This week Linfield College students, faculty and staff are trading their spring break vacation for a life-changing week of service and learning in three communities across the nation.
Each year Linfield students organize alternative spring break trips and fan out across the country to address issues of literacy, poverty, homelessness and sustainability through service learning projects.
This year one team will travel to New Orleans, La., where students will help restore wetlands and post-hurricane native environments. A second team will head north to Tacoma, Wash., to help construct Habitat for Humanity homes while learning about issues of affordable housing. A third team will head to Newport, Ore., where they will partner with community organizations to mentor homeless youth.
The Newport and Tacoma teams are there at the invitation of Linfield College alumni who currently serve nonprofit organizations in those areas. Alternative Spring Break is in its eighth year at Linfield.
THIS YEAR’S PARTICIPANTS
The New Orleans, La., team will be led by students Collin Morris and Amanda Cordes, and will include Kaleigh Ansdell, Rochelle Santarris, Eleanor Evans, Joel Trousdale, Lily Ratliff, Tianna Muniz, Matthea Brown and Shelby Hollenbeck. Dan Fergueson and Monica Aubrecht are the trip advisors.
The Tacoma, Wash., team will be led by students Ashlee Carlson and Jenny Zhu, and include Alex Lazar, Tess Rewick, Christine Fujiki, Flora Maciel, Ana Gutierrez, Ines Pena, Christopher Clavel and Kyle Guth. Hilda Escalera and Andy Frei will serve as advisors.
The Newport, Ore., team will be led by students Amanda McGee and Katie Mackay, and include Terran Sobel-Smith, Ayla Wood, Linnaea Funk, Kristen Ursino and Clara Martinez. Alexis Powell and Chris McIsaac will serve as advisors.
