More than 100 Cornell students spent their spring break tackling issues surrounding urban poverty, hunger, inadequate housing, domestic violence, homelessness, civil rights, HIV/AIDS, farm workers, at-risk youth and environmental damage in a number of different places on the East Coast.

The Cornell Public Service Center developed the program to provide an opportunity for groups of student volunteers to participate in alcohol- and drug-free, community-based service trips during their spring and winter breaks.

"The mission of the Alternative Breaks program is to promote service-learning through direct public service with regional, national and international communities to heighten social awareness, enhance personal growth and advocate lifelong social action," said Leonardo Vargas-Mendez, executive director of the Cornell Public Service Center.

The program is intended to provide students with an opportunity to engage in service in communities that they otherwise may have little or no direct contact with, and to learn about such social issues as urban and rural poverty, racism, hunger, homelessness, the environment, domestic violence and juvenile delinquency. Students are immersed in culturally enriching experiences that challenge them to think critically about the social and environmental issues that shape our society, Vargas-Mendez said.

The program has grown from one trip of 13 students who worked in Welch, W.V., in 1989 to more than 100 students, working in Boston, Cape Cod, Lake Placid, New York City, Philadelphia, Orlando and rural West Virginia.

Lisa Elliott is assistant director of external relations at the Cornell Public Service Center.