Alternative Winter and Spring Breaks in South Los Angeles

Two students from UC Davis building a Hay Barn at Compton Junior Posse in Los Angeles Sierra Service Project offers customized programs for junior and senior high youth groups and college groups at our South Los Angeles project site throughout winter and spring .  In the past, theses have usually been 5-night programs combining challenging community service work with a series of visits, tours and guest speakers aimed to give participants real insight into the dynamic communities of Los Angeles.  The cost of these programs is $55 per person per night.  To talk about scheduling your group, contact SSP's Executive Director, Rick Eaton by email or calling the office at (916)488-6441.
2012 Dates March 11-17 (with Washington State University's Wesley Foundation)
March 24-28 (With University of California, Merced's Wesley Foundation)

Call to schedule your group for additional dates flexible to your schedule.
Educational Activities Los Angeles bus tokenDuring each session in South Los Angeles, the program is based on contextual learning in the surrounding neighborhoods. This includes visits to social agencies, outside speakers and a bus tour to important locations within South Los Angeles and Downtown Los Angeles. Examples of previous educational activities include Toxic Tour by Communities for a Better Environment, lunch and speaker at Mama's Hot Tamales, riding the city bus to skid row and passing out water bottles or socks, and visiting city councilwoman Jan Perry's Ninth District office.

Past Service Projects junior and senior high volunteers at Compton Junior Posse next to a hay barn they helped constructCompton Jr. Posse

In December 2010, two winter break sessions constructed a hay barn for the Compton Jr. Posse (CJP). CJP has been providing inner-city youth with year-round after school alternatives to the lure of gang and drug lifestyles for over 20 years. Through equestrian activities, youth develop responsibility, discipline and self-esteem. 

During SSP's Summer Program of 2010, SSP volunteers repaired a floor and a roof for CJP. This past spring and summer youth built six 4' by 4' tack sheds for storage.


young adult working on a floor at MY CLUB, a youth center organized by Catholic Charities in South Los AngelesMY CLUB of Catholic Charities

SSP's work at MY CLUB (Modeling Youth Cooperation Leadership Unity Bridges) began during the Summer Program of 2010. MY CLUB is a youth center that provides a safe place for youth to have positive interactions with their peers and participate in healthy activities.

During the Summer Program, SSP youth teams repaired a large awning in the backyard of the center, creating a shaded, dry place to be outside. During a winter session in 2010, volunteers removed the existing carpet, repaired the sagging subfloor and installed new carpet squares and wall base. The center is an exciting place to work because of the interaction with local youth that work teams are able to have.


Summer Program work team sanding drywall on the new walls for four of the bathrooms at Rakestraw Memorial Community Education CenterRakestraw Memorial Community Education Center

The work that SSP accomplished at Rakestraw began in December, 2009 and was completed in September, 2010. This spanned the work of three college teams in the winter and spring, one alternative spring break high school group and all six weeks of Summer Program volunteers.

Rakestraw is an extension of Wesley United Methodist Church in South Los Angeles; the center currently serves as a food bank. The church plans on opening a charter school at Rakestraw, but some renovations needed to be done first.

Eight bathrooms were reconfigured and remodeled by SSP volunteers. This involved removing and rebuilding walls, new supply and drain plumbing, electrical and venting work, installing new linoleum floors, installing doors, and lots of painting. It was an exciting change to see, and really makes a difference to the center. View more photos of the Rakestraw renovations.