For the 31st year, Howard students across all majors and classifications boarded buses for its Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program in early March to do community service in 22 cities nationwide.
About 1,300 students participated in the program this year, according to ASB site coordinators. The theme for this year’s event, “Nurturing Our Community: Planting Seeds of Hope for the Future,” commemorated decades of service through the program.
Participants said the service activities ranged from talking to high school students about their futures and tutoring younger students to working at food banks, cleaning parks and beaches, gardening, visiting juvenile detention centers, helping at housing shelters and assisting youth centers.
Brianna Johnson, a sophomore psychology major from Maryland, spent months planning the service for her site. She was a site coordinator for the Chicago site alongside Charmeon Jones.
“Charmeon picked me up and held me down. I couldn’t have done it without her, and there were times when I was stressed out, and other moments that were so amazing and beautiful, like on departure day, my executives started crying because they were just so proud of us,” she said.
Sandra Dede Dossa, sophomore political science major from Harlem, New York, served as a team leader for the Tampa site. She expressed gratitude for her leadership role. After each service day, students reflected on their experiences and the work they completed.
“My favorite part was the reflections because to be able to hear from everybody how they felt about their service was such a beautiful experience. I felt everything they felt, and on the last day I even cried a little because it was so emotional,” Dossa said.
Dossa spent the week leading her group through park and beach cleanups and helping individuals facing housing instability by assisting at shelters.
The group also helped at a ReStore facility, a store with furniture specifically for individuals affected by hurricanes and other natural disasters. Dossa went to various high schools, elementary schools and youth centers to inform the youth about HBCUs and the college experience.
Johnson also did a wide range of service throughout the week while co-leading her trip. She spent mornings tutoring elementary schoolers, and afternoons doing gardening work and going to youth centers and housing shelters. Though the work was challenging, she said it was all worth it.
“My favorite part of the week was the very last reflection that we had, when me and Charmeon started crying because just knowing that at the end of the day, we did what needed to be done,” Johnson said. “And being able to see all these connections and bonds grow over the week, my heart felt so full.”
With Howard‘s slogan, “Excellence in truth and service,” in mind, Brianna Johnson emphasized the importance of ASB for every student.
Dossa echoed this belief, as she described her experience as enlightening and informative. It gave her a unique chance to recognize her own privilege and become more aware of the world and people around her.
Nicole Johnson, sophomore psychology major from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and participant at the Detroit site, expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve at high schools, afterschool programs and gardens.
“When we were talking to the high schoolers about how we had to leave the next day, they said they were really going to miss us, and just knowing that we made that much of an impact on their lives in only a week was really eye-opening,” she said.
Through mentoring students throughout the week, Nicole Johnson formed strong connections and learned valuable lessons.
“When people talk about how the younger generations aren’t smart, it’s because they’re not really listening,” she said. “The problem is rooted deeper than what you see on the surface, and these kids, especially marginalized and Black children, just need someone to talk to and listen to them.”
Dylan Butts, sophomore sociology major, art history and photography double minor from Indianapolis served as a team leader for the Chicago site.
Throughout the week she went to different Chicago schools and youth centers to talk to kids about their future plans and steps to help them on their upcoming journeys. Butts led activities with the high schoolers including college-themed Kahoot and Jeopardy games. She felt inspired by her week of service and plans to continue her community service in the Washington, D.C. area.
“As Howard students, we all come with a lot of privilege, whether we realize it or not, so being able to see and help others who don’t have the same opportunities really puts things in perspective,” Butts said.
Jiasya Lane, sophomore legal communications major, political science minor from Georgia, by way of North Carolina served as a participant at the Milwaukee site. She also found the week emotionally impactful, especially after parting ways with the elementary school children she had bonded with.
“My teacher aid was thanking me at the end because their staff had really been dwindling down and people weren’t showing up for the kids anymore, so she was grateful that we not only showed up, but went above and beyond,” Lane said.
After a week described by participants as life-changing, emotional, fulfilling and enlightening, many students returned home with new friendships, perspectives and hearts full of pride, knowing they had made a real difference in just one week.
“It’s important to help these communities that just need signs of hope and appreciation, especially as we’re entering young adulthood,” Lane said. “It gives you an opportunity to not only humble yourself but also really see and understand others from all over. It teaches selflessness and helps you understand it’s really bigger than you.”
Copy edited by Camiryn Stepteau
