June 30, 2003

Contact: Brooke Smith, Alterntive Breaks, (850) 644-0986.

KU one of two universities selected to host national citizenship school

LAWRENCE -- On Tuesday, July1, a panel of Lawrence community members will speak to participants as part of the 10th annual Alternative Break Citizenship School being held at the University of Kansas.

The panel will speak about Native American issues from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Center, 1631 Crescent Road, as part of a weeklong summer training program for student and staff leaders of the college community service program Alternative Breaks.

KU is one of two universities in the nation hosting a school, which is organized by Break Away: The Alternative Break Connection. KU's event is being conducted through July 4. A second event, at Florida State University in Tallahassee, will begin Aug. 1.

Alternative Break Citizenship Schools provide training for student and staff leaders from different universities to learn the skills needed to build a quality Alternative Break program. Participants attend workshops, planning sessions, speaker panel sessions and community dinners and work with organizations to serve the host community.

This year's conference brought participants to Lawrence to learn about Native American culture while combining education and service at Pélathé Community Resource Center, 1423 Haskell Ave.

Organizers for Break Away said they selected KU for the national conference not only for its location but also for its students.

"The University of Kansas is represented by some of the most passionate, dedicated students in the country in terms of serving their community," said Dan McCabe, executive director of Break Away. "Lawrence will be an excellent location for students from around the country to become more active citizens while learning how to teach others to do the same."

Break Away is a national nonprofit group based at Florida State University that seeks to train, assist and connect campuses and communities in promoting lifelong active citizenship through intensive weeklong service projects.

KU has been home to an award-winning Alternative Break program since 1994. During the past decade, students have spent school breaks learning about social issues while doing volunteer work in locations including New York City; Alamosa, Colo.; Los Angeles; and El Paso, Texas. During their stays, they have learned about issues ranging from hunger and homelessness to education, conservation, health and wellness, and cultural diversity.