RB
Rashidah Burns
  • nursing
  • Class of 2015
  • Richmond, VA

Rashidah Burns of Richmond helps others on Alternative May Break

2013 May 15

When most James Madison University students were packing up for the year and heading home, local student Rashidah Burns, a nursing major from Richmond, va, quickly shifted gears from focusing on studying to focusing on others. Fifty JMU students packed up and loaded a bus bound for New Orleans, La. on JMU's eighth annual Alternative May Break trip.

Started in 2005 as a response to Hurricane Katrina, JMU has broadened the focus of the trip, dubbing it "AMB: Rebuilding New Orleans." Misty Newman, assistant director of Community Service-Learning for Alternative Break Programs said, "While the focus remains rebuilding houses and communities, our trip incorporates whatever type of work is most necessary at the time of arrival."

JMU's volunteers stayed at Camp Hope whose mission focuses on housing volunteers who are rebuilding and providing new construction for New Orleans. Trip participants are assigned to a small group of eight or nine with one student leader and one faculty or staff leader for each group. Students paid $300 to participate.

Alternative May Break is part of JMU's award-winning Alternative Break Program, which coordinates opportunities for students to assist people while learning more about societal issues, including homelessness, education, immigration and health problems.

JMU's Alternative Break Program is a two-time recipient of the Break Away National Program of the Year award in recognition of the university's commitment to active citizenship.