Break Away Blog
A Solution Isn’t Always the Answer
A natural reaction to identifying problems is to try and find solutions. But this isn’t always the right move. Especially when it comes to community engagement.
The Ethical Volunteer
We believe in education and looking inward in order to be aware of the privilege you bring into a space. We do it to de-center ourselves and highlight the systems of oppression at play.
To Move Forward, Look Inward
A strong reflection practice is vital for quality community engagement. Reflection is a rare opportunity to process new information and plan for future action.
Do We Need Safe or Brave Spaces?
Over the years, we’ve seen the intentional shift within student and academic affairs to advocate for creating brave spaces over safe spaces. There is an arguable difference, considering the implications of each term.
Be A Good House Guest
We often prepare for these experiences with a self-serving lens, but the eagerness for the experience can often leave out the most important truth: We are visitors in a new place.
When Words Aren’t Enough
Well-respected and irrefutable community collaborator, Nelson Mandela once shared, “Action without vision is only passing time, vision without action is merely daydreaming, but vision with action can change the world.” Action following intent may not be a brand new concept, but it’s important to return to this foundation when moving forward feels like an impossible feat.
The Difference Between a Firecracker and a Pilot Light
“Firecrackers go off in a flash, then leave nothing but ashes. I prefer a pilot light—the flame is nothing flashy, but once it is lit, it doesn't go out. It burns steadily, and it burns forever.” — from Walking with the Wind: A Memoir of the Movement by John Lewis
A Commitment To Inward
A common draw to immersive experiences is to get outside of ourselves. In community engagement programs, we witness the recurring pattern of finding disruption in the world we thought we fully understood. Essentially, we relearn what we once thought was true.
An Introduction to Virtual Facilitation
Here, we are sharing tips, tricks, and the lessons we learned hosting a virtual conference. Our hope is that you find some tools to use in any virtual programming you might engage in.
Virtual Community Engagement
At Break Away, we believe there’s no limit to the change you can make in your community. While we are in the midst of a global pandemic, service for the greater good is still very possible — but we must be creative, innovative, and imaginative in how we go about it.
Our Role in Disaster Recovery
The two stages, generally speaking, to be aware of after a natural disaster are response + relief and recovery. Response and relief is the immediate work to minimize harm or hazard caused by the disaster. Recovery includes returning a community to the pre-disaster state of normalcy—or better, a sense of revitalization for all.
Fundraising: It’s Not About the Money
Fundraising is challenging. Across the board, almost everyone struggles with this. We don’t have a blanket answer for success, but based on one of our latest favorite reads, we can summarize a few tips.