With open hearts and a common goal to serve, learn, and develop, our Bear Breaks team entered Chicago, a city rich in culture, history, and diversity. Working with amazing groups committed to changing the situation, we spent several days immersed in areas facing homelessness and food insecurity. Giving back was only one aspect of the experience; other aspects included listening, comprehending, and changing our views on social justice and service.

Saint James Food Pantry: Nourishing Communities in Need

We started at Saint James Food Pantry, where we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. We unloaded and stocked 13,000 lbs of food, ensuring that families in Chinatown and Brownsville had access to essential groceries. The weight of the boxes was nothing compared to the weight of the stories we heard stories of resilience and survival. Meeting 100 unhoused individuals and handing them freshly prepared meals, groceries, and hygiene packs reminded us that food is more than sustenance: it’s dignity and its hope.

Mission Our Lady of the Angels: Faith in Action

At Mission Our Lady of the Angels, we witnessed faith in action. The warmth of the volunteers and their unwavering commitment to serving 475 families left a lasting impression on us. Watching the ‘Millennial Nuns’ a group of young, passionate sisters featured on Good Morning America for their fight against hunger, we saw the power of selfless service. Here, charity wasn’t just an act; it was a way of life.

Chicago Food Depository: Packing Hope, One Box at a Time

Amidst towering shelves filled with donated goods, we joined a massive effort at the Chicago Food Depository, which serves 800 pantries across the city. As we packed 78 cases of potatoes and processed 3,120 lbs of food, we realized that every task, no matter how small, plays a role in feeding someone in need. By the end of our shift, we had helped provide 2,600 meals with a tangible impact that fueled our drive to do more.

Catholic Charities: Seeing Humanity Beyond the Statistics

Our work brought us face-to-face with 150 unhoused individuals in downtown Chicago. Serving meals, listening to their experiences, and sharing moments of laughter reminded us that homelessness is not just a statistic; it’s real people with real stories, deserving of compassion and respect. We left with a deeper understanding of the systemic challenges they face and the urgency of sustainable solutions.

Cradles to Crayons: Clothing Chicago’s Future

For many of us, childhood meant new clothes for school and warm jackets in the winter. But for some children in Chicago, access to these basics isn’t guaranteed. At Cradles to Crayons, we sorted and packed clothing for kids facing clothing insecurity, imagining the smiles on their faces when they’d receive items that made them feel cared for. It was a small act, but one that reaffirmed the power of kindness.

Exploring the Heart of Chicago

While our mission was service, our time in Chicago wouldn’t have been complete without immersing ourselves in the city’s vibrant culture. We wandered through the halls of the Field Museum, stood beneath the shimmering reflection of Cloud Gate (The Bean), and marveled at the breathtaking views from Willis Tower’s Sky Deck, snapping fun photos as we balanced on The Ledge, high above the city.

We rode the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier, laughing as we took in the dazzling skyline, and ventured to Hyde Park and the University of Chicago, soaking in the academic charm of the historic neighborhood. One of the most unforgettable moments was seeing the Chicago River dyed green in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day, a vibrant spectacle that captured the city’s spirit.

Of course, no trip would be complete without indulging in a sweet treat. We stopped by Dairy Queen, savoring our ice cream as we reflected on the week’s experiences. Every moment felt like a perfect mix of adventure and learning, strengthening our bonds as a team.

Lessons That Will Stay With Us

This trip was more than a service project; it was a journey of self-discovery. Seeing the stark contrast between the wealth of downtown and the struggles in neighborhoods challenged us to question how privilege and opportunity shape lives. It reinforced our belief in the power of community-driven solutions, showing us that real change happens when people come together with a shared purpose.

As an international student, I saw parallels between food insecurity in Chicago and similar challenges in my home country. This experience deepened my appreciation for cultural humility and the importance of listening to different narratives. It also made us realize that service is a universal language that transcends borders and backgrounds.

Continuing the Journey

Returning home, we carry with us not just memories but a renewed sense of responsibility. Inspired by the work we witnessed, we plan to engage with local organizations such as Ozarks Food Harvest and The Kitchen, Inc., continuing our commitment to fighting hunger and homelessness in our communities.

Bear Breaks Chicago 2025 was not just a trip; it was a call to action. And we are ready to answer it!

