Engagement experience meets a real need that is community identified. 

Programs include issue specific educational sessions which participants attend prior to and perhaps during their Alternative Break. These sessions provide participants with the historical, political, social, and cultural context of the social problems they will be working with during the experience. Effective education provides faces and opinions from all perspectives on the issue, including ways that the participants' personal life choices are connected to them. 

During the experience, participants reflect upon the experiences they are having synthesizing the direct service, education, and community interaction components. Applying classroom learning and integrating many academic disciplines can occur. The site leaders should set aside time for reflection to take place, both individually and in a group setting. 

Community engagement, done with equitable policies, practices, and beliefs must serve as a toll for liberation. We should aim to redistribute resources, power, and wealth. 

Upon return to campus, participants transfer the lessons learned on break by identifying local organizations for continued education or service, sharing their experience to raise awareness of social issues, and by organizing or joining other small groups to take action on local issues through direct service, advocacy, and/or philosophy.

Prior to departure, participants should be oriented with the mission and vision of the community partner or organization(s) with which they are working. Participants are encouraged to look at the context of the work of the organization within the broader community and to become allies to their mission and vision through direct service.

Participants are provided with adequate training in skills necessary to carry out tasks and projects during the experience. Ideally this training should take place prior to departure, although in some instances it may occur once participants have reached their site. Examples of training include teaching basic construction, learning how to read with children or gaining first aid skills. 

Identify the role of power and privilege in perpetuating injustices AND in their own lives and identities. 

Alternative Breaks provide participants with an opportunity to live in line with community, program, or experience specific values. Programs should create opportunities for individuals to consider ways of aligning values and actions with regard to choices about the Alternative Breaks experience.