Breaking In Baltimore: An Alternative Spring Break Program, Exploring Food Justice and Poverty in Charm City

Dates: March 13-19, 2009

This is CSC's 2nd annual Alternative Spring Break program. The primary focus of this week of service will be addressing the issues of food justice and poverty on neighborhood, city-wide and national levels. Students will be selected to spend the week together learning and serving in Baltimore and Washington, DC.

This year participants will be working in partnership with The Campus Kitchen at Johns Hopkins, a campus chapter of the national Campus Kitchens Project (http://www.campuskitchens.org/national/ ). Campus Kitchen empowers thousands of students each year to recycle food from their cafeterias and area food donors and to transform those donations into nourishing meals. Students then deliver those meals to those who need it most. The JHU kitchen is based in the University Baptist Church.

There will be 2 pre-trip meetings for participants for planning and teambuilding early in the spring semester. There will also be 1-2 pre-trip fundraisers to raise money for donations to the various organizations with whom they will be working. All participants will be transported in University vans by certified drivers within Baltimore. The day that volunteers go to DC, the MARC train will be taken.

What is Food Justice?

Food justice refers to the right everyone has to easy access to healthy food.

Where Will I Stay During the Week?

Participants will be staying overnight in a church or recreation center. Last year’s participants stayed at Lovely Lane Church. Most nights the group will be preparing meals together in-house.

Is there a Fee?

There is a $40 registration fee (due upon your acceptance into the program) to help cover the cost of lodging, food and transportation.

How do I Sign-Up?

Click here to download an application. There will be interviews for interested applicants during the Reading Period before finals, and you will be notified of your status the 11th and 12th of December.

Questions?

If you have any questions feel free to contact Nick Medina-Pinto at nmedina2@jhu.edu.

TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Day 1: Check-in, Tour of church or rec center, Team Building, Food Justice 101,Dinner Assignments Given

Day 2: Panel on Baltimore City initiatives (Food Policy, Community Garden Networks), Afternoon Service, Evening cultural activity, Reflection and dinner at church or rec center

Day 3: DC/Baltimore Split Day I (half of team in DC for service at DC Central Kitchen,speaker, and afternoon museum trip; half in Baltimore for service and Baltimore museum afternoon); Reflection and dinner at Church or Rec Center

Day 4: DC/Baltimore Split Day II ( half of team in DC for service at DC Central Kitchen,speaker, and afternoon museum trip; half in Baltimore for service and Baltimore musuem afternoon); Reflection and Dinner at Church or Rec Center

Day 5: Neighborhood Level Day I: Remington. Work with organizers in Remington; back to Univeristy Baptist for meal prep; Delivery to Church of Guardian Angel; Eat meal with residents. Evening Reflection.

Day 6: Neighborhood Level Day II: Service in Southwest Baltimore Latino community; Dinner and Cultural Activity in SW Baltimore

Day 7: Wrap-Up (Program ends mid-day) Reflections, Next Steps