Alternative Breaks offers service-learning trips for students to explore a social justice issue through hands-on service supplemented with education and reflection. Students explore immigration, environmental and food justice, public health, farmworker rights, and basic needs with diverse stakeholders in California’s Central Valley, Los Angeles, Oakland, San Francisco, San Diego, and Puerto Rico. As a Trip Break Leader, you share your social justice passion by facilitating a 2-unit DeCal, planning a week-long spring break trip, and collaborating with community partners. As a Director, you manage the program and support Break Leaders behind the scenes.
2024-2025 Alt Breaks cohort
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 donors and alumni.
Berkeley Life article to learn more about us! Watch Alt Breaks’ 20th Anniversary video! Watch Economic Justice Podcast video! Check out Alternative Breaks from Berkeley Life!
Want to support Alternative Breaks? Click here for GoFundMe page – any contributions can make a difference and have a positive impact!
Important Dates
|
Break Leader Application |
closed |
|---|---|
|
Student Director Application |
closed |
|
View Alt Breaks Director Team and Break Leader Position Descriptions here. |
|
Community Partners
Central Valley
The LEAP (Latino Equity, Advocacy & Policy) Institute works with communities to achieve economic, environment and climate justice through leadership development, coalition building, community organizing, participatory action research, and advocacy for racial justice.
Los Angeles
TBD
Oakland
Common Vision evisions a world where sustainable agriculture provides all people with access to high-quality and culturally appropriate foods, a world where agriculture is a tool for reversing climate change and supporting social equity.
Puerto Rico
Camp Tabonuco empowers Puerto Rican youth with transformative learning experiences focused on the arts, agroecology, alternative construction, and sustainability to cultivate social and ecological awareness and stewardship.
San Diego
Border Angels is a nonprofit organization that advocates for human rights, humane immigration reform, and social justice with a special focus on issues to reduce the number of fatalities along the US-Mexico border by educating and assisting the communities on both sides of the border.
San Francisco
Faithful Fools fosters awareness and analysis of deteriorating social conditions in San Francisco’s Tenderloin District and facilitates individual and collective responses.
Glide is a nationally recognized center for social justice, dedicated to fighting systemic injustices, creating pathways out of poverty and crisis, and transforming lives.
Contact Information
Dani Buch, Communications Director
berkeleyaltbreaks@gmail.com
Camili Leon Amarillas, Community Engagement Director
berkeleyaltbreaks@gmail.com
Faith Vega, Community Partnerships Director
partnerships.altbreaks@gmail.com
Emily Crofoot and Grace Gonzalez, Finance Director
finance.altbreaks@gmail.com
Vanessa Colin, Program Development Director
berkeleyaltbreaks@gmail.com
Rosa Enriquez, Program Manager for Immersive Service
RosaLeeEnriquez@berkeley.edu
2024-2025 Alternative Breaks Director Team