Diplomat Pharmacy hosts college students as part of Alternative Spring Break program
FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Pharmacy on Friday announced it will be hosting college students from across the nation this week. Students from as far away as New Mexico State will be participating in an expanded version of Diplomat’s Alternative Spring Break program that kicked off Monday.
Also serving with New Mexico State will be students and staff members from Michigan State, Virginia Tech and the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.
Alternative Spring Break is a nationwide program that offers community service-learning experiences during the traditional college spring breaks, according to Steve Wolbert, Diplomat’s director of community relations and government affairs. The students have spent months learning about the culture and history of Flint, and once they arrive, they will be immersed in the community with experiential learning opportunities and direct service to non-profits.
The program also includes group discussions, readings and reflection activities at a selected site to engage in meaningful action toward a greater understanding of root causes of relevant issues.
Diplomat is the primary facilitator between the students and various community organizations in the Flint area. Wolbert said that as they enter the fifth year of the program, they continue to look for key indicators that the program is successful.
Activities for their respective weeks in Flint will include city tours; working with Genesee County Habitat for Humanity, Carriage Town Mission, St. Luke N.E.W. Life Center, North End Soup Kitchen and Boys & Girls Club of Greater Flint; and assisting Kettering University with a neighborhood cleanup of the Mott Park area. Each morning students will work with various community organizations in the Flint area. Afternoons will be spent volunteering at local schools working and tutoring students. ASB students will hear from local community leaders from the non-profit, government and business sector during dinner each evening.