ASB History

Alternative Spring Break was founded in 1989 by a group of University of Illinois students wanting to work with Central American refugees in Brownsville, Texas. Maria Somma, then program director of the University YMCA, organized the trip along with 22 volunteers. They lived and worked for a week in the Rio Grande Valley with the refugees. In 1990, ASB expanded the program with three trips: a return trip to the Rio Grande Valley, a trip to Harlem dealing with homelessness, and a trip to South Dakota working with Native American issues. Since then ASB has grown to offer 17 spring break trips, making it one of the nation's largest alternative break programs. ASB now also sends trips during fall, winter, and summer breaks. ASB is still a program of the University YMCA, and continues working to provide university students the opportunity to directly work with and learn about a variety of social justice issues.

The ASB Mission...
Alternative Spring Break's mission is to educate students about social, political, and environmental issues through direct service, group reflections, student leadership, diversity, and engagement beyond the local community. Participants will develop empathy and be motivated to action with the local community.

ASB Objectives...

  1. ASB will increase the social awareness of its participants by providing a forum for individuals to educate themselves about a wide range of social and environmental issues.
  2. ASB will provide direct and meaningful service in communities throughout the U.S., abroad, as well as in Champaign-Urbana.
  3. ASB values the many factors contributing to individual and group diversity and attempts to foster the appreciation of diversity amongst its participants and through its policies and programs.
  4. ASB participants will reflect individually and in groups in order to facilitate personal development and to synthesize the direct service and learning components of each trip.
  5. ASB will provide a safe environment in which its participants may engage in travel, discussion, and direct community service.
  6. ASB will provide a fun and engaging alternative to traditional break experiences.
  7. Through the fulfillment of the aforementioned objectives, ASB will foster active citizenship among participants that will translate into a lifetime of continual education, thoughtful reflection, and active community involvement.