Alternative Breaks History

January 2009

Tornado Relief: Oklahoma - Plans are underway to form a new team of students that will focus their efforts to help areas devastated by tornadoes.  More information coming soon.

May 2008 (News Article)

Border Exchange Project II: Mahwah, NJ - Border Exchange Project Part II: Students that participated in the first leg of the Border Exchange Project spent a week in the NJ/NY area working with organizations that help promote human rights in regards to immigration.  Students had the opportunity to paint apartments,

March 2008 (News Article)

Border Exchange Project I: Edinburg, TX - Border Exchange Project Part I: Eight UTPA students and one staff member hosted 11 students and one faculty from Ramapo College of New Jersey to target issues surrounding immigration and it's effects on the South Texas Border region and Mexico.  Service projects included painting an elementary school in Reynosa and cleaning a homeless shelter for immigrants in Brownsville among others.

Coastal Louisiana Restoration Project: Lake Charles, LA - Five students and one staff member help restore a Sam Houston Jones State Park in Louisiana after invasive plants spread due to past hurricanes.  Students joined college students from all across the nation to replant over 5,000 trees.

March 2007

Hurricane Relief Project: New Orleans, LA - The Community Service Connection was proud to kick off their 1st annual Alternative Spring Break Program by sending seven UTPA students to Tulane University in New Orleans, LA in March. Students who attended the week-long service project were able to help clean and rebuild one of the many areas affected by Hurricane Katrina by working together with the Green Project and the Common Ground Relief, among others.