ABSTRACT
Active citizenship is a chosen identity. The purpose of many alternative break programs has long been to guide participants to identify and act as active citizens. Alternative break programs can best use the continuum by implementing practices that provide leverage for participants to shift from one stage on the continuum to the next. Active citizens have made the community a priority in their values and life choices. Active citizens may be found gathering with friends and neighbors to discuss local issues, decide what action needs to be taken, and mobilize to work for justice along with others affected by the issue. Training participants to understand active citizenship in a more accessible way is critical. The community or society of active citizens is central to achieving the goals of a justice-oriented alternative break program. Participants commitment to active citizenship after the trip can begin to form before they even receive a packing list.
