Alternative Breaks at UCLA

Site highlights! Featuring “Dead Last: Overspending and Underspending in the American Healthcare System” 2022 Spring.

Staff Retreat highlights! Our board and site leaders had the opportunity to volunteer at Los Ángeles Mission! We thank volunteer coordinator, Elizabeth Homier, for sharing her experience and informing us about the resources offered in hope to eliminate homelessness and poverty on Skid Row.👏🏻

Lisbeth Rodriguez is a second year pursuing a Business Economics major and minor in Spanish.

“Being part of a minority group, social issues has always been significant to me. I enjoy learning topics about Women Rights, Immigration Issues, Racial Discrimination, and Childhood Development. My participation in Alternative Breaks began in Freshman year. I was able to be a participant in the site Land of the Forgotten: Rural Poverty in Athens County, Ohio. This experience led me to meet new peers and learn about organizations in Ohio that help communities in need and are confronting challenges. Alternative Breaks is a great way to network, practice, and be aware about social issues around the United States!”

Emily Corona is a second year, passionate about animal rights!

“I joined AB last year because I wanted to incorporate service in my time in college and took the opportunity to learn and focus on a social issue while doing service and reflection along with it. I really enjoyed meeting new people in communities I would otherwise not visit or collaborate with and appreciating the things every person contributes for the common good of their homes. This year I'm looking forward to in-person site trips!”

Emerald Adeyan is a third year Chemistry major from the Bay Area.

“ I have always been interested in social justice as well as advocacy for underrepresented groups. Although I study physical sciences, I really wanted there to be a balance with helping out my community and serving others which is why I joined AB. It’s been an amazing experience being able to give space to underserved communities and to help out where they want you to. This is my second year with AB, my first year I was a participant at a site regarding mass incarceration and judicial system. From this club, I have improved my awareness of the world and I have gained some really great friends.”

Alejandrina Lopez is an upcoming fourth year majoring in Biology.

“I decided to join AB as a participant because as a South campus major I felt that I was not as involved with social justice as I aspired to be. This is my third year in AB and I decided to come back as a SDC and Site Leader because I have become part of a community of other students where I have been given the opportunity to co-lead with Cossette an amazing site, A Tale of Two Countries: Narratives Along the Border.”

Cossette Perez is a fourth year majoring in Cognitive Science with a specialization in computing.

“I joined AB to work together with students from diverse backgrounds to advocate and learn more about underserved communities. This is my third year in AB and last year my co Alejandrina Lopez and I led a virtual site to inform others about immigrant rights and the importance of advocating for them. The year before I was a participant for the site that took place in Arizona to protect wildlife. Though the site was cancelled due to the circumstances, I was able to become part of this great community filled with students that shared the same passions as me. This year, I am looking forward to helping others lead their sites and to lead a site as well, "A Tale of Two Countries: Narratives Along the Border" in San Juan, Texas.”

Joanna Yang is a fourth year studying Materials Science & Engineering with the ultimate goal of a career in sustainability.

“My first year with Alternative Breaks (AB) invited me to learn about community rebuilding after natural disasters in New Orleans and green spaces in growing cities in Grand Rapids. I decided to co-lead a site exploring climate change as a social justice issue, and though there were countless twists and turns with the logistics of our planned location (Alaska) and the transition to a virtual site due to COVID-19, it was an invaluable experience which taught me more about myself, resilience, and the implementation of active citizenship than I could've imagined. Leading AB during these uncertain times will definitely be challenging, but I'm committed to improving and ensuring the continuity of this program alongside Emmi. I'm confident that our board and site leaders will do a great job and am excited for what this year brings! Outside of AB, I am an adviser for the Renewable Energy Association, a cadet of the Women in Engineering Academies at UCLA, a Primers intern at PPG, and I hope to participate in musical ensembles again once they resume. I love making art, writing letters, meeting new people, and playing viola and tennis.”

Emmi Deckard is a fourth-year pursuing a bioengineering major with a minor in disability studies. Some social justice issues that she’s passionate about include disabilities rights, access to healthcare, gender equality, and mental health.

“I joined AB as a freshman to get a new perspective on what meaningful and impactful service looks like. As a freshman I participated in a trip about NOLA Community Re-building in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. My sophomore and junior years have been spent as a site leader for a Mass Incarceration focused site in San Quentin. From this club I have gained some of my closest friends and best college memories while also gained confidence in my leadership skills!”

Last but not least, for our last site we are featuring Intersections of Health Inaccessibility, Women’s Health, and Gender Rights! Reach out to and .13 for any questions.