Spring Break
Column: Clearinghouse for Volunteers
Alternative Spring Break
Corrine Hawes & Courtney O'Keefe
Issue date: 3/26/09 Section: Editorial/Opinion
03/26/09 - While some of you may have been tanning on the beaches of Mexico or Florida, or relaxing at home catching up on sleep after midterms, 10 University of Rhode Island students and three staff members traveled to our nation's capital, Washington, D.C., for an alternative Spring Break adventure. After many weeks of preparation, educating ourselves with statistics, testimonials, and figures about the Literacy in Youth program, we were ready for our journey.
Upon arriving, many of us were unsure what was to come. I don't think any of us realized the impact the trip would have on our lives. We boarded the silver steed (commonly known as the "metro") and rode it to our new home. After a long night's rest, we began our week of experiential learning.
The week started with visits to a multitude of non-profit organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, First Focus and the First Book National headquarters.
At these organizations we learned about the hard work that it takes to run a nonprofit. Also on our first night in the city, we attended the Speaker's bureau, where three homeless people told us about their lives.
It was interesting to see the nonprofit perspective on the focus area of our trip. Many of the individuals who presented to us also shared their career stories and how they came into that particular career. This was eye-opening for all students and caused them to think about their future careers. After visiting these organizations, many of us had revelations about our lives and gained a new perspective on the future.
In addition to hearing the perspective of the nonprofit organizations, the students were able to meet with their state legislators. The students met with U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI,) and U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) regarding the issues of literacy, the environment and the No Child Left Behind Act. It was interesting to compare and contrast the views of the nonprofit organizations to those of the legislators.
Upon arriving, many of us were unsure what was to come. I don't think any of us realized the impact the trip would have on our lives. We boarded the silver steed (commonly known as the "metro") and rode it to our new home. After a long night's rest, we began our week of experiential learning.
The week started with visits to a multitude of non-profit organizations, including the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth, First Focus and the First Book National headquarters.
At these organizations we learned about the hard work that it takes to run a nonprofit. Also on our first night in the city, we attended the Speaker's bureau, where three homeless people told us about their lives.
It was interesting to see the nonprofit perspective on the focus area of our trip. Many of the individuals who presented to us also shared their career stories and how they came into that particular career. This was eye-opening for all students and caused them to think about their future careers. After visiting these organizations, many of us had revelations about our lives and gained a new perspective on the future.
In addition to hearing the perspective of the nonprofit organizations, the students were able to meet with their state legislators. The students met with U.S. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI,) and U.S. Rep. Jim Langevin (D-RI) regarding the issues of literacy, the environment and the No Child Left Behind Act. It was interesting to compare and contrast the views of the nonprofit organizations to those of the legislators.
