The 2017 Alternative Break Citizenship schools (ABCs)

In our current political climate, U.S. principles of equity and fairness are pitted against principles of national sovereignty and security. This juxtaposition challenges the boundaries of citizenship - placing undocumented immigrants at the center and Atlanta at ground zero. Georgia is home to some of the highest numbers of undocumented immigrants and is among a handful of states with the most restrictive laws and rights for individuals without documentation. In early 2016, Atlanta alone detained more people than any other U.S. city, while also ranking among the lowest in U.S. cities to grant deportation relief. This ABCs will challenge conventional narratives around immigration and citizenship while providing participants the opportunity to learn how we can work alongside our undocumented peers. We will partner with Freedom University to support advocacy and awareness-raising campaigns and existing programs for undocumented students who are systematically barred from the University System of Georgia.

“The ‘DIS’ prefix is not only ‘un’ and ‘not’ but also has a Latin and Greek derivative meaning ‘duo’ and ‘two’ hence another way of doing and being” - Heather Watkins. Contrary to the assumption that disabilities are barriers to full participation in society, with reasonable support services, adults with disabilities can holistically engage in their community. This ABCs will examine ways that disability is constructed not by one’s physical and/or mental impairments or difference(s), but by a society whose policies and institutions are designed to accommodate a narrow definition of “normal.” Five years later, we are thrilled to bring the ABCs back to Spartanburg to continue work with Christmas in Action - an organization who contributes to circumventing the historical institutionalization of individuals with disabilities. Participants will engage in roofing, painting, remodeling, and ramp construction projects that preserve affordable and accessible housing options for local residents to remain in place and live with dignity, safety, and independence.

The Spartanburg ABCs will also feature a three-day staff development track. Workshop descriptions and more information can be found here. Staff who work with break programs have the opportunity to attend the full ABCs and switch into the staff track for the last three days, or to just come for the final three days, depending on program needs.

In the last few decades, conversations around food access have grown in sophistication and scope - considering all entities within a food system, including land, animals, workers, consumers, etc. Though the need for food is universal among all human beings, there is no universal solution for food justice for all. This ABCs, we’ll be exploring ways to center our food systems around sustainability and equity for the people and land involved in production, distribution, and consumption, rather than further investing in corporations that monopolize the sector. Throughout the week we’ll conceptualize community-specific needs, objectives, and action steps to build sustainable food systems in our own homes. Participants will serve alongside a number of local organizations whose missions ensure all members of their community have access to healthy and culturally appropriate food, nutritional education and awareness, and strong connections to local agriculture.