UC Berkeley Alternative Breaks Fundraiser

Puerto Rico Se Levanta!

Our DeCal will explore the cultural and political herstory of the Island of Puerto Rico and its people in order to give context to the current crisis exacerbated by Hurricane’s Irma and Maria. Topics will include understanding the geo-political value historically of the Island to the United States, the forced migration campaigns that led to massive diasporic presence in cities like New York, the Jones Act, tax haven policies, and a look at the ways in which Puerto Rico has been a social, political and medical laboratory for US corporations and foreign policy.

Berkeley News: Students to build partnerships on ‘alternative break’ in Puerto Rico

Alien Resistance: Deconstructing the Immigrant Narrative in Arizona

As a response to the current oppression of children, women, men, indigenous people and LGBTQ folks. In addition to the ongoing displacement of people of color throughout the Americas. Dutifully, this DeCal will be inclusive in deconstructing the pyramid of power in a classroom setting replacing it with collaborative consensus. In like manner, Contemporary Crimmigration contends U.S. immigration policies and it's supporters, recurring oppression, exploited trauma, deliberate policing, mass incarceration and anti-immigrant rhetoric. By providing a safe space to hear the perspectives and experiences of recent asylum seeking families and formerly incarcerated individuals. By comparison this class explores immigrant narratives by acknowledging it's competing against Immigration Customs and Enforcement, U.S. governmental agencies and the fabricated migrant crisis born of induced fear. The duration of the semester will be devoted to what wasn't publicized or politicized in reference to the immigrant experience as we know it. Lastly, to confront our findings and to move from away from being an 'ally' to become a 'collaborator.' This can be done by being self aware, practicing self-help, creating healthy esteem, then reaching self actualization.

Scarcity in a Land of Plenty: Water Contradictions of California’s Central Valley

Our trip will interact the deeply rooted history of oppression in the Central Valley through the theme of water. We will learn about the farmworkers who advocate and fight to improve working conditions and of the unincorporated communities that fight to access basic infrastructure (water, education, city representatives). Participants will connect with community organizers and will learn about the history of resistance and injustice in the valley. Throughout, participants will learn strategies of organizing and discuss the process of change via ally to advocacy in the Central Valley. 

Resistance & Resilience: Securing Urban Sustainability in the Bay Area

This trip & DeCal examines issues of environmental and food justice in the Bay Area with an emphasis on urban sustainability and welfare. We find truth in the idea that all people have the right to live in a clean, healthy environment and to access the natural resources needed to secure life stability. Throughout this study, we will critically interrogate the social, political, and economic forces by which people have historically been and presently are granted or deprived of these rights, and discuss how institutional engagement and grassroots advocacy can serve as ignitors and resistors of change.

Sprouting through Cement: Changing the Focus on “Health” Issues Affecting LA’s Communities

Using Los Angeles as the location for hands-on learning and serving, the Urban Health class will focus on topics far less expected than health insurance and medical care. Looking more into the impact of policies, government regulations and funding rather than the political and diplomatic processes behind them, some of the topics addressed will be food deserts, homelessness, housing inequality and environmental racism. These will be talked about in the context of South LA where people of multiple and intersecting identities including people of color, undocumented folx, LGBTQ+, and homeless are affected by these factors, all of which contribute to their decline in health and opportunity. The class and trip will also give an optimistic outlook into the work South LA’s communities and partners are doing to sustain their neighborhoods, their health and the rights of future Angelenos.

Deconstructing the Immigrant Narrative

In this DeCal and service trip, we will explore the topic of immigration in relation to the Mexican-U.S. border. Determined to deconstruct the immigrant narrative by understanding the perspectives of the media, government policies, and immigrant stories. Some specific topics we will discuss are about Migrant Workers and the Labor System in San Diego. We will also attempt to assimilate the various identities within the immigrant communities: women, children, LGBTQ, and veterans. We will be analyzing articles, readings, images, and videos while also participating in meaningful discussion, reflection, and interaction.