Break Away Blog
We’re Not in the Business of Alternative Breaks
Break Away isn’t in the business of alternative breaks (and neither are you). We dream of a society of people who prioritize just and equitable community. Alternative breaks, and community engagement programming at large, are simply a powerful vehicle to get there. We are motivated to engage, commit, and perform because of our deep belief in our vision.
An Introduction to Virtual Facilitation
Here, we are sharing tips, tricks, and the lessons we learned hosting a virtual conference. Our hope is that you find some tools to use in any virtual programming you might engage in.
Virtual Community Engagement
At Break Away, we believe there’s no limit to the change you can make in your community. While we are in the midst of a global pandemic, service for the greater good is still very possible — but we must be creative, innovative, and imaginative in how we go about it.
Dismantling White Supremacy is White People’s Work
Though the burden of the tragedies brought to light in the last few weeks falls harder on the Black community, the responsibility for addressing and destroying white supremacy rests with white and non-Black folks.
A Statement on COVID-19
Break Away staff has spent recent weeks reflecting on and researching the implications of coronavirus (COVID-19) on students, staff/faculty, community engagement programming, and higher education at large.
This is Not Normal
Of The Earth: Reimagining Nature as Community | Grand Canyon ABCS
When humankind first began to traverse the planet, people and the natural environment were inseparable, symbiotic. This “spiritual interdependence”, as articulated in the First National People of Color Environmental Leadership Summit’s Principles of Environmental Justice, was simply the natural state of things.
Five Years in a Movement, Hundreds of Years in the Making
A couple of weeks ago, our staff attended a lecture by Patrisse Khan-Cullors, co-author of When They Call You a Terrorist at The Carter Center. Patrisse’s book was released in January, five years after she co-founded the Black Lives Matter movement.
Finding the Power | Keene ABCS
Corporations are informed by millions of consumers. So as a single individual trying to resist something so large, that familiar sense of powerlessness begins to creep back in and we find ourselves frozen into inaction in the face of such an immense problem.
Beyond a Fix | Spartanburg ABCS
One in five individuals in the United States are disabled. There's a resounding need to discuss the realities and societal misconceptions, and to bring a justice-based approach to service work alongside Disabled communities.
Defining American | Atlanta ABCS
During the Atlanta ABCS, we partnered with three community organizations—Freedom University, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, and El Refugio—each working with diverse immigrant populations. We spent the week deconstructing the meaning of “American,” while working to develop our understanding of a nation historically built and sustained by immigrants (both stolen and willing).
Our Role in Disaster Recovery
The two stages, generally speaking, to be aware of after a natural disaster are response + relief and recovery. Response and relief is the immediate work to minimize harm or hazard caused by the disaster. Recovery includes returning a community to the pre-disaster state of normalcy—or better, a sense of revitalization for all.
Social Justice Is Political, Not Partisan
Is there a disconnect between who sees themselves fitting within the bounds of community collaboration and the conversations surrounding justice? If so, how do we bridge those gaps?
Fundraising: It’s Not About the Money
Fundraising is challenging. Across the board, almost everyone struggles with this. We don’t have a blanket answer for success, but based on one of our latest favorite reads, we can summarize a few tips.
In Times of Change, Embrace Each Other
In his essay, An Experiment in Love, Dr. King powerfully explains that nonviolence should never be mistaken for passivity. Rather, nonviolence is an active decision to center the principles of love and community.
Community Collaboration is Action…Even If It’s Cold Outside
Before you slip on your wool socks and cozy up to rewatch every episode of Parks and Recreation (we would never judge you for that, by the way), we’re here to remind you that community collaboration means constant effort—regardless of the season.
it’s Time To Make Room For Difference
The word “politics” has come to imply profound differences in beliefs, unresolved disagreements, and passionate people left feeling frustrated or apathetic. Conversations with folks outside our political ideologies have suddenly become burdensome and often avoided altogether for the sake of keeping relationships amicable.
We Must Believe Another World Is Possible…and Create It
Our Executive Director spoke to the people in that small room about how we had tasted what it would feel like to live in a society of people who prioritize just and equitable community. In our time together, we had built parts of that vision. If we knew how to build it here, we could build it out there.