Spring break is a time when students either head south to warmer climates to unwind or simply stay close to home to take a breather.
This wasn’t the case for Macaulay Honors College and Pre-Law student Vincent Mirabella. He headed north to Montreal to take part in Macaulay’s “Alternative Spring Break,” which offers a highly immersive multiple day experience of service projects, leadership development, and relationship-building, giving participating students “the chance to make an impact on the lives of others and learn more about the challenges and opportunities facing different communities,” according to the program.
This year, Vincent was one of 18 Macaulay students, as well as three faculty and staff members who went to Montreal in April.
“Throughout the week, I worked alongside fellow Macaulay students from across the CUNY campuses to support organizations addressing food insecurity and homelessness in the Montreal community,” Vincent said. “Our service included preparing meals for families Mada Community Centre, packaging food at Welcome Hall Mission, serving dinner to homeless men at Macaulay Pavilion Kitchen, visiting Maison du Père to learn more about their impact, and stocking the food bank at Partageons l’espoir / Share the Warmth.”
According to Vincent, his spring break was much more impactful than partying down south or just taking it easy. “This experience gave me a firsthand perspective on the vital role these organizations play in supporting vulnerable populations,” he explained. “It was both eye-opening and meaningful to contribute to their mission.”
Macaulay chose Montreal because the city “offers an international, urban experience within a reasonable driving distance; students experience a new city, in a new country with a different language; and Montreal is a cost-effective international service experience.”
For Vincent, the Alternative Spring Break also gave him the opportunity to connect with other Macaulay students, reinforcing their shared values and passion, which he said was “apparent in our service to the city of Montreal and conversations about how we will serve the NYC community in our future careers.”
Lisa LoPorto, Administrative Director of Macaulay Honors College at CSI, underscored the importance of experiential learning opportunities like this noting that they are among Macaulay’s defining strengths. “Through its donor-supported Opportunities Fund, the College offers study away and abroad, internships, research, and service opportunities, and the chance to work closely with CUNY faculty across a wide range of disciplines. By embedding experiential learning into the graduation requirements for every Macaulay student, while supporting access to these opportunities, Macaulay ensures every student graduates with the critical skills necessary to translate academic achievement into real-world success.”
By Terry Mares
