Our Crowdfunding Groups
Help send UArizona Honors students on a service-learning trip during spring break! This March we will be traveling to the Fort Apache Reservation in northeastern Arizona, which is the ancestral lands of the White Mountain Apache Tribe. While on the reservation we will be volunteering our time on a native-run community farm, planting crops, pulling weeds, and putting up fences. In addition, we will learn more about the disparities that exist on the reservation and the issues that come with indigenous sovereignty by meeting with community leaders from the local hospital and police station.
Alyks Odell
My name is Alyks Odell and I am a Freshman studying Molecular and Cellular Biology at the University of Arizona. I love learning about any topic, but especially about pathology, physiology, and psychology. For fun, I enjoy music, games, and art. My personal goal is to strive to be a more understanding, empathic, and serviceable person. I am excited to connect with and serve the people of the Whiteriver community. I know they will teach me a lot.
Nandita Parekh
Hello, my name is Nandita Parekh, and I am a freshman at the University of Arizona. I am planning on studying Environmental Science. I am extremely excited to have this opportunity to volunteer on this trip! I hope to learn more about the White Mountain Apache Tribe’s culture as well as what roles farming and food sovereignty play in their community.
Anna Jones
Hello! My name is Anna Jones and I am a freshman at UArizona. I’m majoring in environmental science and hope to one day be a professor in the field. I am from Ohio, so I am especially excited to go on this trip to experience a culture different from what I would see back home. I am interested in the food sovereignty of Native nations and want to gain knowledge on the trip about this issue. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to go on this trip!
Sam Burdette
Sam Burdette is a junior studying journalism and communication. In her spare time, she works as the copy chief at the Daily Wildcat. She also enjoys playing the piano, hiking and board games. Sam is excited to go to Whiteriver and have a hands-on experience learning about farming and helping others in the process.
Kathryn Eubanks
Hello, my name is Kathryn Eubanks, I am a creative writing student with an English minor. I recently transferred here from Pima Community College. After my bachelor's, I plan to study for a master's in Library sciences. Being that I am still new to the UofA I wanted a chance to explore the opportunities that the honors college offers. As well as learn more about the food sovereignty practices used in the White Mountain Apache tribe.
Hello, my name is Emma Rautenberg and I’m currently a freshman at the University of Arizona. I am a Physiology major with a minor in Spanish and I plan to attend medical school after I graduate. I previously lived on the White Mountain Apache Reservation and am very excited to return as part of a great group of volunteers. On this trip, I hope to gain a new perspective about life on a reservation and the culture of the White Mountain Apache.
Veronique Villalba
Hello, my name is Veronique Villalba and I am a current sophomore at the University of Arizona. I am majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Natural Resources and I hope to add a Spanish Major into the mix. I plan to work for the Peace Corps when I graduate and then look into graduate schools with specialties in Environmental work! I am the first in my family to graduate high school and attend college and I am so honored to be able to go to the White Mountain Apache Tribe and be of assistance to them. My goal of this trip is to gain an understanding of how to aid and provide support in communities that are different from my own and respectfully learn the culture of the White Mountain Apache Tribe.
Lauren Albrecht
Hello, my name is Lauren Albrecht and I am currently a sophomore at the University of Arizona. I am a double major in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Nutritional Sciences, and I plan on going to medical school after receiving my two degrees. I am a medical scribe at Sells Hospital on the Tohono O'odham Nation Reserve, and I am extremely grateful to have an additional opportunity to serve the Arizona community as well as learn more from indigenous cultures.
Honors Alternative Spring Break (HASB) is a program within the University of Arizona Honors College that gives students the opportunity to engage in service-learning during our spring break. In HASB, we travel to a community, where we work with a partner organization to accomplish specific goals and improve the local area. Many students from past trips have commented that the experience is rewarding, eye-opening, even life-altering - one past trip leader was inspired to change his major to try to help Native American tribes like the White Mountain Apache retain their independence.
The Whiteriver trip, centered around indigenous food sovereignty, will take us to the White Mountain Apache Tribal lands in Northern Arizona. We will learn about indigenous food sovereignty by working at the People's Farm on the reservation, interacting with students from the tribe's schools and engaging with and hearing from tribal leaders.
Indigenous food sovereignty is the principle that indigenous communities have the right to produce healthy, culturally adapted foods to maintain their food security. While indigenous food sovereignty is the focus of the trip, we will also explore important topics related to public health, Native American rights, and agriculture.
One location we will visit to explore these topics is the Whiteriver Indian Hospital. The Whiteriver Indian Hospital is unfortunately severely lacking in funds and hospital staffing. There is a disconnect between modern medicine and Apache medicine, which is something we plan on discussing with the community leaders. 
Learn more about the White Mountain Apache Tribe and history here.
Learn more about The People's Farm (Ndée Bikíyaa) here.
Learn more about the Whiteriver Indian Hospital and healthcare disparities here and here.
Learn more about the White Mountain Apache Police Department and issues faced by the community here and here.
Thank you for your donation! Your contribution helps us help others. Check-in with us after the trip to learn about everything we accomplished!
Allows 2.5 students to explore the White Mountain Apache Cultural Center and Museum.
