Service Engagement

Soka Alternative Spring Break

A service-learning program that combines dialogue-based learning with volunteer service and advocacy

What is Alternative Spring Break?

The Soka Alternative Spring Break (ASB) is a co-curricular service-learning program that combines seminar-style learning with volunteer service and advocacy in order to gain greater understanding of social justice concepts such as intersectionality, privilege, oppression, and ally ship. Utilizing asocial change orientation, participants learn about systemic issues while engaging directly with communities that are impacted by the issues at hand (Mitchell, 2008). In the process, students gain a greater understanding of concepts such as global citizenship, intersectionality, privilege, and oppression. Students increase their understanding of community issues through participating in workshops while also participating in community-based short-term service projects during their spring break period. The ASB is intended to promote lifelong active global citizenship whereby the community becomes a priority in an individual's life decisions. The program seeks to engender a lifelong commitment to action against oppression and inequity to create a more just and equitable society.

  • Tiyya Foundation

    Tiyya works to provide opportunities for refugees, immigrants, and indigenous community in California. Founded by refugee women, the organization works to foster community and support for the community.

    Working with Tiyya as a community partner, the ASB team worked to serve the Tiyya community and its events. Working alongside this community students gained valuable knowledge through meaningful work and dialogue.

  • Tea and Tots

    Once a month Tiyya holds an event to bring community members together. Parents and their children join for snacks and games and are provided with needed items such as diapers, clothing, school supplies, and toys. As well as various workshops for parents.

    Throughout the year, ASB members have volunteered and helped organize Tea and Tots by providing refreshments, preparing activities for the kids, and acknowledging the hard work of parents

  • Flavors from Afar

    Flavors from Afar is a restaurant in partnership with the Tiyya Foundation that employs refugee chefs and is a source of employment for many. They have a rotating menu system, with every month having a special menu from a different country cooked by a refugee chef from that country.

    The ASB team has volunteered with Flavors from Afar and gained valuable lessons from chefs working at the restaurant.

"I learned about refugees through textbooks and news, but I have never had the chance to interact with them before ASB. ASB gave us the opportunity to meet and talk to current refugees, which really changed the way I viewed them. I realized textbooks and online news only talked about the vulnerability, the sad side of being a refugee, while hearing the stories from the refugees themselves show me that they are yet resilient and hardworking individuals."

Khuê Nguyen

ASB 2023

"The ASB program has helped me to consider issues I do not face and how to exchange and support those who face those issues. I have been given the opportunity to explore direct service, research, advocacy, and education, which, in turn, pushed me to reframe how I view global-mindedness. Now I realize we can understand and support each other in a variety of ways."

Siena Taylor

ASB 2022

How To Apply

Applications will begin early fall of 2023.