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Fall Break 2024 Immersion Trips

Applications are now open for Fall Break Immersion Trips (October 10-13)! Here are the Fall Break locations and themes:

• Northwest Arkansas: Empowering Children with Disabilities: Serving in Northwest Arkansas
• Omaha, NE: The Power of Pediatrics: Supporting Children and Families in Hospital
• Kansas City, MO: Aiding in Addiction Recovery: Assisting People Battling Drug and Alcohol Addiction

Learn more and Apply!

Applications will close September 17, 2024.

Every person who goes on a Bear Breaks immersion trip is a Missouri State student, faculty, or staff member. Typically, 5 participants with 2 student trip leaders, and a Faculty/Staff Advisor.

For more information, contact the Center for Community Engagement at CCE@missouristate.edu.

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Instead of sunshine and the beach, I decided to go on the Immersion Trip hosted by Community Engagement Center aka. BearBreak with a bunch of strangers.

Unexpected is good: I am going to be quite honest; I had no idea what BearBreaks entails at the time of application. I saw a poster about an Immersion trip in Dallas, where students get to volunteer with a focus on youth and education. I love volunteering, I want to learn more about education, I have never been to Dallas, TX. Triple win. Staying with a bunch of strangers in the same house for a whole week might be a little awkward, but I am notorious for not thinking things through, I signed up regardless.

How many students would it take to start a fire? The answer is more than 5. We had a brilliant idea of a bonfire to roast hot dogs and s’mores after our long drive down to Texas, a great bonding activity and time to unwind. What we didn’t think through is that starting a fire is no joke, especially how it is dependent upon the weather of the night before, humidity, and other factors. The result was worthwhile. Gathering around the bonfire, we got to know ourselves, we laughed at silly jokes. You could practically feel the ice and the tiredness after a long drive to Texas being melted away. We were excited to start the new day.

Volunteering at Wesley Rankin Community Center (WRCC): We started our volunteering experience on Monday. After a whole day of getting to know the staff and the facility, learning more about what we can do in the classroom, we were assigned to assemble first aid kits in preparation for their Summer Camp, organizing the facility closet, which took place in 2 days but with great teamwork and many hours later, I would say we are now qualified to go on Fixer Uppers reality show. Tuesday to Thursday, we divided into 2 groups for K-2 and 3-5 kids. I never thought I was the best with kids, but Pete the Cat and the ability to do origami took care of that for me. We led many activities as a group: watercolor painting, creating painting with shaving cream, scavenger hunt. We would read aloud stories and sing as a group, play Legos together, run around or build fortresses out of mats in the gym. Seeing the kids working together and having fun as a group was my highlight of the trip. I hope we were able to cultivate their sense of creativity, tenacity, patience, and sense of team.

There is a saying in Vietnamese, “Một nụ cười bằng mười thang thuốc bổ”, meaning one smile equates to 10 doses of good medicine. I told my parents on one of those phone calls from Dallas, TX, I might have had like 1000 doses of good medicine this week. We would tell each other stories and laugh. We would play card games and laugh until there were tears in our eyes. We would stay up all night in the yurt from laughing. It had gotten to a point where we would exchange eye contact and start laughing with each other across the room. Aside from being silly and fun, I felt like I have learned a lot from BearBreaks, both from my group and the kids, what and how to become a better citizen, community member, educator. The knowledge I would not have gotten if I didn’t sign up to go. I would never forget this experience and I would like to thank CCE for organizing such a well-thought-out trip, Wesley Rankin Community Center for a meaningful experience, and my groupmates, my friends now for such a great first BearBreak.

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But something told me to take the risk anyway.

I won’t sugarcoat it… the 7-hour road trip on the way to Dallas that Sunday was extremely awkward. There were zero conversations outside of where to stop for lunch and Austin asking for a break 30 minutes in. We sat in silence most of the way. We all kind of did our own thing and kept quiet in our little van. When we arrived in Dallas, we had a few housekeeping things to get done, but once we were settled in our Airbnb, we decided to do a fire in the firepit in the backyard. We made hot dogs and roasted s’mores – this is when we learned that Austin is a professional s’mores maker. Conversations started picking up and I was hesitant to share things about myself with these strangers. What would they think? Would they find me annoying? Would anyone like me?

But something told me to take the risk anyway.

So, I joined the conversation and we got to know each other just a little bit. It was enough of a foundation to be comfortable serving alongside one another. The following day, we arrived at the Wesley Rankin Community Center where we were trained on our responsibilities for the week. The majority of the day was spent developing our lessons and activities for the spring break program we were leading and cleaning out/organizing a large supply closet for the Wesley Rankin staff.

