Past ABCS (2018-2023)
Embodied justice: Advocacy as a Form of A Resistance (2023)
This ABCS centered on all forms of identity-based justice initiatives. Finding power and strength in our identities creates a movement, not just a moment. We will bring in activists, educators, and advocates who will help us uncover the way(s) identity impacts how we engage in service and build relationships. Together, we will learn and celebrate how we become vessels for justice and how our identities are embodied to resist and advocate for the issues that matter most to each of us.
The Future of Alternative Breaks (2021)
With travel restrictions, budget cuts, and programming going virtual, COVID-19 has forced us to rethink how we do alternative breaks. As we rebuild, we have a unique opportunity to re-envision the fundamentals, better align our practices with our values, and shape the future of alternative breaks. This year’s virtual ABCS will provide an opportunity to get introspective — exploring the “why” of alternative breaks, how oppressive systems play out in our programs, and the role of service learning in justice movements. We’ll be placing a special emphasis on incorporating alternatives to direct service, like mutual aid and advocacy, and developing asset-based practices.
Integration, Access, and the Experience of New Americans (Atlanta 2019)
Hosted in partnership with Emory University
For the last 25 years, Clarkston, a small city outside of Atlanta, has flourished as a national hub for refugee resettlement. With the arrival of more than 40,000 refugees, diverse communities have become integral to the region’s sense of identity. Recent changes in national policy has reduced federal support for people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and/or persecution. Consequently, in 2018, the total number of people resettled in Atlanta was only a third when compared to prior years. Despite the precipitous decline, organizations have continued to support and mobilize refugees, while arriving New Americans navigate the complicated processes surrounding citizenship, community participation, and addressing their immediate needs. ABCS participants will work with organizations in Atlanta that assist New American populations in regaining a sense of place while advocating for compassionate communities locally, nationally, and globally.
Respecting and Restoring Ecosystems in our National Lands (Grand Canyon National Park 2019)
Hosted in partnership with the National Park Service
The mission of the National Park Service is centered on the preservation of natural and cultural resources for the “enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.” Humans have a complicated relationship with the natural world - symbiotic and nurturing or one-sided and consumptive. In celebration of Grand Canyon National Park’s centennial, we’re reminded of the critical commitment to caring for and honoring our national lands. Through the investigation of ecosystems, we will consider the path forward in preserving and stewarding one of the most iconic national parks for the next 100 years. At this ABCS, as part of a long-standing partnership with the National Park Service, we’ll join efforts with park staff to address the impact of trash and visitor traffic on the health of our nation’s parks.
Placemaking & Public Art in Evolving Spaces
(Atlanta 2018)
Hosted in partnership with Emory University
The benefits of art in public places are countless - it promotes social cohesion, adds life and beauty to neighborhoods, and tells the stories of people and history often left in the margins. Atlanta has consistently invested in public art - in 2010, the Beltline project initiated the creation of a four-mile outdoor gallery for residents and visitors; five years later, the city launched its free Public Art Tour app; and in 2017, Atlanta invested 4.4 million dollars in new public art acquisition. An unanticipated consequence lies in the increasing demand for space - as communities develop, investment in public art can bring tensions over community identity to the forefront. This ABCS will consider the correlation between art and gentrification - specifically looking at the history of public art in Atlanta, the types of projects and artists that are supported and commissioned, and the complicated relationship between long-term residents and contemporary art initiatives.
The Shifting Principles & Practices of Housing Policy
(Salt Lake City 2018)
Hosted in partnership with the University of Utah
In the world of alternative breaks, topics of Affordable Housing and Homelessness are consistently some of the most frequently addressed trip focus areas. In 2015, Salt Lake City was deemed a national leader and praised for “solving homelessness” when they embraced a housing first approach - choosing to provide shelter for people as they are, without the restrictions associated with the traditional shelter model. In the years since, the more complicated reality of the city’s relationship with the homeless population has surfaced, and many community members continue to experience homelessness. In August of 2017, City Leadership transitioned its focus to public safety initiatives - launching a two-year, $67 million dollar plan that has so far made over 2,000 arrests near the city’s largest shelter. At this ABCS, we’ll examine multiple approaches to homelessness - ranging from providing hospitality and addressing immediate needs to larger issues of displacement and criminalization. We’ll work alongside local organizations who are providing necessary services and addressing homelessness at the systemic level.
