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Alternative Break Student Leadership: Shaping Change, Inspiring Impact

Alt Break 1

Alternative Break Student Leadership offers unique opportunities for students to drive meaningful change and inspire impactful action. As a student leader, you'll have the chance to shape and lead week-long community-engaged and social justice learning experiences. Here are the specific opportunities, responsibilities, benefits, and purposes for each role:

Alternative Break Leadership Council:

  • Opportunities: Collaborate in planning, executing, and overseeing Alt Break programs, fostering inclusive communities, facilitating impactful service experiences, and upholding ethical engagement practices.
  • Responsibilities: Ensure adherence to program principles, foster inclusive communities, support Trip Leaders, and collaborate with Program Assistants.
  • Purpose: Shape program direction, uphold values, and enhance participant experiences.

Alternative Break Trip Leaders:

  • Opportunities: Lead week-long experiences, develop service projects, orient participants, facilitate reflections, and access leadership development opportunities.
  • Responsibilities: Develop and lead experiences, facilitate reflections, orient participants, lead projects, and collaborate with team members.
  • Purpose: Heighten awareness of critical social issues, enhance individual growth, and prepare active citizens prioritizing community.

Benefits for Both Roles:

  • All program-related costs covered (Trip Leaders Only).
  • Student Support Stipends. 
  • Access to leadership development resources.
  • Transformative experience driving social change.

Join Alternative Break Student Leadership and be the catalyst for positive impact and lasting change. Apply now and shape the future of service-learning

If you have questions, email us at altbreak@american.edu or come visit our office, located in MGSC 266. You can also learn more about our past programs’ themes and locations by clicking here.

Apply to lead an Alternative Break Experience!

Are you passionate about creating positive change and leading impactful experiences? Apply for student leadership roles in Alternative Breaks now!

Opportunities Available:

  • Alternative Break Trip Leaders: Lead week-long community-engaged and social justice learning experiences. Apply here.

Join us in shaping the future of service-learning and social justice initiatives. Apply now and be the catalyst for positive change!

Contact Alt Breaks: Let's Shape Change Together

Have questions about our Alternative Break programs or want to get involved in shaping impactful experiences? Reach out to us today! Our team is here to support you in exploring opportunities, understanding program details, and guiding you through the application process.

Contact Information:

Diana

On the leadership experience

Our program's focus was Northern Ireland’s conflict transformation and reconciliation efforts following a thirty-year sectarian conflict, and how Brexit is affecting current power-sharing efforts. While COVID-19 prevented us from traveling, I am immensely proud of all of the work that my co-leader Maggie and I have accomplished. Our goal for this Alt Break was simple - we wanted to teach people. We wanted people to learn about a thirty-year period of ethno-sectarian violence that is rarely talked about in everyday life, yet remains very relevant to understanding current affairs. Our participants were enthusiastic and eager to learn throughout the months leading up to the program, and their genuine desire to learn was visible in each of our pre-departure meetings.

Jenni & Liz

On the leadership experience

Alternative Break was a chance to not only build up leadership skills, but to use our role as students to give tools to those around us, so that they could further their understanding on an issue we are very passionate about. It challenged us to always be considerate about entering another community's space in a meaningful and ethical way. We are beyond proud of everything that we’ve been able to accomplish as co-leaders! We will always carry this experience with us. We also wanted to give a small shout out to our Alternative Break Graduate Assistant Jackie because the compassion she's given to us empowers people to keep going.