During Spring Break 2025, approximately 1,300 students from Howard University took the university’s motto of “truth and service” on the road, traveling to 22 cities across the country as part of Howard’s annual weeklong Alternative Spring Break (HUASB).

Celebrating its 32nd year, HUASB participants served in large cities, including Cleveland, Detroit, and St. Louis, as well as smaller towns like Williston, South Carolina. Their initiatives spanned various areas, including youth empowerment, restorative justice, disaster relief, community development, and more. Collectively, Howard students committed over 150,000 hours of service throughout the week. Some students performed service in cities they were visiting for the first time.

The theme for this year’s HUASB, "Nurturing Our Community: Planting Seeds of Hope for the Future," underscores the more than three decades of service Howard students have dedicated to communities both locally and globally through HUASB.

Howard students partnered with local schools, churches, community organizations, after-school programs, food banks, advocacy groups, and more in the following cities: Aiken, South Carolina; Asheville, North Carolina; Albany, Georgia; Baltimore, Maryland; Birmingham, Alabama; Buffalo, New York; Charleston, South Carolina; Charlotte, North Carolina; Chicago, Illinois; Cleveland, Ohio; Detroit, Michigan; Flint, Michigan; Memphis, Tennessee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Nashville, Tennessee; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Savannah, Georgia; St. Louis, Missouri; Tampa, Florida; Trenton, New Jersey; Washington, D.C.; and Williston, South Carolina. 

HUASB students designed or participated in initiatives focused on community development, education, disaster relief, environmental justice, food stability, housing stability, restorative justice, violence prevention, youth empowerment, and youth holistic wellness. 

Here's a look at the impact of Howard students all around the nation.

Howard students volunteered at Aiken, South Carolina's Horse Creek Academy during spring break by mentoring students, helping with school projects, and taking part in community outreach. HUASP participants helped the elementary school students with homework, helped organize the school's book fair, and worked in the cafeteria. Along the way, they inspired the younger students to pursue college. Howard students also worked with Tall Pine STEM Academy, Horse Creek Academy, and Oakwood-Windsor Elementary to assist teachers in the classroom, help out in the Canteen, and support the beautification team with projects around campus. 

In addition, the Howard students helped in the cleanup and repair from damage caused by Hurricane Helene. They partnered with the United Way's Project VISION, which provides low-income disabled and senior citizens who are owner-occupant homeowners with essential home repairs, to build a wheelchair ramp, complete yard work, and paint in efforts to improve accessibility and enhance the community. In nearby Williston, South Carolina, Howard students served as teacher aids and created presentations about college, life skills, making good choices, and other topics which were delivered to school children at Williston Elko Middle School, Guinyard-Butler Middle School, Kelly Edwards Elementary School, Barnwell Primary School, Barnwell Elementary School, and Williston Elko High School. 

• WATCH: HUASB's Aiken/Williston recap on Instagram. 

Seventeen Howard students gave back to younger students at Albany's Robert Harvey Elementary School by tutoring in mathematics, STEM, and arts and crafts. Harvey is one of the fastest improving schools in Georgia and was recently removed from the state's list of schools in need of major comprehensive support through a strong focus on academic success and community engagement. Howard students also volunteered at Lincoln Elementary Magnet School, Northside Elementary School, Sherwood Acres Elementary School, and Turner Elementary School where they assisted teachers by leading small groups and helping to teach in a variety of subjects from STEM, social studies, and arts and crafts. 

ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA:  Disaster Relief and Hurricane Helene Recovery

In Asheville, North Carolina, Howard students helped repair the damage caused by Hurricane Helene, working with community members and local nonprofits such Equal Plates. They helped prepare and portion meals for local individuals and families. Additionally, they repaired fencing and took part in park and beach cleanups, supporting the preservation of natural spaces in the area. Participants also volunteered at Asheville PEAK Academy, Asheville High School, and Ira A. Jones Elementary School where they read to students, helped with tutoring, and gave presentations on college readiness, handling stress, and positive mental health practices. 

