United Way Alternative Spring Break sponsored by Deloitte

Here I am, sitting at my laptop listening to N.E.R.D. and procrastinating on any type of homework. It's cold and rainy in Iowa: go figure. I'm still in an ASB-daze. The majority of my time for the past 3 days was spent daydreaming about the past week and checking Facebook. I am not a fan of Facebook, and yet I find myself logging on 4-5 times a day just to see if anyone's posted any new pictures or videos. I wish school allowed me some time to just recollect.

I completely agree with Eric that this year's ASB was the best...by far. I can't really pinpoint the reason for the change, maybe the different group of people or the new location, but it was incredible. I had my doubts coming in, being a part of this "Alumni Leadership Team" and wondering how my role in ASB would change. It took me a few days to finally recognize my place in the process. I was no longer a participant, and directly assisting the Biloxi community. I was chopping wood for the bonfire,moving chairs and tables into the dining area, and making Powerpoints. Why was I even there? It took me until Tuesday night to figure it out: I was here for the participants. I was there to make their ASB experience enjoyable. Believe it or not, I was giving back. Giving back the experience that was given to me one year ago in Bay St. Louis. This entire program would give these 80 students from across the nation a sense of hope. Hope that they, the youth of America, can come together and cause greatness. That alone could keep me volunteering in Biloxi forever.

I couldn't be more proud of the Drake group. Being able to see each individual's experience was inspiring. I could just sense their expectations being exceeded with each passing day. I'm looking forward to watching them become more involved members of the Drake community as well as Des Moines'.

Coming back home is the weirdest part about ASB. I'm constantly bombarded with "How was ASB?!" at home, at work, and at class. I've come to settle on, "Amazing. Even better than last year." Words just seem to fail me each time. You just needed to be there.

I think it was Mike who said this, but I am craving "ASB-type people." I'm anxiously awaiting our next Student United Way meeting tomorrow night, and our Family Fun Night at the Boys and Girls Club on Friday. It won't be the same as ASB, but it'll do. Miss you all.

LIVE UNITED,
Channel

Well, as I end my Journey (Get it??) here in New Orleans I have a terrible amount of time to reflect before I'll make it home. I've been gone for 13 days as of today and not one of them worth regret. Seeing as how I've been blogging vicariously through my c0-leader and more importantly friend Alicynn, I feel it's time to lay down a few words of my own. Every year since the Storm Corps year of '06 I always wonder how can the next year possibly out do this one? How can I meet people and work on projects that will be better than what I just went through? Every year I say this and then the next year it feels like the previous year has been out done. Well folks, I hate to say it, but every year from now on that I'm involved in the program will be compared to this one.

This was, by far, my favorite year with the ASB program. The people were amazing to say the least and I felt a real sense of passion with my project this year. I feel bad saying this was my favorite year because I've met some amazing people the past years as well and worked on some very worthwhile projects. So no, it wasn't just the people or project that made this the best year ever. My team was great this year, very dependable and hard working. Always there with a laugh and a smile. Then again I think, I've had some great teams the past years and it's like picking a favorite child, you just can't. So no, it wasn't just my team that made this week the best ever. I had a great time working with the local UW and the UWA staff, but I've worked with them all before so no, couldn't be them that made this the best week. My site hosts (Ms. Jackie and Ms. Andrian) were so great and I actually feel like I"ll get updates on the work we did, but I've worked with some great people in the past. Again, couln'd be JUST that to make this the best week yet. I got to see and spend a great time with some old friends and some new ones in New Orleans, but I got to do that last year, so not that either.

I can't help but stuggle to see why I will tell people this was my favorite week out of all them. It wasn't just the combination of people and project. It wasn't just the local and national staff. I'm finding way too many common denominators and not any outlayers. (yeah those are math terms I just used, be impressed) So in the time I've taken to write this blog, it kind of dawns on me what it was that made this year best two weeks of my ASB career. It Just Was. How simple is that? This week you couldn't find me without a smile on my face, I was so happy every second I spent there. I cried in front of people, something I never do, because I was so happy with them and sad to see them leave. I can only hope I'm writing something to this effect next year, but I highly doubt it. So I'm about to jump on this midnight plane heading anywhere and I say, thank you people, thank you for making this the best week ever.

This experience has been life changing for so many people here. I have seen many participants come out of their shell and learn important lesson about themselves. The picture sums up the recovery here in Mississippi. A Florida artist has carved the dolphin out of a dead tree that was left after Hurricane Katrina. All along the beach there are these beautiful sculptures made out of something that would of just ended up in a dumpster. The residnets know how to turn such a tragic event into a life of hope, love, strength, and courage. They are truly inspiring and you cannot help but be humbled by the stories here.

They say that Mississippi is the hospitality state and I do not doubt it. I have not met one resident of the Gulf COast that is not sweet to the core and generous. The United Way of SOuth Mississippi has bent over backwards to make sure that each student has the best experience. Their love for a group of 75 strangers is amazing. In one week we have become an extended family sharing a week that cannot be described.

