Alternative Break Student Team Leader

MRISJ Overview

The mission of the Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ) is to build knowledge about social justice, to develop skills for advancing social justice through individual and collective action, and to serve as a catalyst for actualizing Bridgewater State University’s commitment to social justice.

The Martin Richard Institute for Social Justice (MRISJ) hosts Bridgewater State University’s Alternative Break (AB) program. The AB program is a group experience that offers undergraduate students the opportunity to build social justice skills and knowledge through civic engagement, service, and critical reflection. MRISJ hosts three out-of-state AB experiences and one in-state AB experience. Each experience is led by two AB Student Team Leaders, with the support of two faculty or staff Learning Partners.

At the time of the position posting, the themes and locations for the 2027 AB Experiences have not been determined, but past experiences have included the themes and locations of:

• Advocacy, Policy Change and Storytelling (Local southeastern MA & Boston)
• Civil Rights & Racial Justice (Selma & Montgomery, Alabama)
• Community Health & Environmental Justice (Williamson, West Virginia)
• Food Justice and Housing (Washington, DC)

We are hiring 8 Student Team Leaders to co-lead each of the four AB experiences.

Alternative Break Student Team Leaders recruit AB participants, assist in AB program marketing, organize and lead group meetings, lead peer training activities, promote team building, plan the agenda for the AB week, plan a post-trip reflection dinner, and provide information that helps lay the groundwork for next year’s ABs.

• Attend weekly team leader trainings on Tuesdays from 5:00 – 7:00 pm during the fall/spring semesters.
• Must be available the week of March 6 – March 13, 2027.
• Available to attend occasional MRISJ Student Employee meetings on Thursday evenings.
• Participate in AB program marketing activities, tabling, and information sessions (September, October).
• Assist with Program Orientation dinner (November).
• Plan and facilitate pre-trip team trainings, team meetings, and activities.
• Connect with the host sites to schedule and plan the AB itinerary.
• Connect with Learning Partners to build rapport to strengthen working relationships to prepare for break week.
• Guide the AB team through the experience during the break week, including travel days, community service, educational trainings and meetings, and team-building experiences.
• Coordinate and facilitate daily reflection activities and group journaling during the AB week.
• Organize the post-break AB reception dinner with team leaders (March or April).
• Create a slide show presentation for a final reception dinner (March or April).
• Complete an AB Experience Overview to provide detailed information about the experience once the group has returned to BSU.

• Interest in guiding peers through the AB experience.
• Interest in designing and facilitating educational, team building and reflection activities for peers.
• Comfortable with communicating with a variety of people (peers/students, staff, faculty and community).
• Demonstrated interest in social justice and civic engagement along with a commitment to the principles of diversity, equity, access, and inclusion.
• Ability to work collaboratively with staff and other students.
• Ability to be flexible and adaptable within a fast-paced environment.
• Strong oral and written communication skills to convey ideas and information with students, staff, and community organizations.
• Strong time management skills and ability to self-motivate and work independently once provided instruction.
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills.

• Must be enrolled in at least 6 credits at Bridgewater State University in good standing.
• Must be available the week of March 6 – March 13, 2027.
• Must be available to attend weekly training meetings on Tuesdays from 5:00 – 7:00 pm.

Responsibilities may include activities such as standing for varying periods of time, transporting materials using rolling carts, setting up and…