Buffalo State University students spend spring break giving back
Fourteen individuals from Buffalo State University, including students, faculty, and staff members, spent four days of their spring recess volunteering with the Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program March 24-27.
Coordinated and led by Lisa Kragbé, assistant director of the Civic and Community Engagement Office, and Erika Mitchell, senior counselor for the Arthur O. Eve Educational Opportunity Program (EOP), this year’s ASB focused on education access through a collaboration with the SUNY Attain Lab. The service project assignment was painting a mural for the Martha Mitchell Community Center that depicted the transformation of a butterfly, representing freedom; the bricks of the wall represent the obstacles and systematic barriers to education access that need to be removed. The mural was designed by Seishin_Ink, a contemporary artist whose work explores unspoken narratives through surreal abstractions.
I Refuse to Crawl
Bricks have been removed
from the limitations wall.
Sunlight splashes like water
on my wondrous wings.
I refuse to crawl.
I am just one butterfly
in this clear blue sky.
I am creating my own path
that others might delight in,
and I refuse to crawl.
Along with the painting, participants took part in pre- and post-reflection sessions about barriers to education access and making efforts to overcome them. Joey Nicoletti, lecturer in the English Department, was even inspired to write a poem. Students also participated in a SUNY Attain Lab orientation, explored the SUNY Attain Lab professional development database, and helped the community center prepare for an upcoming community event.
“I realized that access to education extends well beyond the walls of a classroom,” said participating student Shailee Thakar. “It's about community engagement, digital literacy, mentorship, and opening doors for individuals who might have otherwise been historically underserved. At the SUNY Attain Lab, I saw firsthand how access to technology and adult education programs can transform lives by making workforce training and individual development opportunities accessible.”
“This experience reminded me how important it is to use my time and skills to help others,” added fellow participating student Yash Milinkumar Patel. “It made me feel more connected to Buffalo and proud to be a part of Buffalo State. It wasn’t just about volunteering—it was about growing as a person and understanding the difference even small acts of service can make.”
Photos by Jesse Steffan-Colucci, Buffalo State photographer.
