Catalyst Miami 2024

Organized by Hamline University's Wesley Center for Spirituality, Service, and Social Justice, the Hamline Catalyst Alternative Breaks offer students the chance to engage in reflective service addressing social justice issues. Students travel to communities around the U.S. over spring break to learn about and take action on issues such as homelessness, immigration issues and disaster relief through community service. 

This year's trip, focused on Climate Justice & Environmental Conservation in Miami, Florida, was led by student site leaders Nessa Peters and Jennifer Martinez Badillo, with support from Associate Director of the Wesley Center Nur Mood.

 During their first day in Miami, the group volunteered at Biscayne National Park, removing debris from sea turtle nesting beaches. They collected nearly 600 pounds of trash, including 41 balloons, 22 trap mouse devices, and various other items. The cleanup included wading in waist deep water, walking over sharp rocks and/or through mucky sediment, bending down and lifting heavy objects, and getting in and out of boats from waist deep water collecting additional 293 pounds of wood, rope, and glass from the areas close to the shoreline. Among the items they discovered was an orange plastic tag used for lobster and stone crab traps, dating back to 1997-1998. This find sparked reflections among the catalyst group after the service, on the longevity of the trash on that beach and the potential global origins of these items. 

This year's Catalyst trip also featured experiential learning visits to museums like the Phillip & Patricia Frost Museum of Science and Pérez Art Museum Miami, where students engaged in interactive activities on solar energy and explored Ocean Decade exhibits. At Pérez Art Museum Miami, they experienced the 'Sea Change' immersive exhibition, focusing on climate and cultural shifts, and 'Spirit In The Land,' centering on environmental and social justice. Additionally on the third day of their trip, they participated in a seminar at Pelican Harbor on Florida's water preservation efforts since the 1950s. The week concluded with a coastal cleanup at Crandon Marina to support ocean ecosystem health and a dinner on Friday centered around reflecting on the turnout of the trip.