Maxwell Yamane of San Antonio participates in Alternative Spring Break trip

2016 Mar 15

San Antonio, TX resident Maxwell Yamane spent spring break serving others through James Madison University's Alternative Spring Break Program. Yamane, a Anthropology major, scheduled to graduate in 2016, traveled to Tahlequah, OK to volunteer with Cherokee Nation.

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.

On this break, students focused on the enrichment and development of Cherokee Nation youth in Tahlequah, Oklahoma! They partnered with the Head Start Program, which is grounded in the belief that children can benefit from an "interdisciplinary program [that] fosters development and remedies problems" via family and community involvement. The program, which serves children aged 6 weeks to 5 years, strives to bring about "a greater degree of social competence in children" that may be faced with socioeconomic and/or educational disadvantages. They began their days of service in the classroom, where they interacted with the children and assisted in classroom activities. In the afternoons, their efforts were employed in various other capacities (such as classroom/grounds maintenance) that are critical for sustaining and promoting the program's success. Throughout the break, students strived to fully immerse themselves in the community--while simultaneously exploring the rich culture and beautiful surroundings that are unique to the area.

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