No matter how many entries I post about this past week, you cannot understand the power behind ASB unless you come. Spring break may last a week but ASB lasts a lifetime. I hope that when everyone leaves tomorrow they remember this experience and the strength that one person can have. If anyone ever doubts the character of this generation, send them to ASB and let them see just what we can do. If anyone ever has doubts about the beauty of a group of people send them here and they will never doubt again.

Today was an AMAZING day! There could not be a more inspirational day. We were able to finish the "to do" list for the club and the mountain of cardboard is officially recycled. The news crew came and interviewed the team for the six o clock news. See We also had to say goodbye to our home for the past four days, since tomorrow we are at the East Biloxi Boys and Girls Club for a completely different project.

As we were putting our final touches on the club, I got to speak to Mr. Hugh the contractor. He told me how he has donated to United Way for the past five years (which I thanked him profusely for). He said that this past week he has been calling his buddies to tell them about a bunch of college students that have spent their spring break helping the community. He was shocked and so were his friends. It was great to hear about a donor who is so happy that his money is spent for good causes.

Since tonight's dinner and event was hosted at the new club, we decided to stay there instead of coming home and showering. That hour, we spent reflecting on our week, taking group pictures, and talking to Miss Jackie (the Unit Manager) about her hopes for the club. It was wonderful. Especially to see how much Miss Jackie loves her job and how gratful she is. Our team surprised us with letters saying thank you...needless to say we all teared up a bit! We also surprised Miss Jackie with a thank you, her response was priceless. She was shocked that we would say thank you to her. We spent about five minutes all saying thank you to one another, it was humrous! I guess when you have such a powerful experience all parties involved are grateful.

At the dinner, one of our teammates (with her fellow Drake Girls) lead the group in a GREAT cheer! Tomorrow is our last day, I bet there will be lots of laugh, lots of tears, and lots of hugs.

It is totally different! Last time I was here was in 2006 with Storm Corps. The Gulf Coast has Change so much since then. United Way of South Mississippi is just awesome. The charm and joy of them towards us is just breath taking. Getting to see how young adults are still giving up a spring break to lend a hand to the needed is marvelous. They will have a tremendous experience out of this years ASB.

So of course no ASB blog would be complete without a recap of the week in Terre Haute! Excuse us for being late, we were so busy and time went by SOOOO fast!

First of all, I'd like to thank EVERYONE who made United Way Alternative Spring Break in Terre Haute possible...especially Jessie Wozny, Heather, Honnalora, Al, and everyone else. Thanks to Indiana State University for being an awesome hope, thanks to United Way of Wabash Valley for everything! Thanks to Clabber Girl, Ryves, TGI Fridays, and all the others who donated their food, time and resources to welcome us!

I was a team leader for the second time, and it was my third year returning to ASB, so I was definitely pumped! Team Leaders arrived on Thursday at Indiana State University, and while we had a blast during training, we couldn't wait for the participants to arrive!

Saturday March 7, 2009, the participants arrived by car, plane, trains, etc. We were so happy to see them and meet our teams! We welcomed them with a rap to "Livin my life" by TI and Rihanna...classic! if I find the video, I'll repost it on here.

Sunday we went on the community tour of the Terre Haute/Wabash Valley region and then had a program back at ISU for the participants. Then Monday came and we were ready to work!

I was a proud team leader of the then named Walnut Warriors (later renamed the Messy Mikes), and we were so excited to do some demolition, drywall and paint a house severely damaged by the June 6 floods.

We didn't get a chance to do that.

My team spent three days cleaning out a house damaged by the flood, and we didn't know that our team was in way over our heads, until we got there.

Still, despite all the craziness with our site, we made the best of it, and eventually got to drywall. I'm not so sure what is appropriate to post and what isn't appropriate to post on this blog, so I will err on the side of caution, and not post too much else. We had a fairly difficult site for an ASB, but it all ended on a good note. We found out the day before we left that our site's family was possibly in line for a great deal of aid, which relieved us to know that they would be taken care of! it made our ASB experience totally worth it.


The rest of the teams had a pretty good experience...we had Team Chewbacca at the Warehouse and the demolition site. We had the BeJacles at the Saginaw site doing some drywall and painting (I think), and another team doing Demolition.

We had a cheer just for Terre Haute (you had to be there) and even a leadership quote (it sucks, but whatever).

Terre Haute was an awesome experience. Indiana State was more than hospitable to us, letting us stay in their dance studios, and use the AACC (African American Cultural Center) for the week. Big ups to the Terre Haute/Wabash Valley region for being so gracious to us in our stay there.

The media coverage was amazing...seems like we were in the paper every day, getting visits at every site by various TV stations as far away as Illinois, the next state over, and even did a few radio interviews.

We ate out EVERY day at a different location for Breakfast AND Dinner, at places such as the ones mentioned above (Clabber Girl, TGI Fridays, etc).