From Suffragettes to Civil Rights to Fair Fight: Voter Justice, Then + Now (2022)
Is voting a privilege or a right? Poll taxes, voter identification laws, redistricting, and even the Electoral College have sparked violence and debate for years in this country — allowing voting access to some while disenfranchising others, often within racial and gender lines. This summer, with important midterm and gubernatorial elections only months away, virtual ABCS participants will work with voters’ rights organizations building capacity for and with Communities of Color though enhancing voting access and education. Participants will learn about more integrated voter access and engagement and determine more ways to challenge racism and other forms of oppression in our own communities.
Cultivating Active Antiracism in Response to Unjust Policing (2020)
Sparked by the murders of Breonna Taylor, Tony McDade, and George Floyd by police, but informed by the deep history of white supremacy in the United States, people across the nation are protesting the injustices that Black people face. The policing of Black bodies in the US is woven throughout history. We’ll be tracing this oppression through the evolution of the criminal justice system — from slavery to Jim Crow laws to the modern-day Prison Industrial Complex. At our two virtual ABCS this summer, participants will explore this history and craft a framework for antiracist action. We’ll be working with StoryCorps to practice our dialogue skills, giving participants the opportunity to plan a conversation with a family member or friend around the uprising for Black lives.
Collaborative Approaches to Greening a Growing City (Grand Rapids 2019)
Hosted in partnership with Grand Valley State University
As the fastest growing city in Michigan, Grand Rapids stands as a national leader in eco-friendly development. With a history of urban sprawl that centered industrial and profit-focused business takeover of green space - local leaders have implemented efforts to reclaim and prioritize the natural environment. A coalition of institutions and organizations are working together to create vibrant public spaces focused on the health and quality of a community. From sustaining the Grand River, a treasured icon of the city that intersects downtown, to building schools, a major public transit station, and an art museum that are all LEED certified - this west Michigan city has worked to use natural resources to bolster connections between the environment and its residents. At this ABCS, we’ll explore the multiple facets of urban greening - including preserving parks, creating accessible community spaces, and encouraging citizen involvement in sustainable development.
Access and Inclusion in Education Reform (Memphis 2019)
Hosted in partnership with Serve901 and the University of Memphis
In 2011, the Obama administration’s Race to the Top initiative birthed Tennessee’s statewide efforts to reform schools with lower performance rates. Years later, the results have been mixed. Leaders in Memphis are working to scale back major turnaround efforts from outside influences and recenter the voices of local residents and families. By centering access and inclusion in schools, justice-based education reform recognizes the challenges posed by external influences on families' lives such as racial or economic segregation and access to basic needs, like housing and food. This ABCS we’re partnering with schools, teachers, and students to expand our own understanding of how to build welcoming classroom environments, equip children to manage life in and outside of school, and ensure inclusion of all identities within our education systems.
The Hands That Rebuild: Workers' Rights in the Wake of Disaster
(Houston 2018)
Hosted in partnership with Rice University and the University of Houston
Houston’s immigrant workforce, as many as three-quarters of whom are undocumented, were the first to enter areas affected by the hurricane to do the critical work of cleaning and rebuilding. Although crucial to the recovery process - laborers, especially immigrant laborers - often experience exploitation, unsafe working conditions, and wage theft. Organizations like The Workers Defense Project and Fe Y Justicia are among many who have implemented effective organizing strategies to improve occupational health and safety conditions for many low-wage workers in Texas: using formal unions and informal networks advocating for public safety campaigns and more inclusive policies. At this ABCS, we’ll partner with a variety of groups and resource centers in Texas who are making notable strides to protect the rights of workers.
America’s Best Idea: Common Ground in Uncommon Spaces (Prince William Forest Park 2018)
Hosted in partnership with the National Park Service
For more than 100 years, the National Park Service has been a cornerstone of our nation’s past and present - committed to the preservation and protection of our country’s land and culture. In an effort to increase access and inclusion within its workforce and individual park units, they’ve provided spaces to highlight stories of marginalized communities; worked to preserve and restore indigenous lands and artifacts; and created initiatives to increase citizens’ involvement in parks. The future of the National Park Service, however, may be set on a different course as their newest five-year strategic plan moves toward different priorities. Join us near our nation’s capital to work within Prince William Forest Park while addressing the future of our public lands and what it means to build a nation of environmental stewards.