Following our service time at the Wesley Rankin, we went back to the Airbnb, where we cooked dinner together, ate together, and cleaned up together. We concluded the night by having a movie night and decorating posters for our classrooms for the week. Once the movie was over, we played a game that was essentially just questions of getting to know one another. We learned that Vi was a published author, that Becca was TikTok famous, that Austin was pretty awkward in his younger ages, that Aubrey grew up on a farm,  and that Alex doesn’t have a green thumb.

The next day, we met the kids we would be hanging out with for the next few days during the spring break program. They were a blast, and I knew that it was going to be a fun few days ahead of us. I was scared to make connections with the kids because I knew we’d be gone soon and wouldn’t see them again.

But something told me to take the risk anyway.

We only spent three partial days with the kids from the Wesley Rankin Center, but wow, what an impact they made on all of us. They were incredible kids. They were intelligent, kind, considerate, and extremely welcoming of us. I was prepared to make an impact on them, but I was not prepared for just how big of an impression they would make on my heart.

Each night after serving at the Wesley Rankin Center, we’d have the same routine. We’d go home, cook dinner together, eat around the dinner table together, have reflective, intellectual conversations about our day, and clean up from dinner together. The evening usually concluded with card games that lasted way too late into the night for the time we had to be up the next day. I was nervous to really get to know and spend time with the other MSU students and our group leader.

But something told me to take the risk anyway.

The six of us really bonded over the span of the week. Serving alongside each other really allowed us to see each other’s hearts for serving and for helping when there is a need. I think we all shared the attribute of enjoying serving others, so this was something we all had in common and could bond over. Being able to have intellectual conversations about our days and how we could relate them back to education in the Springfield area was super cool. We were able to bounce ideas off of each other, discuss some of the pros and cons we had seen, and just share some of our thoughts about education. Doing dinner together and having game nights almost every night gave us the ability get to know each other outside of just our stance on education. We were able to have fun together and just enjoy being there. These were again, all things that scared me. I was worried about not fitting in with the group.

But something told me to take the risk anyway.

Within the time span of seven days, I realized that I had a lot in common with our group leader, Aubrey. Had I withdrawn and hung out in my room every night, I wouldn’t have realized this. I would’ve missed out on getting to know someone who is so incredibly kind and considerate. She had known me for less than 2 full weeks when she sent me a birthday present on my birthday. It was a gift that let me know that she really listened to me during the trip. We were able to connect well enough that she understood me and knew the gift that my heart needed. If I had chosen not to participate in the conversations due to fear or worries, I wouldn’t have developed friendships from this experience. I wouldn’t have experienced this trip to its full potential.

I say all of this to say, take the risk. Whether it’s a big life decision, considering reaching out to someone you want to be friends with, or even considering going on a Bear Breaks trip, take the risk. Trust me. It’s absolutely worth it. Taking the risk allows you to live a life that is so much fuller and more beautiful than you could have ever imagined. Take the risk.

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Pre-Trip

Going in I knew nothing about the program but was excited to dive in and learn all there was to it. Starting out meeting one on one with Alex in preparation for the trip I was able to create reflection activities for each night of the trip, pick the participants of the trip, email the final group, and plan and lead pre-trip meetings. The pre-trip meetings allowed me to get to meet the students I would be spending a week with over 350 miles away from campus. We started off our meetings getting to know each other and then moved right into packing lists, itineraries, our mission statement, and questions. Two pre-trip meetings were held and while I had met all of the students going on the trip I was still anxious going into the trip with people I had only met twice to a city I had never been to before.

Sunday Morning

We left Springfield and headed to Dallas Texas to start our first Bear Break trip together. The first night we decided to roast hot dogs and smores because of the perfect weather. The dinners throughout the week quickly became one of my favorite times because of the conversations and stories shared.

Monday

Was our first day and we went to Wesley Rankin Community Center (WRCC) to meet the staff, start the service projects, and plan our week. Once we got to explore the classrooms we would be in for the remainder of the week we were told that we had complete freedom to use whatever we needed in the classroom, create our own schedule, create a seating chart, and design lesson plans. As an education major I loved this opportunity because I had never been given that privilege. We then were assigned the task of cleaning a large closet so that it was functional for the staff to use. After leaving WRCC we cooked dinner and ate as a whole group. We then moved upstairs for a movie night and we created our welcome posters for the student’s arrival the next day. 