We got tons of free stuff.
But that's not why we came to Terre Haute.

We came to help a community in need.

Upon arriving to Terre Haute, Indiana, we found out that we were the first group of outside volunteers to come in and help rebuild after the June 6 floods.

We hadn't heard alot about the devastation and what happened until we got there. But once we got there and learned about it, we knew we had to help, and that we wouldn't forget.

We realized that a small group of people really can make a difference and make the world a better place.

The leadership team especially had our trying times and periods of frustration. But we remembered why we came, and got our focus back. We were just like a real family-we laughed together, cried together, worked together, danced together, and overall...we bonded and came together to help kickoff a recovery effort in the Wabash Valley region.

It was so awesome to be a team leader again, I had the best team, and best co team leaders. As I am nearing the end of my collegiate years, it is unsure if I will return another year. But I know that all the memories made in Terre Haute, Indiana, will be cherished, and I'm pretty sure that all of the ASBers left their mark on the community.




Terre---Haute Haute!!! (you had to be there!)

Team Fridgeworthy rocked day two! Our mission today was to clean the whole upstairs of the Boys and Girls Club. We had to "stage" the rooms, organize the materials, and clean EVERYTHING. Katie was in charge of cleaning the bathrooms, with WD40 I might add, and she was such a trooper. Kevin got to clean all of the windows in the upstairs...mind you the place is mostly windows. That took us the whole morning.

Eric and I treated the group to sonic for lunch, a nice change from ham and cheese sandwiches. If you ever want to see pure excitment on a group of peoples face, take them to Sonic after a long morning. It was a blast! After lunch, Adrian (our tourguide/bus driver/Boys and Girls Club awesome employee) took us to see Hancock County's Boys and Girls Club. They will have a building renvoated starting in June. Currently they working out of trailers, making the best of the little space they have.

After seeing that, we had a renewed energy. We continued to work on odds and ends around the club. It was amazing to realize what type of new home these kids will have June 1st. They have pool tables, air hockey tables, an arts and crafts room, a multimedia room, a gym, and so much more. It is also exciting to see the staff! They are extatic about the new facility. It is a great gift to be a small part of this process.

When we got back, we got to hear about the other participants stories. They involved painting, putting up drywall, talking to residents, and roofing houses. After a great town hall we are now off to a bonfire! Happy St Patty's Day!

So yesterday the ALT followed the Boys and Girls Club teams. It was fun getting to know the two teams as they worked hard loading and unloading stuff from the old club to the new one. The new B&G Club is insane, with a movie theater room, full-sized basketball court and fully-stocked art rooms. I think this is one of the best projects offered in this year's ASB program, especially since we will see the final product by the end of the week. I can't wait to see the local kids enjoying their new facility after so many years. They definitely deserve such a great place to grow and develop into amazing people. I hope "Team Fridgeworthy" has a great time this week, and I wish I could stick around with them all week!

Its official. We have a team name... Team Fridge Worthy. Since we are working at the Boys and Girls Club, we wanted it to reflect children. There is nothing better as a child then a piece of artwork or a test making the fridge. We are hoping our work during this week will be "fridge worthy". 

Today was the community tour. The Boys and Girls Club was nice enough to let us use their buses for the rest of the week. The tour started with the executive director of Southern Mississippi United Way giving her story about Katrina. It was interesting to hear the non-profit perspective, to hear about how they attempted business as usual without any supplies, phone, or electricity. It was incredible. Then we loaded on the buses and took a 3 hour tour of the gulf. 

LIVE UNITED,

Channel

Today it rained all afternoon, but even with the rain spirits were high. The volunteers arrived throughout the day and the dorms slowly filled up. There are 26 states represented with undergrads and grad students.

We kicked off ASB with a brief welcome and we broke out in our teams.For dinner, in true Mississippi style, we had red beans and rice. After dinner we learned more about this community during Katrina.

The evening program started with a video of pictures after the hurricane struck. It is true when they say, "a picture is worth a thousand words".After we heard personal stories of four young professionals. They spoke about the day before, the day of, and the recovery. It is hard to fathom what they went through, yet they were so candid with their stories. They spoke to the character of the residents of Biloxi and how grateful they are for volunteers.They also spoke about the needs they still have, like food in the food bank, affordable housing, and help for the emotional recovery. It was a powerful two hours.

I woke up today about 30 minutes before my alarm went off. I was up before anyone else in our room and I was just thinking today everyone gets here and our fun factor will probably triple, which is hard to believe could happen.  We've already had such a fun time with people who were complete strangers two days ago and the bonding experience couldn't be any better. A few games of catch phrase have already occurred, and we already know who needs practice. Our host United Way (UW) treated us to a minor-league hockey game last night and the home team won in overtime which provided some major excitement. Walmart is already a staple having had trips there both nights. It seems like ASB for us is really in full swing and our groups haven't even shown up yet.