Support bGAB 2019-20 Winter Alternative Breaks

BG Alternative Breaks (bGAB) is a student-led program within the Center for Public Impact that prepares groups of students to collaborate with communities experiencing social injustices by learning about, providing direct service for and reflecting on a specific social issue. bGAB provides students the opportunity to immerse themselves in a culture of service and allows students to create positive change on trips during fall and spring breaks. Since 2013, when bGAB was founded by Maddi Georgoff '15, the program has sent out 502 students on 41 trips, dedicating 12,569 hours of direct service to community partners.

bGAB is raising funds for our upcoming winter break trips in December and January to lower the total cost of the trip for students. bGAB believes that every student should have the opportunity to participate in an alternative break experience no matter their financial situation. With your support, bGAB can continue to provide these immersive and impactful opportunities while empowering all students to become active global citizens.

Check Out Our Winter 2019-2020 Trips!:

Creating Art as a Catalyst for Social Change; Focus: Art and Community Organizing

The Semilla Arts Initiative, founded in 2007 by Betsy Casanas, is a grassroots initiative that uses artistic collaborations as a means for empowering individuals, strengthening communities and sparking social change. Participants will work with Casanas to paint murals, reflect positively and preserve culture.

Welcoming and Resettling Refugees; Focus: Refugee Resettlement

Participants will join the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in its resettlement efforts to help refugees whose lives and livelihoods are shattered by conflict and disaster to survive, recover and regain control of their students.

Equitable Access: Overcoming Barriers in Education; Focus: Youth Development and Education

Many families and children nationwide face barriers to accessing equitable education. Many students attending schools in traditionally low-income, inner-city, redlined districts face educational disparities that have long-term effects. Participants will work with LifeWise STL to explore how social change can dismantle this oppressive system through educational programming, coaching and family support.

[Graduate Student Trip] A Community Approach to Combating Homelessness; Focus: Homelessness

Graduate student trips provide the opportunity to engage in community-based learning experiences and connect with other graduate students across disciplines. These trips combine engaging in service with community partners, structured independent academic work sessions, and group sight-seeing activities. Trip participants will engage with two community partners in Chicago, Su Casa Catholic Worker and Frieda's Place. The mission of Su Casa Catholic Worker is to create a community of hospitality and healing for families in crisis in the Chicago area. The organization primarily serves Spanish-speaking homeless families in Chicago, many of whom are women and children escaping domestic violence. Frieda's Place is Su Casa's soup kitchen that serves the community in the surrounding neighborhoods, the Back of the Yards and Englewood.

Note: If you would like your gift to support a specific participant, please note your donation "In Honor Of:" that student on the gift-giving page. If you would like your gift to benefit the amazing work of all bGAB students, please select the 'No Dedication' option.