Alternative Breaks

Alternative Breaks offers service-learning trips for students to explore a social justice issue through hands-on service supplemented with education and reflection. Trips run during winter and spring breaks and explore issues like immigration, environmental justice, public health, or poverty. Participants take a DeCal class before their trip to learn about the issue and the community partners they will be working with and to get to know each other.

“I never imagined a space like the PSC. I participated in Alternative Breaks, which gave me experience in local community building. It taught me that community wisdom is perhaps the most important type of wisdom. There’s only so much we can learn from books. It’s given me an alternative way of learning.”

ALEJANDRA LOPEZ, Class of 2015, Double Major in Sociology and Social Welfare

At-A-Glance

Volunteer
Units available
Stipend or scholarship
Time commitment: 2–4 hours per week
Long term (1 semester)
Student Organizations

Spring 2018 Trips

Winter 2018 Trips

Urban Health: Los Angeles, CA

More Information

Read the Alternative Breaks Resource Manual.

Watch our video.

Urban Pathways project, 2016

Supporters

Alternative Breaks (Alt Breaks) has benefited from the generous support of the Associated Students of the University of California (ASUC), and the benevolent support of individual alumni donors.

Important Dates

All info sessions will be held at the Public Service Center in 218 Eshleman Hall. Please check back at the beginning of the school year for info session dates and times.

Online Application

Applications have closed for the 2017-2018 trips. Please check back in Fall 2018 for next year's application.
Now accepting applications for 2018-2019 Alternative Breaks Program Directors. Apply online (rolling deadline)
Now accepting applications for 2018-2019 Alternative Breaks Break Leaders. Apply online (rolling deadline)

Contact Information

Office hours are all held at the Public Service Center (218 Eshleman). Feel free to visit or contact:

Edith Martinez Soto, Community Partnerships Director
Office Hours: TBA
partnerships.altbreaks@gmail.com

Finance Director
Office Hours: TBA
finance.altbreaks@gmail.com

Joel Sedano, Communications Director
Office Hours: none
berkeleyaltbreaks@gmail.com

Fatima Casas, Training & Sustainability Director
Office Hours: TBA
train.sustain.altbreaks@gmail.com

Cassy Huang, Program Manager
cassy@berkeley.edu

2016 Alternative Break leaders at leader retreat