Tuesday

Was our first day with the students in the classroom. As a group, we wanted to get to know the students and allow them to do the same. We made name tags so that for the first day we could all rely on their convenience of them to grab a student’s attention or start a conversation. Activities and outside time occupied the rest of our time with the students that day. After our lunch break, we started back on the closet and didn’t finish until after five but the results were amazing. As soon as we got back to the house we started making personal pizzas for dinner and had some good laughs after realizing all the different ways we each make pizza or our favorite toppings. I then had the idea of using our last pre-made crust to make a s’mores pizza with the leftover the s’mores supplies from the first night. We gave it a try and it wasn’t too bad and it helped clear out the kitchen without putting things to waste. For the reflection activity, we went around sharing similarities and differences we had all taken notice of at WRCC in comparison to the various places we had worked in Missouri. The list included the lack of phones in the WRCC classroom, the welcoming environment, and the low enrollment and staff at WRCC. Different conversations stemmed from this and we sat around the dinner table for quite some time talking about how amazing the kids we worked with were and what we wanted to bring back with us to Missouri. 

Wednesday

We started out the day with another get-to-know-you activity so that students who weren’t there the day before could meet everyone and so that we get to know the others on a deer level. We led several craft activities that the students loved and played outside for quite some time. As a group, we ate lunch and shared stories from the day and what went well and what didn’t. We were then given a new project because we had already finished the closet. We worked on all the different craft closets for the classrooms and we got this knocked out in one day because of the urgency of the students being in the classroom the next day. When we got home we started to make spaghetti and once again enjoyed a good conversation. After reflection, a group of us spent the night in the yurt in the backyard. I think we got a total of three hours of sleep because we couldn’t stop talking and laughing with one another. 

Thursday

Morning was the hardest morning because of the lack of sleep the night before. It was a rainy day so we didn’t go outside as much as we had the two previous days but got to do fun things indoors instead. Next, we wanted to read the book “The True Story of The 3 Little Pigs” but we could only find Spanish copies. The students read it and translated it for us and then we took a try as teachers. This was one of my favorite memories from the trip because I had never experienced anything like it and it allowed the students to teach us something. After we finished reading we split up into two groups to build our own houses out of toothpicks, mini marshmallows, spaghetti sticks, and jumbo marshmallows (typically I would just use mini marshmallows and toothpicks but we had leftover spaghetti sticks and jumbo marshmallows so we incorporated them for additional supplies). Both groups were creative in the ways that they made their houses and both passed all three tests like the story discussed on if their house would blow over. This was a good team bonding activity and we enjoyed watching the kids get creative and laugh together. Because it was our last day with the kids it was hard to see them go and we all got emotional saying goodbye because we had really bonded with the WRCC kids. Our last project was to do a deep clean of the classrooms so we worked as a team to finish the task quickly to get everything done because we wouldn’t be returning the next day. Our last final task was to go offsite to clean the buses which didn’t take long.  

Friday

Was our last full day in Dallas and it was our day to explore. The JFK museum was our first activity it took us two hours to get through and I highly recommend others to visit it if they get the chance. We then ate at a food truck park and enjoyed a trolly ride afterward. Following we went to a local farmers market and then the Bishop Art District. I had asked a few shop owners for food recommendations in the area and we continuously got the same recommendation of a restaurant right on the strip where we were. While waiting for our reservation we stumbled across a street writer who writes a poem of whatever you ask her to and you tip as much as you think it’s worth. We told her what we were doing in Texas and where we were from and she wrote a really sweet poem that I hope to have forever. After she finished we were told that our table was already ready so we went back and had some delicious authentic Mexican food. 

Saturday

We were on the road back to Springfield and I think we were all sad to leave. The car ride back was much different than the car ride at the start of the trip because we had created a bond as a group and we played games, laughed, and talked the whole way home. I hope to never forget this trip and all that I experienced because this was a trip of a lifetime and I learned a lot about myself, others, and the education system because of it. Bear Breaks is one of the biggest highlights of my college career thus far. 

