Countdown 2 Detroit!

Hello dear reader! As this is posted, there are only 17 days left until we leave for Detroit! Our group has had 2 meetings since we returned from Christmas break, and the vibe is good! We've had some interesting and thought-provoking discussions and we've also been planning about what our itinerary is for the trip as well. We are all getting very excited! One of the members of our group, Megan Alexander, has a few things to say about the trip:

I have a couple reasons why I've wanted to go on the ABST trip to Detroit. For one, I used to live on a dairy farm, so I've grown food, so I guess I wanted to see what food justice was all about. I'm also looking forward to the friendships and the new leadership skills that I will form over this trip.

                                                 -Megan

Hello, Dear Reader! *GU ABST '15*

Hello! Welcome to the blog for Gannon's 2015 ABST trip to Detroit, MI! We are excited to have you share in our journey. We want to keep you involved as we go through formation individually and as a group as we prepare to travel from Erie to Detroit in a few months! Here is our team roster:

Evan Cook and Cody Feikles (student leaders), Sara Nesbitt and Kurt Hersch (Gannon staff/faculty), Kelly Gaydosh, Josiah Leach, Madelyn Zurinsky (Maddie), Victoria Quagliana, (Tori), Andrew Walker, Nathan Demarest, Megan Alexander, and Malik Hassan.

We come from different backgrounds, have different majors, and have different interests; but we want to remain open to the growth we will experience as we prepare for our upcoming trip. We will be traveling to Detroit over our regularly scheduled Spring Break, which goes from Feb. 28th - March 6th.

Please keep us your prayers and in your hearts as we plan ahead for our ABST. (For those of you who do not know, ABST stands for Alternative Break Service Trip :) ) We have already had a meeting on December 7th, and we are hoping to have another meeting before Christmas Break.

Be sure to keep visiting this blog in the future as we will have many more blog posts to come. Thanks for reading!

- GU ABST '15 - Detroit :)

Geyzel's Final Thoughts

If there is one thing that I learned from the Detroit trip, is to never talk or believe negatively about places like Detroit. Especially if one does not personally live in those particular locations. Generally people tend to place their full confidence on how the media portrays things, even if they are negative. For this reason I once had a dark image about Detroit, which no longer exists in my mind. Now whenever I find myself thinking about the city of Detroit, I see a light, hope, and warriors who together, will overcome any obstacle that life may throw at them.

-Geyzel

Louisa's Final Thoughts

This year, our 　alternative break service trip to Detroit,MI 　was fantastic. This trip really opened my eyes in so many ways 　I have learned to really appreciate life and to accept people for who they are.For some years, the media has always portrayed Detroit in such a negative way but what one needs to remember is that you can’t judge a book by its cover. Even though, Detroit is facing a tough time right now , the people in the city have learned to build diversity in their community. Everyone in each and every part 　of city of Detroit is finding ways to connect with one another. They are finding ways to help improve their health by eating the right nutrition. Organizations such as Earthworks and Freedom Freedom Growth is striving to promote health awareness for the community 　. Overall, I really enjoyed the trip it was awesome. Everyone that we came across, demonstrated hospitality and they included us as part of their table.

-Louisa

Kayla's Final Thoughts

To sum up an experience like I had in Detroit in just a few sentences is an impossible task. What I'm bringing back through Detroit to myself is three important life altering lessons. Simply experiencing the presence of the people of Detroit, I quickly learned how accepting they are. Just two days back on campus, and it hurts my ears to hear a judgmental statement in day to day conversation. Detroit has also reminded me of a simple concept. Nothing will be achieved if everyone can't work together. We all have gifts, different points of views and areas of expertise which are more effective when used in a collaborative effort. In closing, Detroit has left a fire burning within me to change my life and has me rethinking a career path that will benefit our home that we call America the Beautiful.​

-Kayla

Amanda's Final Reflection

Our time in Detroit was the most inspirational week I have ever experienced. Seeing the city for myself instead of relying on what the media says was a great decision. One of the most important lessons that I feel like I got from the trip is to not judge something based on what you hear. There was so much negativity portrayed about Detroit before I left, but actually being there and interacting with so many residents of the city, I realized that you should always experience something for yourself before you listen to what everyone around you has to say. Everyone that we talked to was very hospitable, and I could not have asked for a better week. Also, I could not have asked for a better group of people to go with, it was amazing how in just one week we made our own little family.

-Amanda

Leigh's Final Thoughts

A few days before the trip, I didn't want to go. I felt swamped by all my schoolwork, overtired from sleep deprivation, and frankly, kinda homesick. The day before the trip arrived, and I spent most of it frantically packing. I look back at that stressed out gal and wonder where she went. Nothing could have prepared me for what the week was to bring or how positively it would change me. Art, innovation, agriculture, race, history, creativity, family, reflection, future plans--we covered it all. I've never felt more open-minded, more capable, more inspired to become a hopeful, hardworking influence in my community. I don't know why the universe decided that I deserved this ABST, but I thank all my lucky stars that it did.

-Leigh