In March of 2007, I embarked upon a trip to Louisiana to help rebuild a community devastated from post Hurricane Rita in 2005. During a week long service event hosted by United Way, I joined 150 students from across the country to help in the never ending recovery. During this very humbling experience, I began to realize how important it was for me to be involved in my community locally. Upon return to Southeastern Michigan I felt that Detroit was undergoing an economic downturn that left many communities crying out for help. When reminiscing about my Alternative Spring Break experience, I was empowered to get more students involved in the Metropolitan Detroit area. Talking with United Way for Southeastern Michigan in a meeting, I dreamed about bringing Alternative Spring Break to Detroit to help rebuild local neighborhoods, and community agencies in need. This experience was very historical to United Way because it was the first time they hosted an experience outside of a post hurricane devastated area.A Heart to Give looks inside my thoughts and journals during my experience in 2007, and documents how empowered I felt upon return to Detroit, Michigan. Realizing that we all can make a difference, I am thankful to all the students who gave of their time to help revive the area of southwest Louisiana. I hope that by my example and the example of the many other students apart of the ASB experience, that citizens around the country can notice the importance of being involved in their own communities.
