Gonzaga students to serve others at nine sites over spring break

MEDIA NOTE: A missioning ceremony to “send off” these teams begins at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 10 in the University Chapel (College Hall, third floor). For more information, call Molly Ayers at (509) 313-6396. 

SPOKANE, Wash. – In an annual rite of spring, more than 100 Gonzaga University students along with staff and faculty advisers embark Saturday, March 11 for nine sites nationwide where they will spend their spring break serving others at nonprofit organizations through Gonzaga’s Mission: Possible program.

Mission: Possible, a program started in the late 1990s and sponsored by the University’s Center for Community Action and Service-Learning (CCASL), focuses on student-learning and community impact. At a time when many college students will be relaxing poolside in warmer climates, these students will be working on a variety of weeklong service projects important to the communities.

 

Following are the Mission: Possible locations and partner organizations:

• Denver – refugee resettlement with the African Community Center 
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• Knoxville, Tennessee – working with accessible housing through Operation Backyard
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• Montgomery, Alabama –  serving underrepresented communities through Resurrection Catholic Missions
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• Neah Bay, Washington – Makah Reservation support
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• New York City – working at Hour Children to support women and children impacted by incarceration
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• Portland, Oregon – supporting homeless services at Blanchet House of Hospitality
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• San Francisco – habitat restoration support at Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy
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• St. Louis – supporting homeless services through Gateway180
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• Tacoma, Washington – supporting adults with developmental disabilities at L’Arche Tahoma Hope
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The immersion opportunities are led by students with support from faculty and staff advisers. Senior Ally Clapp, a religious studies major, says she’s most excited to hear the stories of those her team will serve in Denver. This marks senior biology major Louis McCoy’s third trip to the Makah Reservation at Neah Bay, and he is eager to rekindle established relationships. Similarly, junior nursing student Lauren Sweeney looks forward to returning to the St. Louis mission site for the second time.  

 

A missioning ceremony to “send off” these teams begins at 5:30 p.m., Friday, March 10 in the University Chapel (College Hall, third floor). All are welcome.

 

In addition to Mission: Possible, several other Gonzaga students will have immersive learning opportunities over spring break: 

• The comprehensive leadership program is taking 16 students to East Los Angeles to visit Homeboy Industries, which provides support to previously incarcerated individuals. Students will also spend the week learning about community development and social justice, and volunteering in neighborhood organizations.
• Through the professional services firm Deloitte, four Gonzaga students will join a national team of accounting majors to network with professionals to perform community service in Atlanta. 

 Some of the students will document their experiences at the blog gonzaga.edu/tobecontinued.