Alternative Break Professional Staff Development Summit

[Announcement from he-sl listserv]

Alternative Breaks Professional Development Summit
Hosted by Indiana University Purdue University of Indianapolis
 
Indianapolis, IN
Thursday and Friday, December 6-7, 2012

 
Facilitated by:  
Staff of Break Away
Jarod Wilson, Assistant Coordinator for Community Service, IUPUI
Melody Porter, Associate Director of Community Engagement, College of William & Mary
Shoshanna Sumka, Assistant Director of Global and Community-Based Learning, American University
 
Join us in a unique gathering with staff supporting alternative breaks programs. The Professional Development Summit will equip programs to have the highest possible impact on the participating students and on the social issues and communities addressed through alternative break work.  Two tracks will be tracks: one focused on helping newer staff and programs to establish the basics of a solid alternative break programs, and another for those with more experience or longer-established programs interested in taking their to take alternative break programs to the next level.  
·         Staff will move beyond the 8 Quality Components (having received a good review on them to look at ways their programs can help promote social justice for communities and increase active citizenship in their students.
·         Staff will consider ways to foster active citizenship in their participants beyond their break experience.
·         Staff will gain the tools to take their programs to the next level - international service, stronger student leadership, more thoughtfully developed community partnerships, and sophisticated issue approaches.
 
Tentative Schedule

	Thursday:  December 6th
	Advanced	Basic
9:30 - 11 am	Overview of Alternative Break Programs
11 am - 12: 30 pm	Developing Core Principles and Values to Increase Program Effectiveness
12:30 - 1:30 pm	Lunch
	Advanced	Basic
1:30 - 3:30 pm	Furthering Active Citizenship in Participants	Reflection, Reorientation, and Retention
3:30 - 5:30 pm	Ensuring Positive Community Impact - Developing Mutually Beneficial Projects	Site Selection and Development
	Friday:  December 7th
	Advanced	Basic
9:30 - 11 am	Developing International Programs	Alternative (Not) Spring Break:  Various Models of AB
11 am - 12: 30 pm	Assessment	Developing Policies and Evaluation
12:30 - 1:30 pm	Lunch
	Advanced	Basic
1:30 - 3:30 pm	Alumni and Fundraising	Fundraising
3:30 - 5:30 pm	Compacts and Collective Action

Cost:  $200 – membership discounts apply
$200      non-member alternative break program
$160      Break Away Advantage Chapter School member
$180      Break Away Associate Chapter School member
 
You can register through Paypal here (warning – there is a 2.9% processing, or “shipping” fee), or you can send a check to Break Away.  Once we receive your registration, we will send you the agenda, suggestions for your social time in Indianapolis, and a little get-to-know you homework assignment.  Registration includes two days of continental breakfast, inter-continental lunch, one dinner (Thursday) and cross-continental snacks. Also includes post-conference materials and a memorable, yet practical souvenir.
 
Travel: Fly into Indianapolis International Airport.  You can ask your housing arrangements about shuttles.  Here is information about Indianapolis taxis and buses.
 
Housing Options:
·         There is a hotel close to campus (.8 miles) called the Candlewood Suites which we have secured at $84/night (not including tax).  However – these are all 1 bedroom King Suites.  To make reservations at this rate, you must reserve by 11/25 (you can cancel up to 24 hours in advance).  You can either call the hotel directly at 317-536-7700 or use this reservation link which has the code BAG (for Break Away group) already inserted.  The hotel address is:
o   1152 White River Pkwy, West Drive, Indianapolis, IN  46222
o   We just heard from Sallie Scheide, who is coming from Michigan, that she booked a double here for $144.99.  
·         Our Marriot reservation information is attached for the Courtyard at the Capitol.  Walking distance from IUPUI for $109/night (singles and doubles) and $19 parking.  The nice slide show that walks you through the entire booking process.
 
·         On the less expensive end:  There is an Indianapolis hostel (www.indyhostel.us) that runs about $32 per person/per night.  It's about a 15 minute drive from campus or a 51 minute bus ride (buses cost $1.75 per ride--you have to pay each time you get on a new bus, so if there is a transfer, it is $3.50 a ride).  
·         For those driving, there are several hotels downtown (with a La Quinta Inn and Suites Indianapolis Downtown averaging about $92 a night).  That said, if you have access to a car or decide to rent one for the weekend, you can stay pretty much anywhere.  Indianapolis is a very drivable city and it literally takes no more than 20 minutes to get anywhere within the I-465 loop (pending traffic, of course).  Hotel rooms by the airport will take about 15 minutes to get to campus.  You can stay at a hotel on I-65 South around the Keystone Exit (on the southeast side of town), such as the America's Best Value Inn for $50 and the Comfort Inn for $68, and the Southport road exit (also southeast of town) such as the Comfort Suites for $85, the Super 8 for $40, and the Quality Inn & Suites for $64.  
 
Parking (if you are driving in): For Vermont Street Parking Garage: Drive into campus on W. Michigan St (one way).  Turn left at the light for Barnhill Dr. and take the next left onto Vermont St. The garage will be on your left hand side.  Take a guest ticket at the entrance.  Out of that parking garage will be the Campus Center.  Across the street is Taylor Hall.  
 
The Room/s: Thursday we will be in Campus Center – room 409.  Friday, we will be in Taylor Hall room 2110.  You can see Campus Center on the maps – and Taylor Hall is between Michigan and New York (East-West streets) just West of University (N/S street that runs directly next to the campus center).  Here is a link to an IUPUI campus map.  
 
The days will be very interactive – providing chances to learn from the best in workshop format, but also to discuss best practices with your peers, talk directly to Break Away, network to arrange collective action, and give feedback to the national movement regarding directions to take. Those of you who have come in past years know that it’s a packed time together – but full of power conversations and laughs. You’ve found your people – and the best practices of alternative breaks which we discuss here can be solidly transferred to your other leadership and service programming.
Contacts:

Jill Piacitelli, Break Away:  The Alternative Break Connection
Executive Director
801.673.8997
jp@alternativebreaks.org

Jarod Wilson, Office of Student Involvement
Assistant Coordinator, Community Service
317.274.8936
wilsjama@iupui.edu