Howard students also served at Reynolds High School where they collaborated with ACRHS Black Student Union students to lead workshops and assisted in the afterschool program. They also engaged in activities with My Daddy Taught Me That, a program designed to support the development, uplift, and education of youth and young males and help them transition into responsible young men. Howard students also served at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church where they assisted First Lady Mrs. Belinda K. Grant in community development.

• WATCH: HUASB's Asheville recap on Instagram. 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: 
Restorative Justice and Youth Empowerment

In Baltimore, Maryland, Howard students assisted in a church community called "THE MIX," a collection of people from different backgrounds, races, and socioeconomic journeys who come together to pursue a passionate purpose. Howard students served soups and sandwiches in three local areas to support the unhoused community. Howard students also volunteered at Baybrook Elementary School, Walter P. Carter Elementary School, Maryanne Winterling Elementary School, Harlem Park Elementary School, Reginald F. Lewis High School, and Paul Laurence Dunbar High School where they tutored students, provided mentorship, and assisted with projects around the school. 

BIRMINGHAM, ALABAMA: 
Food Stability and Education

In Birmingham, Alabama, Howard students assisted UAB Live Health Smart, working with their mobile wellness van to help provide comprehensive health services to area residents. They also assisted UAB Live Health Smart's "mobile markets" by handing out groceries to the elderly and working with their food pantry. 

Participants also worked with Girls Inc. an organization that teaches young girls to learn to value themselves, take risks, and discover and develop their inherent strengths by providing long-lasting mentoring relationships, creating a pro-girl environment, and delivering research-based programming. Howard students used mentorship to empower girls, fostering confidence and leadership skills, and participated in programming on living healthy lifestyles, gardening, and sustainability. 

BUFFALO, NEW YORK:
Housing Stability and Building Beds

In Buffalo, New York, Howard University students partnered with Habitat for Humanity and Sleep in Heavenly Peace to support home-building efforts and make sure that children have a secure and comfortable place to sleep each night. HU students constructed twin-sized beds, performing sanding, stamping, drilling, assembling, and staining work for each bed’s components. Participants also volunteered with Harvey Austin School, Westminster Schools, and Health Sciences Charter School where they mentored and provided guidance to high school juniors and seniors through HBCU-focused talks and held panels on college life. 

CHARLESTON, SOUTH CAROLINA:
Community Development and Youth Empowerment

In Charleston, South Carolina, Howard students partnered with Kids on Point, a nonprofit organization which uses a holistic model to prepare children to succeed in school and life by "harnessing academic support, athletics, mentoring and service learning as vehicles to build skills essential to future academic and professional success: communication, life skill development, and initiative." Howard students provided homework assistance, individual tutoring, and study skills guidance as they supported college and career readiness programs for kids from under-resourced neighborhoods. Additionally, they sorted clothing and packed care kits to assist Lowcountry Orphan Center, which provides support services and aid to meet the needs of Lowcountry and Midlands children in South Carolina who are identified as suffering from abuse, abandonment, and neglect. They also helped distribute clothes in partnership with the Hope Center, a day resource center where unsheltered and vulnerable neighbors have access to services to improve their lives. 

WATCH: HUASB's Charleston recap on Instagram.

CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA:
Restorative Justice Through Accountability and Rehabilitation

In Charlotte, North Carolina, Howard students championed restorative justice by partnering with local organizations to facilitate dialogue and healing for individuals affected by crime and systemic inequalities. Through workshops and mentorship programs, they empowered youth to embrace accountability and rehabilitation, fostering a deeper sense of justice and equity.

“People don't realize that these things are luxuries. Being able to take a hot shower with soap and water is a luxury.” 

“People don't realize that these things are luxuries. Being able to take a hot shower with soap and water is a luxury,” Howard sophomore Bijou-Elyse Wallace told WFAE. "Being able to have a hot meal at night is a luxury, so being able to give back and being able to give these things to people who might not have them is very important.” 

