The mission of UCLA’s Alternative Breaks program is to provide local and national service learning trips that use education on social justice issues combined with direct hands-on service to have a lasting impact on students and the communities they work alongside. Students are immersed in diverse contexts with concrete challenges that heighten social awareness and inspire lifelong social action.

We strive to equip participants with the skills and values necessary to create a society of globally conscious active citizens who commit to lifelong service. To accomplish this, participants will engage in educational discussions, team collaborations, introspective reflections, and more throughout the school year.

Our Philosophy

Alternative Breaks at UCLA focuses on three main components:

EDUCATION

Effective education provides facts and opinions from all perspectives on the issue, including ways that participants’ personal life choices are connected to the social issue.

DIRECT SERVICE:

Programs provide an opportunity for participants to engage in direct or “hands on” projects and activities that address unmet social needs, as determined by the community. Community interaction during service projects and throughout the week is highly encouraged.

REFLECTION:

During the trip, participants are encouraged to reflect upon the experience they are having, synthesizing the direct service, education, and community interaction. Time is set aside for this to take place both individually and as a group..

Alternative Breaks was started in 1991 in an attempt to promote hands-on community service within UCLA by immersing volunteers in an environment away from UCLA for the week of Spring Break. Twenty volunteers were selected to participate that first year. Throughout winter quarter, the volunteers worked to organize the trips’ logistics, and, most importantly, educate themselves on the issues facing the two project sites: Tijuana, Mexico and Teesto, Arizona.

At the sites, the volunteers not only applied what they had already learned, but also learned a great deal more by interacting with the people from those communities and working beside them. Upon their return, some of the volunteers were so moved by their experiences that they immediately decided they would not only return to their sites, but also work to improve the Alternative Breaks program to provide the same opportunity to others.

From two sites since 1991 in Tijuana, Mexico and Teesto, Arizona, we have expanded to dozens of sites exploring issues that range from conservation, food injustice, homelessness, and immigration rights. After some time as an individual project, AB established a committee within CSC that continues to uphold our mission statement.

Zoom in and click on the pins to see where we’ve been!

2025–2026

Addressing Systemic Bias in Incarceration (San Francisco, California)
Minds and Miles Apart: Mapping Literacy in Rural and Urban Communities (Eureka, California)
Mental Health and Substance Use: Approaches to Youth Resources in Rural Communities (Reno, Nevada)

2024–2025

Breaking through Bars: Exploring Incarceration, Education, and Advocacy (Oakland, California)
Community Health Literacy and Awareness (San Francisco, California)

2023–2024

Seas the Day: Tackling Ocean Pollution and Marine Conservation (Miami, Florida)
Netting Sustainability: Exploring the Impact of Climate Change on Boston’s Fishing Industry and Food Systems (Boston, Massachusetts)
Reimagining Criminal Justice: De-carcerating Community Services and Investing in the Power of Ourselves (Sacramento, California)
Care for Caregivers: Illuminating the Unseen Labor in the Care Crisis (San Francisco, California)
Empowering Borders: Nurturing Resilience and Advocacy in Immigrant Communities (San Diego, California)

2022–2023

Feeding the Future: Sustainable Farming and Food Systems (Seattle, Washington)
Orange is the New Black: The Modern Day Fight Against Mass Incarceration (San Quentin, California)
Earth and Mind: Green Space Accessibility and Mental Health Opportunities (Phoenix, Arizona)

2021–2022

Wildlife Conservation: Preserving Biodiversity Along California’s Coast (Monterey, California)
Dead Last: Overspending and Underserving in the American Healthcare System (Boston, Massachusetts)
A Tale of Two Countries: Narratives Among the Border (San Juan, Texas)
Raging Hormones: Addressing the Intersectionality of Policy and Healthcare in Hormone Inaccessibility (Atlanta, Georgia)

2020–2021

The Canyons of Time: Uncovering Environmental and Indigenous Rights of our Past, Present and Future (St. George, Utah)
Melting Ice and Rising Seas: Combating the Climate Crisis in Alaska (Anchorage, Alaska)
A Tale of Two Countries: Narratives Among the Border (San Juan, Texas)
Orange is the New Black: The Modern Day Fight For Civil Rights Against Mass Incarceration (San Quentin, California)
Land of the Forgotten: Rural Poverty (Athens County, Ohio)

2019–2020

Destigmatizing Mental Health: Ending the Silence Around the Taboo (San Francisco, California)
Why Institutions Matter: Root Causes of Food Insecurity (Austin, Texas)
Melting Ice and Rising Seas: Combating the Climate Crisis (Anchorage, Alaska)
Count Them While You Can: Preserving Wildlife Within Our Borders (Phoenix, Arizona)
Orange is the New Black: The Modern Day Fight for Civil Rights Against Mass Incarceration (San Francisco, California)
The Lost Youth: Understanding the Causes and Solutions for Youth Homelessness (Seattle, Washington)
Bring Up Our Youth: Education and Children’s Opportunity (Oakland, California)

