About the Program
Take a Break (TaB) is a student-led alternative break program that places small groups of Willamette University students, staff, and faculty in communities across America to engage in community service and experiential learning. Students from a myriad of backgrounds, majors and class years work in conjunction with Willamette staff and faculty advisors and volunteer and community agencies to focus on a wide variety of social issues such as literacy, poverty, racism, hunger, homelessness, HIV/AIDS and the environment.
Our motto is CJS2—Community. Justice. Service. Simplicity.— which reflects the objectives of TaB: To involve Willamette University students, staff, and faculty in community-based service projects and to give students opportunities to learn about the problems faced by members of communities with whom they otherwise may have had little or no direct contact. Being completely immersed into diverse environments enables participants to experience, discuss, and understand social issues in a significant way. Participants have the opportunity to work and have fun with other Willamette students, to increase self-knowledge and to broaden their perspective of the world around them.
The winter break trip to New Orleans will take place January 7-16, 2009. The spring break trips to Portland, Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Native Oregon will take place during spring break, March 21-28, 2009.
Mission Statement
Take a Break is a student-run community service organization whose mission is to promote critical thinking, personal growth, social action, and lifelong community involvement through direct service learning experiences, developing community stewardship in the leaders of tomorrow.
To gain understanding of interlinking issues such homelessness, poverty, crime, hunger, violence, environmental destruction, and marginalization of social groups; to take thoughtful, meaningful action towards the resolution of these issues; to gain experience in community-based problem solving; to begin or continue a commitment to community service and social change; to build a new friendships and alliances.
Office Hours
- Mondays: Meg 12:30 - 2:30
- Wednesdays: Meg 12:00 - 2:00
- Fridays: Meg 12:30 - 2:30