• WATCH: HUASB's Charlotte recap on Instagram.
• LISTEN: NPR WFAE 90.7- Howard students trade traditional spring break for a trip to Charlotte to help those in need

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: 
Community Development and Education

In Chicago, Howard students put on their farming hats at a local urban farm to help create a more just and equitable food system through urban agriculture in collaboration with the Urban Growers Collective. Students also worked with Perspective Leadership Academy, Perspective-IIT Math and Science Academy, Perspective Joslin Campus, Leo High School, and Alex Haley Academy Elementary School where they gave presentations on college readiness, resources, and campus life while also holding small group discussions, providing mentoring and assisting in classrooms. They also volunteered at Erie Neighborhood House, which is dedicated to helping low income and immigrant families by helping advancing the English skills of ESL conversation groups, and held conversation workshops on a variety of different topics with youth in the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center. 

CLEVELAND, OHIO:
Community Development and Youth Empowerment 

In Cleveland, Ohio, Howard students volunteered at the local Salvation Army and assisted with facility maintenance, cleaning, organization, and pantry restocking. They also partnered with the City Mission of Cleveland, which provides shelter and services for unhoused women. HUASB students helped to organize toiletries and hygiene items, in addition to assisting with cleaning. Across town, students packaged food in collaboration with the Greater Cleveland Food Bank to be distributed to more 7,000 people.

DETROIT, MICHIGAN:
Food Stability and Youth Holistic Wellness 

In Detroit, Michigan, Howard students volunteered at Covenant House, an organization that provides shelter, support, and services to youth facing homelessness and human trafficking by providing housing, education, job training, and counseling to help young people build brighter futures. Students assisted with morning activities, promoted wellness initiatives, contributed to campus beautification, and participated in student panels. Participants also partnered with Cody High School, where they helped students prepare for college and careers through a series of professional development activities, including a resume workshop, mock interviews, guidance on professional attire, job research strategies, and discussions on the impact of social media on the job search process. 

FLINT, MICHIGAN:
Youth Empowerment, Beautification, and Social Justice

For nearly a decade, HUASB has partnered with the Flint Center for Educational Excellence in Flint, Michigan. Howard students spent a week mentoring and educating local students through social justice presentations, beautification projects, after-school program support, and food pantry assistance in partnership with organizations like the Boys and Girls Club. They also participated in panel discussions about life at HBCUs and college preparation, inspiring the next generation of scholars. 

"Being from an underserved community, I understand the importance of having role models that you can look up to,” Howard University junior Saskia Ivery told MLive, a Michigan-based publication. ”Sometimes it’s weird to find that in these underserved communities, these kids don’t have anywhere to look up."

Being from an underserved community, I understand the importance of having role models that you can look up to.”

Read: MLive | Howard University students volunteer at Flint schools for spring break

MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE:
Community Development and Youth Empowerment 

In Memphis, Tennessee, Howard students dedicated their time to various community initiatives, making a meaningful impact across multiple organizations. At Mid-South Food Bank, volunteers worked to combat hunger by sorting and packing donated food, inspecting items for quality, and assembling boxes for distribution to families in need. At Treadwell Middle School, volunteers assisted teachers and students with classroom activities, providing support to enhance learning. Similarly, at Manassas High School, volunteers collaborated with the graduation coach to help seniors prepare for graduation while also assisting teachers and students. Volunteers also contributed at the Youth Correctional Facility, supporting teachers in the educational center and helping youth in detention with their studies. At Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, volunteers engaged with students through JA BizTown, a hands-on program simulating a real-world economy, and JA in a Day, a one-day volunteer-led initiative connecting classroom learning to practical financial and career skills. These efforts collectively strengthened the Memphis community by addressing food insecurity, education, youth rehabilitation, and financial literacy.

MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN:
Violence Prevention Through Postive Reinforcement

In Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Howard students dedicated their time to various community initiatives. They worked at Hawthorne Elementary to engage students in discussions about college and to provide literacy and math support through one-on-one and small group sessions. At Holy Redeemer Christian Academy, they tutored students and delivered presentations on healthy habits, mental health, and conflict resolution to promote personal development. Howard students also volunteered with Journey House, a nonprofit that moves families out of generational poverty through adult education, workforce development, youth development, and family engagement. Howard students led discussions on the experiences of students of color, the journey to higher education, and success, with a focus on HBCUs and college athletics. 

HUASB students also worked with the Running Rebels Community Organization which engages the community, youth, and their families to prevent involvement in gangs, drugs, violence, and the juvenile justice system. They volunteered to participate in mural painting, indoor cleaning, outdoor clean-ups, and a special project where they shared words of wisdom with the next generation. Other HUASB students volunteered with Young Men on a Mission, a Milwaukee faith-based mentoring organization, engaging in basketball and other physical activities with students and working with their mentoring programs. At WestCare Wisconsin, a treatment and wellness organization, they facilitated a speed dating-style game about college opportunities.

Pearls for Teen Girls, a nonprofit with a mission to empower young women and gender-expansive youth with self-development tools, guidance and support, hosted Howard volunteers who participated in group sessions with middle and high school students and helped organize the office space for an upcoming transition. At Jacarrie Kicks for Kids, a holistic youth development program focused on children's academic, social, spiritual, physical, and emotional needs, Howard volunteers assisted in after-school programs, playing games with students and engaging in social-emotional learning activities. Howard students also volunteered at Hamilton High School mentoring students and shadowing them in their classes while collaborating on educational workshops and college preparatory sessions.

At City on a Hill, a Milwaukee anti-poverty nonprofit, Howard volunteers mentored students and supported the after-school program, helping with both academic and personal development. These efforts collectively enriched the Milwaukee community by fostering education, mentorship, and community empowerment.

WATCH: HUASB's Milwaukee recap on Instagram. 

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE:
Community Development and Youth Empowerment 

In Nashville, Tennessee, HUASP volunteers engaged in leadership activities and college discussions for students, while actively participating in classroom activities. Stratford STEM Magnet High School is a science, technology, engineering, and math school that offers a supportive environment for students to learn what it means to be in high school. Volunteers in Nashville, Tennessee dedicated their time to various community initiatives, supporting local schools and organizations in meaningful ways. With Catholic Charities, volunteers assisted with afterschool programs, organized the food pantry, helped with the New Americans program by sorting goods for refugees, and provided support at family resource centers across the city. At Chadwell Elementary School and Jere Baxter Middle School, Howard students served as "lunch buddies," who fostered positive interactions with students, assisted teachers in the classroom, and participated in library reading sessions to promote literacy. They also took part in leadership activities and a Friday presentation. At East Nashville Middle School, volunteers engaged with eighth graders through the Pathways program, sharing insights about college and future opportunities.  

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA:
Educating and Mentoring

In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Howard students mentored and collaborated with local students in the classroom at schools like KIPP Preparatory Academy, offering guidance and support to foster academic growth and development. They also led a 45-minute lesson on their majors and hosted a college and career panel, featuring a Q&A about Howard. The students also volunteered at John Bartram High School, B. Anderson Elementary School and Strawberry Mansion High School, where volunteers provided in-class teacher assistance, tutoring, and delivered presentations on healthy habits, mental health, and conflict resolution to promote student well-being. At Anderson Elementary School, Howard students engaged the children in interactive learning experiences, including college life discussions, career exploration through research and presentations, and creative activities such as creating vision boards. Younger students participated in career-themed videos, storybooks, and coloring exercises.

WATCH: HUASB's Philadelphia recap on Instagram. 

