Apply for Alternative Spring Break (ASB) 2025: An Empowering Exploration of Systemic Change in Baltimore

Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a five-day immersive learning experience in which UMBC undergraduate and graduate students explore the systemic and human dimensions of complex social issues in Baltimore. Participants build connections with local leaders, organizations, and policy makers and develop a sophisticated understanding of available resources and challenges. The program helps participants identify pathways to long-term community engagement.

This year’s ASB program will take place from Monday, March 17 – Friday, March 21, 2025. ASB participants spend much of the program in small groups (co-led by undergraduate students trained by the Center for Democracy and Civic Life) focused on exploring a specific topic in depth. ASB 2025 groups will focus on:

• Health and Patient Care Equity (co-led by Vunnathi Ankem and Natalia Cooper)
• Environmental Justice and Sustainability (co-led by Bianca Canales and Tanzila Malik)
• Reforming Juvenile Justice (co-led by Aanayah Trotman and Nyssa Vilchis)

As part of your application, you will get to identify the topic groups that interest you most.

Learn more about ASB 2025 and access the application. The application is due by Friday, December 20, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

The Center for Democracy and Civic Life hosts ASB. If you have questions about ASB, contact Ricky Blissett at rblissett@umbc.edu.

The application for the Center for Democracy and Civic Life’s other immersive program, the STRiVE leadership for public purpose program, also is open now (due November 8).