University of Richmond's The SEEDS Project

The SEEDS Project is a diverse, student-run organization that examines the complexities of American society through service, dialogue, and reflection in order to cultivate lives of active citizenship. The SEEDS Project Leadership Team is fully responsible for planning the recruitment and orientation of participants and developing the alternative break experience for our four annual service-learning trips. We travel to the Gulf Region of Louisiana, the Appalachian Region of West Virginia, and the Detroit area of Michigan annually throughout spring break for a week of hard work, thought-provoking education, meaningful reflection, and new friendships. Our trip to Louisiana began in the spring of 2006, in response to Hurricane Katrina, and has continually occurred since. In the spring of 2012, we expanded The SEEDS Project to add a second trip to West Virginia, and in March 2017, we were added our third trip to Michigan! Each trip currently takes about 20-25 students to do service projects, engage with community members, and learn about the local and national social and environmental issues that afflict people in these communities. Before the trips, we seek to prepare the participants with a general understanding of the issues and areas we are visiting through videos, readings, speakers, and discussions. Through our trips, we aim to combine the knowledge we have gained on the different trips and share it with our fellow SEEDS members as well as our campus community. Ultimately, it is hoped that SEEDS can assist in fostering intentional dialogue and active citizenship in the lives of our participants that will positively impact their communities for years to come.