Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching & Service
Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching & Service

Alternative Breaks Program

Welcome!

At ABP, we believe that everyone has a role to play in building a more just world. We believe this work is urgent. And we believe that the work of “immersion” extends far beyond “travel.” To more deeply engage in social justice issues through a semester-long social justice immersion including Spring Break trips this year, check out the descriptions and information below!

Mission

The Alternative Breaks Program (ABP) brings together Georgetown community members in order to foster intersectional solidarity and inspire lasting commitments to service and social justice. ABP trips engage with diverse and vibrant communities through direct service, immersion, and reflection in a substance-free environment. By creating a space for sustained dialogue and action, ABP strives to build long-term relationships with community partners and bring the experience home.

Program Overview

The ABP traces its rich history back to 1975, when a group of Georgetown students elected to spend their spring break in Appalachia. Since its founding, ABP has expanded to connect Georgetown students, faculty, and staff to over fifty different domestic and international communities. Currently, ABP supports 6 immersion experiences that examine a diverse set of intersecting social justice issues ranging from poverty to prison reform.

Each immersion experience consists of three phases:

Model

In order to achieve its mission, ABP has five ABPillars:

  1. Justice immersion
  2. Solidarity
  3. Community building
  4. Reflection
  5. Substance-free fun

And five primary Best Practices:

  1. Ask Why
  2. Be Present
  3. Challenge Your Perspective
  4. Be Comfortable Being Uncomfortable
  5. Bring It Home

These practices are used throughout ABP – during pre-trip activities, the week of spring break, post-trip activities – and beyond.

Get Involved

We encourage you to get involved with ABP through a leadership role, as a participant, or as a partner.

Leadership: hone your leadership skills with a cohort of 10 undergraduate students through a year-long social justice leadership development program. Immersion Fellows develop and facilitate a Spring Break immersion trip with a co-leader, and Program Coordinators support program operations, communications, and capacity. This is a weekly commitment October – May, eligible for Federal Work-Study and course credit.

Participant: take a deep dive into social justice and solidarity with a group of 12 Georgetown students, staff, and faculty. You’ll learn together as a group as you engage your head, heart, and hands and move through pre-trip, trip, and post-trip. This is a weekly commitment January – May. There are NO participant fees or fundraising requirements.

Partner: email altbreaks@georgetown.edu to discuss partnering with ABP!

Connect to our community through social media

For more information and to join the ABP community, like the ABP Facebook page and follow us on Instagram.