Alternate Spring Break 2000

Youth Service Opportunities Project
New York City, New York

MISSION

"This group was founded by a group of people who were aware of the human needs in New York City. They saw people who were hungry and homeless, ignored or outcast, and decided to do something about it. They believed that youth, if given an opportunity, would give their time and energy in service to others. YSOP volunteer opportunities include working in soup kitchens and shelters for the homeless. Participants not only make a difference in the lives of the people they meet and help, but they also learn a great deal about themselves and their society."

The group will be given a breakfast and orientation on the first day. Each day they will be working at a different service site that YSOP runs (shelter, soup kitchen, furniture place where used furniture is given to people who have just gotten their first apartments). There will be reflection time each day after work, and a speaker one day. The group will be responsible for making dinner for the shelter at YSOP one night. Lunch should be given at the sites, and the group will be given subway passes as well.

SERVICE

Uniformed in our bright blue t-shirts, we travelled all over Manhattan and Brooklyn carrying out the YSOP mission, mainly serving food and meeting some very interesting people. We worked in religious and secular centers, alongside all types of people, from international moviestars (a Swiss actor who was accompanied by his entourage of photographers and personal secretary) to former guests of the centers who were now just surviving on their own. We learned through presentations and discussions about poverty, the remedies in place in New York City, stereotypes we had come with, and stereotypes that were broken by what we had seen. Needless to say, we also learned quite a bit about ourselves.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Worked at YSOP sites throughout the city in soup kitchens and homeless shelters.
  • Prepared and served a meal for the homeless at the YSOP center.

ENTERTAINMENT

Things we did, saw, smelled, and ate (NYC is a city for the senses!)

  • Broadway Show (Beauty and the Beast, Les Miserables)
  • Pubs, Jazz Clubs, and Coffeehouses in Greenwich Village
  • Diners all over (we are quite the diner connesseiurs by now)
  • Explored Columbia social life with our new UVA friends
  • Amsterdam Cafe (the Smoke's of Columbia)
  • Shopping on 5th Avenue - FAO Schwartz!)
  • Brooklyn Bridge
  • Staten Island Ferry at night
  • Fantasia 2000 in IMAX at Liberty Place
  • Walked in the St. Patricks Day parade on 5th Avenue
  • Eating and walking around in Chinatown, Little Italy
  • Chilling in Soho, Times Square
  • MOMA, the Met, Museum of Natural History
  • Hanging out in our very cool hostel together
  • Unlimited subway rides!!!

FAVORITE QUOTES

  • "Jenny, I've got your number!" 
  • "Hey, don't rain on my parade"

FINAL THOUGHTS

The New York site allowed participants to see many parts of "The City" while participating in a variety of community service activities. Each YSOP site allowed us to get to know that people we served. We also made lasting friendships with participants from other schools.

We got to see the different types of organizations that exist to help alleviate homelessness and hunger in NYC, and experienced the different styles and mentalities that these organizations adhere to in carrying out their missions. We also spent a great week in NYC together, seeing as much as we could of the city, forming lasting friendships with ASBers from other schools, and generally just having a blast. We started out the week as a group of strangers from the same school, and finished as friends who had learned a little bit about eachother and about ourselves.

PARTICIPANTS

Brian Ferrell
Tom Higgins
Risa Turetsky
Jennifer Bolson
Emily Bereskin
Toni Williams
Ed Schenck
Cai Wang
Amanda Tiffany
Amanda Jagolino
Hector Silva

NEW YORK 2000 SITE LEADERS

Maribeth Gainard and Jenny Wang
Click here to learn more about YSOP - Youth Service Opportunities Project.
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E-mail Alternate Spring Break at altbreak@dolphin.upenn.edu
This website is maintained by Jen Bolson.
Comments, questions, and suggestions are welcome.
Last revised: March, 2002.