Athens, Ga. - The University of Georgia's IMPACT program, formerly known as Alternative Spring Break, will conduct an open house Oct. 1 to introduce students to the 23 service trips scheduled during the upcoming winter and spring breaks. The open house will be held from 8-9:30 p.m. in the Tate Student Center Grand Hall.
IMPACT places teams of college students in communities across the nation to engage in community service and experiential learning. Students perform short-term projects for community agencies and learn about social justice issues, such as health care concerns, immigration, human rights, poverty, racism, aging, hunger, homelessness, animal advocacy and the environment.
According to Nikki Laird, doctoral intern in UGA's Center for Leadership and Service, the program provides students an opportunity to learn about societal issues and to interact with community members with whom they otherwise would have little contact.
"Involvement in a service-learning program such as IMPACT can enhance students' understandings of themselves and the society in which they participate. In turn, this facilitates personal growth and development for students, as well as an increased interest in civic engagement," said Laird.
IMPACT is one of hundreds of similar programs that take place in high schools and colleges across the country. UGA students may apply to participate in IMPACT from Oct. 4-18.
For more information on UGA's IMPACT, call 706/583-0830 or see http://cls.uga.edu/students/programs/impact/.
IMPACT is a program of the Center for Leadership and Service within UGA's division of student affairs. For more information on the Center for Leadership and Service, see http://cls.uga.edu.
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