, and I have experience ☐Yes, and I don’t have experience ☐No
Please list the year, break type, community partner and location (i.e. 2016, AWB, ARC, Maryland) for each Alternative Break for which you were a leader: Click here to enter text.
Please list the year, break type, community partner and location (i.e. 2017, ASB, CUMI, Jamaica) for each Alternative Break for which you were a participant: Click here to enter text.
Agency/Site Preferences
This section of the application is designed to help us understand where your passion lies. If you are selected as a leader, your responses here may be used when the selection team is assigning you to a co-leader and/or agency. Visit the Alternative Break Website and agency websites before completing.
Preferred social issue focus (please number 1 [highest] – 5 [lowest]):
Community Wellness - Choose an item. Environment - Choose an item. Health- Choose an item.
Homelessness - Choose an item. Youth - Choose an item.
Please, list your top three agency choices. If your number one choice is a new site, you must complete the “New Break Proposal” form and submit it with your application.
Preferred break agencies (i.e. Arches, LUPE, etc)
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2. Click here to enter text.
3. Click here to enter text.
Suggested Co-Leader*: Click here to enter text.
Relation to suggested co-leader (roommate, significant other, friend, etc): Click here to enter text.
* While we will consider your preferences and suggestions, this does not guarantee your co-leader, learning partner, or agency.
Please type answers to all questions. Be thorough, thoughtful and creative!
1. What is the difference between service-learning and volunteerism?
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2. Beyond getting out of the “JMU bubble”, for what reasons is it important that JMU have an Alternative Break Program?
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3. Describe your previous leadership experiences, noting any experience facilitating learning or reflection with a group (please only refer to experiences from high school if you are a first year or a sophomore). If you have not had substantial leadership experience, what are you hoping to gain from this opportunity?
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4. What are some of your strengths, and how will they translate into successfully leading a weeklong Alternative Break?
5. What are some of your weaknesses as a potential leader, and how will you address them before and during the Break?
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6. Based on your strengths and weaknesses, what qualities would you like to see in your co-leader?
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7. Describe your previous service experience. If you have not had substantial service experience, what are you hoping to gain from this opportunity?
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8. Because one of your responsibilities as a leader is educating your group about the community in which you will be working:
a. What broad issue/theme would you prefer as the primary focus of your break? How does this social issue impact the community? How does it impact you?
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b. How do you plan to educate yourself and the participants of your break on this issue?
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International Applicants ONLY:
List international living/travel experience (Please check all that apply)
☐ Semester abroad Location/dates: Click here to enter text.
☐ Year or more living abroad Your age/location: Click here to enter text.
☐ Family has lived abroad Your age/location/length of time: Click here to enter text.
☐ Traveling with friends or family Your age/location/length of time: Click here to enter text.
1. What made you decide that you wanted to lead an International Alternative Spring Break?
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2. If you are unable to lead an international break will you plan on leading a domestic break? (Why? Why not?)
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3. Because one of your responsibilities as a leader is educating your group about the country and community in which you will be working:
a. Tell us what makes you are passionate about your top choice agency. What interests you in going to this country/community?
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b. If you are not assigned to your top choice agency, what broad issue/theme would you prefer as the primary focus of your break? What makes this important?
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c. How will you prepare yourself and the other break participants to understand the context of the country/community and the issue focus of your break?
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4. Why is it important that JMU offer International Alternative Breaks?
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All Applicants:
Planning an Alternative Break demands 5-10 hours of work outside of class each week. All leaders must have realistic plans for managing their time and balancing their Alternative Break role with other commitments such as coursework, employment, and extra-curricular obligations.
1. What are some of your other commitments for the upcoming year?
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a. How do you plan to balance leading an ASB and your commitments?
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