SAVANNAH, GEORGIA:
Environmental Justice: Seeding Sustainable Farming

In Savannah, Georgia, Howard students collaborated with local organizations, including the West Broad YMCA, to support the deconstruction, salvage, and reuse of historic buildings. They helped rebuild a community chicken coop, renovate a community barn, and launch a community garden, contributing to environmental sustainability and neighborhood revitalization efforts. Participants also volunteered at Loop It Up, a youth arts and educational enrichment organization, helping to offer original arts-integrated programming designed to foster personal well-being, creative problem solving, and academic success among the young people of Savannah. While there, the Howard volunteers facilitated engaging garden, STEM, and mindfulness activities to promote learning, creativity, and personal growth for young people. At Re:Purpose Savannah, volunteers removed nails, reorganized merchandise, inventoried salvaged lumber, and performed additional tasks to support the organization's mission to promote sustainability through the deconstruction and reuse of historic buildings. The Georgia Conservancy benefited from Howard volunteers who helped with office organization, rebuilding a chicken coop, renovating a barn, and launching a community garden, in addition to painting and setting up interior spaces for a local school. At the Frank Callen Boys & Girls Club, volunteers mentored and engaged with youth, providing guidance and support to foster both personal and academic growth. Similarly, at Southwest Middle School, volunteers collaborated with students in the classroom, offering mentorship and enrichment opportunities to help them reach their full potential.

WATCH: HUASB's Savannah recap on Instagram. 

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI:
Community Development and Youth Empowerment 

In St. Louis, Missouri, Howard students volunteered at Covenant House Missouri to offer a unique opportunity that made a lasting difference in the lives of young people experiencing homelessness. Howard students assisted in providing shelter, support, and guidance to youth ages 16 to 24 who are facing housing instability, helping them rebuild their lives and achieve independence. At the Early Learning Center, volunteers played a vital role in fostering a nurturing environment for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, assisting teachers and supporting early childhood education. Washington Montessori volunteers from Howard provided personalized tutoring and college readiness support, including SAT/ACT prep, essay guidance, and application assistance. Howard students also partnered with the St. Louis Area Food Bank, where volunteers prepared and served meals, assisted in food pantries, and helped sort and pack food donations for community distribution.

WATCH: HUASB's St. Louis recap on Instagram. 

TAMPA, FLORIDA:
Disaster Relief and Housing Stability 

In Tampa, Florida, Howard students participated in park and beach clean-up efforts, contributing to environmental restoration and the preservation of natural spaces. Howard students volunteered at Lockhart Elementary and Tampa Bay Technical High School through youth mentoring programming that fostered growth, confidence, and academic success. Additionally, they partnered with the Children's Home Network – Kids Village, a nonprofit which provides services to at-risk children, and engaged in various tasks, including cleaning, cottage maintenance, yard debris cleanup, and support for children recovering from trauma. Howard students also volunteered at YMCA Reads! where they provided after-school tutoring to students in grades pre-K through 8, supporting their academic growth and development. 

WATCH: HUASB's Tampa recap on Instagram. 

TRENTON, NEW JERSEY:
Youth Holistic Wellness Through Test Preparation, Guidance, and Inspiration

In Trenton, New Jersey, a new HUASB location, Howard students visited Joyce Kilmer Middle School, Parker Elementary School, Trenton Central High School, and Capital City High School where they mentored students and assisted with the after-school programs. In the afternoons, they spent time at the Boys & Girls Club of Mercer County, offering counseling, guidance, and educational support to local youth. 

"We had a fantastic experience interacting with students. At Trenton High we helped students prepare for tests, and, even had lunch with them. I enjoyed many conversations." -Howard University junior Trinity Colbert to the Trentonian

WASHINGTON, D.C.:
Community Development, Healthy Living, and Educational Support for Kids

In Washington, D.C., Howard students offered tutoring and academic support and participated on panels on college life to create a supportive and enriching learning environment at Anacostia High School, Sousa Middle School, and Ballou High School. Additionally, they contributed to farm maintenance by planting, watering, and harvesting fresh produce, while also promoting food security, environmental awareness, and healthy living initiatives. They partnered with organizations such as Bread for the City and Martha's Table to help clients select food items from the pantry, bag groceries, and distribute produce while also supporting the unloading and organization of produce and dry goods from vendors. 

WATCH: HUASB's Washington, D.C. recap on Instagram. 

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