Gone are the days when spring break meant just a beach vacation.
Alternative spring breaks are gaining traction, offering students a chance to engage in meaningful activities that enrich their lives and the communities they visit. This new trend redefines the concept of a break, blending travel, learning, and positive action.
Why Choose Alternative Spring Breaks?
Jeff Riddle, Serve901 Director, shares, “Alternative spring breaks offer profound personal growth and community benefits. They provide a deeper understanding of societal issues and inspire students to consider how they want to impact the world through their future vocations.”
Alternative spring breaks have popularized with colleges looking to give their students formative experiences that can complement the classroom—many call it co-curricular learning. Students have greatly enjoyed these experiences to get to travel, learn meaningful sociological concepts, and do something positive.
The ‘alternative’ term has referred to it being a different way to spend your break than most do—purely on their own leisure and enjoyment. Jeff has seen many people come to deeper understandings of the Memphis community and also the ways they themselves want to impact the world with their future vocation.
Spotlight on Serve901
Serve901 stands as a beacon in Memphis, guiding students through impactful spring break experiences. They know the community and help connect college students to that for a few days.
With partnerships across various non-profit sectors, Serve901 offers a diverse array of projects, from addressing food and housing insecurity to youth development and educational equity.
“Whether you’re hands-on or prefer direct engagement, Serve901 has something for everyone,” Jeff mentions. Participants get the unique opportunity to work alongside local Memphians, contributing to meaningful projects and forming lasting connections.
What to Expect
A typical week with Serve901 is a blend of service, learning, and cultural immersion. From visiting local museums to partnering with local non-profits and indulging in Memphis’s rich culinary scene, every moment is designed to be enriching and memorable.
Typical spring break is Saturday to Saturday. As groups kick off their time in Memphis, Serve901 finds it great to get acclimated with the city of Memphis, so most will visit the National Civil Rights Museum on Sunday and then top the day off with dinner and a lesson on Memphis history. Groups will serve Monday through Friday with various non-profits throughout the week, and Serve901 staff come alongside to make sure the week goes smoothly.
It’s Memphis so rain can often impact a group’s schedule! Serve901 hosts a couple more meals during spring break highlighting great local restaurants with some history behind them—like the Four Way!
Memphis gets volunteer fuel.
College students from around the country get a top notch experience in Memphis that leaves them wanting to come back and tell others about this place.
College students do come back to Memphis and CHOOSE901!
Serve901 intentionally speaks to studnets about Memphis Teacher Residency, City Year, Church Health Scholars, and other gap year / residency-type options that they could consider post-college.
Make an Impact in Memphis Schools
“By the end of the week, those students who had only gotten a glimpse of Memphis during their first time in the city, were eager to return in the future. Much of what the Howard students experienced while in Memphis can be credited to Choose901. Through their programs and work, Choose901 not only displays to all what is unique and great about Memphis, but also what is unique and great about themselves. Those who discover the great qualities about themselves while in Memphis, find a home and purpose in Memphis, as a place to grow, live, and serve.”
In 2023, Serve901 served 29 different non-profits and in over 15 zip codes of Memphis.
How to get involved
Visit Serve901 for more information and embark on a spring break that promises growth, learning, and unforgettable memories.
