Maria Restrepo Chavez of Ashburn participates in Alternative Spring Break trip

2016 Mar 15

Ashburn, VA resident Maria Restrepo Chavez spent spring break serving others through James Madison University's Alternative Spring Break Program. Restrepo Chavez, a Psychology major, scheduled to graduate in 2017, traveled to San Juan, Texas to volunteer with LUPE.

The student-led ASB trips took place from March 5-12. Each trip focused on a social issue, such as homelessness, resettlement, environmentalism or community wellness, in a specific region. Almost 250 students embarked on 25 spring break trips around the country and world. The students spent the week living simply, focused on service in their destination community but also on teamwork and reflection within their group.

Students journeyed to San Juan, Texas for THE domestic international experience of a lifetime. La Union del Pueblo Entero (LUPE) is a community union, founded in 1989 by Cesar Chavez, that serves to advocate and address the issues that impact the lives of the border communities along the Rio Grande Valley. With their partnership with LUPE students spent the week volunteering in colonias (low-income border neighborhoods) providing resources, refurbishing housing units, and raising community awareness while in return, enhancing their cultural competency by learning about immigration reform and un poco espanol (a little spanish).

For information about JMU's award winning Alternative Break Program, visit www.jmu.edu/abp.