Wayne State students trade beaches for community impact in Detroit over spring break

While some college students spent spring break chasing sunshine and sandy beaches, a group of Wayne State University students chose a different path - one rooted in purpose, people and the city of Detroit.

For six days and five nights, participants in Alternative Spring Break Detroit (ASBD) stepped beyond the classroom into neighborhoods, nonprofits and community spaces to help shape Detroit's future.

The program has grown in popularity, with strong student interest and a competitive application process to select participants. What started in 2003 as a student-led initiative has grown into a peer-led, department-supported program that continues to redefine what spring break can look like. With nearly 1,000 participants over the years, ASBD offers students an opportunity to connect more deeply with Detroit- not as visitors, but as active contributors.

"ASBD has taken the traditional alternative spring break model of traveling beyond states lines to provide impactful community service and infused it with an opportunity to better understand the university's local community," said Dr. Brandon Shamoun, assistant dean of students. "Students have the opportunity to learn about Detroit - past and present - while engaging with organizations and leaders who are shaping the city every day."

Throughout the week, students explored Detroit and volunteered, learned and built meaningful connections. From working in urban gardens centered on food sovereignty to supporting youth-focused spaces like the Downtown Boxing Gym, each experience highlighted core themes such as diversity, equity and inclusion, civic engagement, sustainability, and the arts.

"It's easy to go to a college in your city and never really get to know your surroundings," said Zoe Buckley, a junior at the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences and an Alternative Spring Break Detroit student coordinator. "ASBD is not only service work, but also an opportunity to make lasting connections with the community of Detroit."

For first-time participant Will Fisher, a senior at the Mike Ilitch School of Business, joining the program was about making the most of his time with purpose.

"I wanted to help people who are in need instead of me just chilling at home or sitting on the beach," he said. "I wanted to use my time by helping others."

Throughout the week, that choice paid off in ways he didn't expect.

"I learned that there is a lot of hard work nonprofits put in to help others, and they could always use volunteers," he said. "That really stuck with me."

Still, ASBD isn't all work and no play. Between service projects, students had time to connect with one another and build friendships that may last well beyond the week.

By the end of the experience, students walked away with more than memories; they left with a stronger connection to Detroit and a clearer understanding of their role within it.

To learn more visit, Alternative Spring Break Detroit.