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Training and Education in 2019-2020

The following trips were planned and ready for Spring 2020:

• What Makes Up a Community? Exploring Health and Wellness in Asheville | Asheville, NC
• Getting Back on Your Own: Self-Sufficiency in Atlanta and the Ability to Transform Lives | Atlanta, GA
• The Art of the Relationship and Therapeutic Play | Aurora, CO
• Breaking Bias: Creating New Perspectives on Homelessness and Hunger in Chicago | Chicago, IL
• Children are the Future: Empowering Youth while Exploring Justice | Dallas, TX
• Bears Against Human Trafficking in Houston | Houston, TX
• Many Hands Make Light Work: Revitalization and Renaissance in the Big Easy | New Orleans, LA

Leading up to Spring Break 2020, student leaders put more than 600 hours of preparation and education, focused on themes like:

• Strong Direct Service
• Full Engagement
• Diversity and Social Justice
• Education
• Orientation
• Training
• Reflection
• Reorientation

Bear Breaks is ready to create Positive Change in 2020-21 

“If you’re educated about the social issues we face, and if you get to know the individuals for whom those issues are reality, you’re an alternative breaker.  If you reflect on how that knowledge and those experiences inform your values and your life choices, you’ll be changed forever.  That’s Active Citizenship.” –BreakAway

Bear Breaks might look differently for the 2020-21 year, but the Executive Board and Trip Leaders are seizing this opportunity to reimagine what service looks like amidst a pandemic.  The plan is to spread the love and continue to learn and serve alongside communities. 

Bear Breaks is about Active Citizenship

Along with its goals – Educate. Engage. Empower. – Bear Breaks provides opportunities for students to learn about Active Citizenship.  Throughout their Bear Breaks and college experience , we hope to support students as they move along the Active Citizenship Continuum.

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These awards include:

• Public Affairs Commitment Award
• Outstanding Service/Volunteer Program of the Year Award
• Distinguished Merit Award

Learn about Bear Breaks

Bear Breaks hosts alternative break immersion programs for Missouri State University students. Through a service curriculum based on the university’s Public Affairs mission as well as components from the alternative break program Break Away, participants will become Active Citizens in their own communities while understanding diverse social issues that affect all communities.

Check out the Bear Breaks website

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I’m looking forward to witnessing what homelessness and hunger is like among Oklahoma City, Chicago, and Springfield. I’m wondering how different and similar the cities will be. They are extremely different from one another. Population type, location, socioeconomic statuses, etc. This is something I could research before the trip and include in my EOT. This is also something I could incorporate during the trip, and evaluate after.

The post Same, but Different appeared first on Immersion Programs Blog.

Where do you plan on spending your Spring Break?  Do you have a city that you want to see more than another?  Maybe one that has always had an allure more than most?  For me, that city is New Orleans, Louisiana.  It goes by many names; NOLA, The Big Easy, The Birthplace of Jazz, and The City that Care Forgot.  Thanks to Bear Breaks, I have the opportunity to visit the Crescent City.  Why New Orleans though, what’s the draw?

Well, what’s not to love?!  For me it’s the (sometimes sordid) history; it’s the music, and the food. There is one thing that brings all of these together, and that’s the people. I couldn’t be more excited for this trip and what it means. It means that I get to meet the people of NOLA and I hope to have even a fraction of the impact on their lives as I know they will have on mine. I’m looking forward to leaving a piece of myself in New Orleans and taking a piece of the Big Easy back with me in the form of memories and a renewed passion for serving others right here in Missouri.

My co-trip leader, Lauren, and I will be joined by a group of other MSU students to work on Community Revitalization (sometimes called Neighborhood Revitalization) in New Orleans in March for an immersive break. Community Revitalization encompasses so many different things. We might be sprucing up residences for people that can’t do it on their own, removing invasive plant species from the area, or working in a community garden. Habitat for Humanity describes it as “a collaborative approach to improve the quality of life for all residents in a neighborhood. Focus areas include: health, education, amenities, economic opportunities, transportation, beautification, community, housing, health, and safety”.

I leave you with this question; what does community revitalization mean to you?

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This spring break will be my very first time on a bear breaks trip. I decided to jump headfirst into bear breaks by not just going on an immersion trip but leading one! I will be co-leading the Asheville, NC trip this year and I can’t wait for all of the exciting experiences we are going to have. This year we decided to focus in on what parts make up a community and how we can help create a healthy community in Asheville. Our three main focuses are going to be on education, healthcare, and security. All three of these are important aspects in a healthy community and we have some really awesome community partners that we will be working with on these subjects.

I am so excited to immerse myself in Asheville and learn more about how communities work together to benefit everyone living in them. I know I will learn lots of valuable skills that I can bring back home and help my own community here is Springfield. Traveling is so valuable because it forces you to get out of your comfort zone, meet new people, and learn so much along the way. Exploring Asheville is going to make spring break the best one yet and I can’t wait!

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