Alternative Breaks - Bennion Center - University of Utah

Highlighting our fall 2024 Disability Advocacy Break!

Site leader, Emma writes: “We spent our 2024 fall break week in Denver, Colorado, learning about disability advocacy! Through working with many local organizations, we heard from many people in the disabled community about their experiences with disability and accessibility. Learning about real people’s experiences helped us learn how we can be the best advocates for the disabled community.
We also learned about the activism that led to progress for disabled rights, like the passing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We explored what accessibility and inaccessibility can look like for people with many different disabilities, and what inaccessibilities can look like in the workplace, housing, and the arts.

Finally, a special thank you to our community partners, who helped educate us on disability advocacy and provided incredible examples of advocacy and accessibility in action!”



Colorado Center for the Blind

Highlighting our Fall 2024 Animal Advocacy Alternative Break!

Site leader, Kaylee writes: “From learning to lend a paw to making lasting connections, our fall break in Park City, UT, was a journey into animal advocacy and rehabilitation! 🐾

We explored how our unique perspectives shape our views on this topic and examined the negative impact humans have on specific animals, reflecting on our plans to prevent further harm.

We gained valuable insights from our community partners on the importance of compassion and action.

🌾At , we learned how conserving green spaces is vital for animal advocacy in Utah.

🐴Working with , we met wild horses rescued from traumatic Bureau of Land Management roundups and learned about their urgent situation.

🐈 showed us their rescue shelter and the work they do to place dogs, cats, and even farm animals into forever homes.

🐕Finally, we heard from about their impressive support for unsheltered communities and their companions in Salt Lake City!

From wild horses to rescue pets, this trip showed us that every animal deserves a second chance and to be treated with compassion—we’re ready to step up and be part of the change! 🌱🫶🏻💜 “

Highlighting the fall ‘24 Hunger & Food Alternative Break Experience!

Site leader, Jenni writes: “During our fall break, we expanded our knowledge about the production, distribution, and consumption processes within the food system. Through education and reflection, we learned how poverty and inadequate government policies contribute to hunger and by acknowledging it, we are empowered to advocate for increased government food assistance funds and nutritional food access within our communities!

We want to thank the Seattle, Washington community partners we worked with and learned from and their efforts and actions in addressing hunger within their community. Learning about urban
farming, hunger prevention measures, and nutritional food access strategies nourished our understanding of hunger and ways how we as individuals can make a difference.

Thank you to our amazing community partners!
“

More from ReO 💜💜

Last night was our ReOrientation Celebration! An opportunity for our our entire fall 2024 Alternative Breaks group to come together and learn how to keep building communities! We also celebrated the amazing work of our leadership teams and watched the AMAZING videos each break created (swipe to watch a couple of them)!

This is been an amazing round of Alt Breaks and we can’t wait for spring! Applications open Nov. 4th! You can apply via our website. (Link in bio)

Last week, Fall ‘24 Alt Break site leaders and staff partners “graduated” from their training throughout the last semester! We are so so proud of this amazing and passionate team of leaders. Through the semester, we have seen them collaborate and work with each other in building their beautiful and impactful breaks! They have grown so much through the training program; as leaders, advocates, and collaborators! They deserve all the praise for their passion and dedication! Congrats fall ‘24 staff partners and site leaders!

Think you have what it takes to be a site leader? Applications for the ‘25-‘26 academic year will be available in Spring!

Breaks are in full swing so we have to take a moment to acknowledge immense amount of work this incredible fall 2024 team has done to make this possible!! Site leaders and staff partners create a break from scratch and pour their heart and souls in creating something special! Eboard members create and facilitate training and build community among the team. Most of our student leaders are doing this while carrying a full course load, working, and holding other leadership positions and staff partners have full time jobs and families, this is no small feat!! We are so proud of everything they’ve done!

If you haven’t thanked a site leader/staff partner/eboard member lately, do it! They deserve a standing ovation!!

Last but not least! We can’t forget about our amazing Staff Partners for the upcoming Fall breaks!

These U of U staff partners have worked incredibly with their site leaders to build beautiful breaks and we can’t wait for our participants to meet them and see how amazing they are! 🤭🫶🏻

Last week to apply before the deadline!! Don’t miss your opportunity to go on an amazing break with Emma Taggert! Emma is so silly, warm-hearted, and passionate! Traits of an amazing leader, indeed. 😎🤙

Interested? Apply Here 👉🏻 https://utahsa.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_86OxkaIBbBePYDs

For more information click the link in our bio or DM us!

Amaya! One of the awesome site leaders for this fall break. Amaya is so so passionate and we can’t wait to see their break flourish. As it will 😎😎😎

APPLICATIONS CLOSE IN AROUND 1 WEEK on MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2nd at 11:59 PM !!!

APPLY HERE 👉🏻https://utahsa.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_86OxkaIBbBePYDs

For more info, DM US, visit our website in our bio, or email us!

Have you 🫵 applied yet?? This week we’re introducing Jasmine Aguilar, who is leading First Gen Nature and the Environment! Oh Jasmine… so passionate, inspiring, and fun to be around!! This break will be breathtaking 💨

Interested?? Apply here 👉🏻 https://utahsa.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_86OxkaIBbBePYDs

For more information 👉🏻 DM us or visit our website @ https://bennioncenter.utah.edu/students/alternative-breaks/index.php

THIS BREAK IS AVAILABLE TO ALL REGARDLESS OF WHETHER OR NOT YOU ARE A FIRST GENERATION STUDENT

This week we’re introducing Yesica Medina !! Our Q***r Advocacy site leader. Absolutely ecstatic for this break, it’s going to be stellar 💫!!

THE APPLICATIONS HAVE BEEN OPEN !! APPLY ASAP !! THEY CLOSE SEPTEMBER 2ND !! WITH DISCOUNT APPLICATIONS AVAILABLE ❤️

For more information, DM us or visit our website here: https://bennioncenter.utah.edu/students/alternative-breaks/index.php

Look out for more introductions next week for topics and leaders that you might be interested in 💜
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