News Release

Students Spend Spring Break Working and Helping Others

During the week of March 5-12, 55 members of the University of Detroit Mercy community will travel around the country to help the less fortunate during this year's Alternative Spring Break (ASB). ASB offers participants an opportunity to see the world in a different light by helping with various service projects.

Participation in ASB gives individuals a chance for direct service, combined with reflection on how ASB can make a difference in the lives of others, along with their own lives. ASB participants exemplify the  Jesuit education goal, being "men and women for others" and the Mercy tradition of "compassionate service to those in need."

UDM's ASB 2011 will travel to seven different cities, and will post messages to the Alternative Sprint Break blog each evening:

• Detroit: Two faculty members and four UDM students have a busy week exploring many of our cities most difficult issues including hunger, homelessness and social justice. Within one week, Detroit ASB participants will work and visit twelve different agencies in need. Volunteers will be working at the SHAR House (Self Health Addiction Rehabilitation), Detroit Evolution, Gleaners Food Bank, Manna Meals, a Detroit-area soup kitchen, Catherine Ferguson Academy for Young Women, the Detroit Black Community Food Security Network and the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries.   A group of Loyola University Chicago students will also be working with their Detroit Jesuit-counterparts at several of the agencies.

• Salem, W.Va.: Seven UDM students will be working with Nazareth Farm in Doddridge County, repairing damaged homes in the rural community while exploring aspects of community, faith, service and simplicity.

• Mt. Pleasant, S.C.: Seven UDM students will be repairing homes as part of the United Methodist Relief Services on home repair in rural South Carolina.

• El Paso, Texas: Nine UDM students will work with Casa Puente, a living space for immersion groups and short-term volunteers for peace. Participants will experience and better understand the complex nature of the border and reality of immigration in North America.

• Los Angeles: Nine UDM students will be working the St. Francis Center in downtown Los Angeles, an agency offering services for low-income families and homeless residents. The group will learn about the issues of urban life for youth and families.

• Sacramento, Calif.: Ten UDM students will spend the week feeding the hungry at the Loaves and Fishes shelter and learning about advocacy.

• Chicago:  Seven UDM students will be working at the SuCasa shelter, assisting Spanish speaking families in a predominatly African American neighborhood on the south side of Chicago. The volunteers will also be learning about immigration and community.

This is the first year, UDM’s University Ministry has added the Detroit location to the ASB program, as students volunteer on local projects throughout the year as part of the University’s mission.  Because UDM is an urban university, it is important to promote the city of Detroit whenever possible, David Nantais, director of the department explained. "Detroit is a city rich with ethnic and racial diversity, a multi-faceted history and tens of thousands of committed citizens working to change things for the better. It is very inspiring and we believe our students should see these aspects as often as possible. Many college students don’t know Detroit really well, and the Detroit ASB trip can help open them up to the community,” he added.

For more information about ASB, go to the UDM Minsitry web site or contact the office at 313-993-1560.

Release date: March 04, 2011

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For more information about UDM, or to apply online, go to www.udmercy.edu/apply.