2018–2019

Food, Freedom, Fresno: Exploring Food Insecurity and Contemporary Immigration Issues in the Central Valley (Fresno, California)
YouthCare: Approaches to Reducing Stigma and Creating Long-Term Solutions (Seattle, Washington)
System Change Not Climate Change: The Roots of Environmental Justice in North Carolina (Asheville, North Carolina)
Land of the Forgotten: Rural Poverty in Ohio (Athens County, Ohio)
Community Rebuilding (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Uncovering the Realities of Human Trafficking in Our Backyard (Mystery In-State Location)
Bring Up Our Youth: Education and Children’s Opportunity (Oakland, California)

2017–2018

Exploring a Model Green City: Sustainable Development in San Francisco (San Francisco, California)
Rainbow Mental Health: Where Are The Resources? (Central Valley Road Trip)
Root Causes of Food Inequality: Urban Farming (Austin, Texas)
94974: The Roadmap from Slavery to Mass Incarceration (San Quentin, California)
Animals Outta Predicaments: No Kill Advocacy at Best Friends (Kanab, Utah)
Bridging Animal and Human Rights: Finding Justice in the Coachella Valley (Coachella Valley, California)
Deconstructing Disabilities: Accessibility in the Capital (Washington, D.C.)
Need for Accessibility: How the Twin Cities Deliver Specialized Mental Health Care (Minnesota)
Protect and Preserve: Environmental Conservation at Joshua Tree National Park (Palm Springs, California)
SEA-ing the Connections: An Exploration of the Root Causes & Determinants of Homelessness in the City (Seattle, Washington)
We the People: Co-building Native Sovereignty and Wellbeing (Wyoming)

2016–2017

Root Causes of Food Inequality: Urban Farming (Austin, Texas)
Central California’s Paradox: Youth Fighting Hunger in California’s Agricultural Heartland (Central Valley Roadtrip)
Keeping it Clean: Environmental Conservation (Channel Islands)
Finding Solid Ground: Envisioning Housing Security for Today’s Youth (Chicago, Illinois)
Nurturing Nature: Wildlife Conservation (Sequoia National Park)
Expanding the Lens on Health Disparities: Looking at the Social Determinants of Health (San Francisco, California)
A Tale of Two Countries: Narratives Among the Border (San Juan, Texas)
City Wanderers: Exploring Ways to Combat Homelessness (Washington, D.C.)

2015–2016

Shelters, Gardens, and Dumpster Dives: How Guy Fieri would Explore Hunger & Food Insecurity (Central Valley Roadtrip)
Urban Gardening (Downtown Los Angeles, California)
Saving Them All: How Best Friends Animal Society is Leading the Movement (Kanab, Utah)
Urban Renewal (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Protecting the Wonder of Nature (Palm Springs, California)
Living on a Borderland (San Diego, California)
Social Determinants of Health: Understanding Healthcare & Stigma in Underserved Communities (San Francisco, California)
Invisibility of Disability: The Potential Within Us All (Stone Mountain, Georgia)

2014–2015

Majority within Minority: Exploring the Cycle of Affordable Housing (Downtown Los Angeles, California)
Environmental Conservation (Grand Canyon, Arizona)
Animal Welfare (Kanab, Utah)
After Katrina: Building a More Sustainable Future (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Through the Eyes of the Marginalized: Confronting Community Health Issues in the City (San Francisco, California)
Immigration Rights (San Juan, Texas)

2013–2014

No Kill: Helping our Companions at Best Friends Animal Society (Kanab, Utah)
Melting Pot: Food and Nutrition in the City of Angels (Los Angeles, California)
NOLA Rising: Urban Renewal after Katrina (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Sidelined in the City: Exploring How a Community Addresses Health Disparities among Marginalized Populations (San Francisco, California)
Food for Thought: Combating Hunger and Homelessness in the Nation’s Capital (Washington, D.C.)
Going Wild: Discovering the Dichotomy Between Human Intervention and Environmental Conservation… or is there? (Wind Wolves Preserve)

2012–2013

Melting Pot: Food and Nutrition in the City of Angels (Downtown Los Angeles, California)
Catalina Island Conservancy (Catalina Island)
Best Friends Animal Society (Kanab, Utah)
New City Parish (Los Angeles, California)
NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana)

2011–2012

Conservation. Education. Recreation. (Catalina Island, California)
A Bug, Dog, Piggy, and Horse’s Life (Kanab, Utah)
Where Every Life Matters (Los Angeles, California)
NOLA (New Orleans, Louisiana)
Feeding out Knowledge by Feeding the Homeless (Salinas, California)

2010–2011

Death Valley National Park (Death Valley, California)
Best Friends Animal Society (Kanab, Utah)
New City Parish (Los Angeles, California)
Dorothy’s Place (Salinas, California)
TWO: Transformational World Opportunities (San Diego, California)

OUR MISSION