ASB Service Learning
The Service Scholars Program is a transformative initiative designed to empower RAM students through meaningful community engagement and service learning. This program offers participants the opportunity to develop leadership skills, foster civic responsibility, and make a tangible impact in their communities.
ASB (Alternative Spring/Summer Break) is a program dedicated to engaging students in service with local, domestic, and international communities through the Research Aligned Mentorship Program. These immersive service trips collaborate with various community organizations to support initiatives such as animal welfare, disaster relief, youth education, environmental concerns, access to quality affordable housing, healthcare, food security, and poverty alleviation.
Participants in ASB play a unique role. They do not aim to 'help' or 'fix problems.' Instead of viewing our host communities through a deficit lens, ASB adopts an asset-based model. Our participants, known as 'RoadRAMs,' work alongside community members to strengthen the organizations they serve. Our focus is on creating justice rather than doing charity. This approach enables RoadRAMs to learn from the knowledge and experiences of our host sites while striving to become engaged citizens committed to the common good.
These once-in-a-lifetime service opportunities help RoadRAMs establish meaningful connections between their classroom learning and real-world experiences. The chance to travel while participating in community service offers a unique RAM Experience.
- Applied Learning: This involves applying learned theories and models to real-world situations, creative projects, or independent/guided research.
- Social Justice:This principle emphasizes the importance of full and equal participation for all groups in society, ensuring that conditions are shaped to meet everyone’s needs and help them reach their full potential.
- Simple Living: This concept encourages reducing our negative impact on the environment and community by adhering to sustainable practices that reflect socio-economic conditions while also minimizing our ecological footprint.
- Diversity and Inclusion: This principle aims to enhance both individual and programmatic efforts to foster mutual respect, dignity, access, and equity among all groups of people.
- Self-Awareness and Reflection: This encourages creating time and space for individuals to evaluate how their actions impact the community and to identify ways they can address and alleviate social issues.
Last summer, 10 RAM students were selected to travel to Bridgeport, Connecticut, to volunteer with Habitat for Humanity of Coastal Fairfield County. We contributed to building homes for several families in need, worked in a community garden, and learned new techniques such as using power tools, pouring concrete, installing hurricane trusses, and painting. We stayed at a local church, participated in team-building and reflection activities, and had the opportunity to dine with the families set to move into the homes we helped build. It was an extremely rewarding experience to meet the families we were assisting and connect with them on a more meaningful level.
What was the most rewarding part of this trip?
"“Giving back to a community that needs it and can benefit from the projects” "
— (Aliea, ASB 2024)
"“The most rewarding part of the trip was the fact that we were able to help so many families and be a part of rehabilitating an amazing community” "
— (Emma, ASB 2024)
"“Making new friends and establishing new connections” "
— (Tyler, ASB 2024)
What did participating in this trip help you learn about yourself?
"“That giving back to the community is easier than it seems, there are different ways to get involved and still make a difference”"
— (Aliea, ASB 2024)
"“I learned many things throughout this trip, 1. It reminded me that I love to learn and try new things. 2. I love doing hands-on activities and 3. I love helping people!” "
— (Emma, ASB 2024)
Did participating in this trip help you feel more connected to your peers? If so, how?
"“Yes, participating in this trip helped me make new friends and brought me out of my comfort zone to experience new things”"
— (Aliea, ASB 2024)
"“Yes, it did. Spending those 5 days together really gave us all a chance to get to know one another and build a close bond” "
— (Aariyana, ASB 2024)
"“Yes, this trip made me feel much more connected to my peers. Going into this trip I only knew about 2 people and recognized a couple faces but when we were leaving this trip I went back home with a new family and friends. Thanks to this trip I got to meet 2 of my best friends”"
— (Emma, ASB 2024)
RAM program
Greenley Hall, Lower Level
934-420-5403
RAMprogram@farmingdale.edu
Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm