Over the last two years, United Way has teamed with local communities across the Gulf Coast to mobilize the power, energy and dedication of young adults to help rebuild after the devastation of Hurricanes Ivan, Katrina and Rita. This year, we continue to build on the groundswell of compassion and commitment of Gen Y. United Way and young adults from across the country will converge on communities not only along the Gulf Coast, but in Detroit, Michigan as well.
In all three host communities, Volunteers will dedicate a week of their lives to helping rebuild communities. Whether struggling to recover from the devastation of incredibly powerful hurricanes or combating the economic challenges the prevent our nation’s inner cities from realizing their potential, United Ways across the country are harnessing the power of young people to make a meaningful difference over their Spring Break in 2008.
This year, young adults will join United Way in one of three host communities:
- Detroit, Michigan – having seen its economic base dwindle over the last two decades, Detroit, like any other urban community in the United States wrestles with an array of issues that limit individuals, families and institutions from reaching their full potential. Working in conjunction with local nonprofit partners, ASB volunteers will help to combat some of these limitations and work in conjunction with local partners on such critical tasks as building affordable housing, improving the quality of child care centers, and building ramps to provide people with disabilities a safe means of leaving and returning to their homes.
- Hancock County, MS – along the Gulf Coast, volunteers will help to rebuild homes and communities severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina.
- Lake Charles, LA – landfall for Hurricane Rita in 2005, the fourth strongest hurricane ever to make landfall in the United States. Volunteers will help to rebuild homes,and community agencies while also trying to return a sense of normalcy to communities still suffering from the lingering impact of the storm.
To get a better sense of what ASB has been and what it is all about, learn more about ASB 2007 at the ASB blog. You can also see pictures from this year’s program at the 2007 photo gallery.
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United Way and its community partners in the Gulf Region have been studying the ongoing needs in the Gulf Coast since the storms. Based on this research, Alternative Spring Break projects in 2008 may include construction and rehabilitation of the following types of community facilities: