APPLES fall break trip contextualizes public service with art in Asheville

Students will be expanding their perception of art while learning about public service on the APPLES Service-Learning Arts in Public Service alternative fall break trip to Asheville. 

Instead of going home for fall break, participants will be traveling to Asheville and building a relationship with art-focused community partners in the area. 

The trips are comprised entirely of students, and all leaders have to be participants on an APPLES trip before becoming eligible to lead.

Irene Zellonis and Eliud Mburu, the co-leaders for the trip, met as participants on the same trip two years ago. 

Mburu said he considers their previous experience on the trip to be an asset while planning this fall’s experience. He said they've become closer friends as a result. 

Zellonis said the group hopes to grow their relationship with previous collaborators on this upcoming trip. 

“This year, we’re incorporating more direct service,” Zellonis said. “We’ve stumbled upon a lot of community organizations that focus on those with disabilities.” 

Another goal of the co-leaders is to expand participants’ outlook on art. 

“We’re trying to open their minds to the idea of art and how it relates to disability, race, etc. and the community.” 

The group is returning to The Vanishing Wheelchair, Inc., a nonprofit that teaches those with disabilities how to do magic tricks and perform in front of crowds. 

“The founder is a person with a disability,” Zellonis said. “He does magic, which most people wouldn’t think of as art, but when he does his magic, people don’t see the wheelchair, and it effectively disappears.” 

The group is also working with the Open Hearts Art Center, an art studio which helps people with disabilities attend and lead art classes. 

“A lot of the work we do in Asheville is related to intersectionality and education about that specific community and the arts they do,” Zellonis said. 

Zellonis and Mburu have been planning the trip’s logistics since summer. Housing was an obstacle for the trip since Asheville is a popular vacation spot during the fall. The group had an orientation last week in order to meet and review details about the trip. 

“They seem like a really good group that will mesh well together,” Zellonis said. 

Becca Bender, senior program officer for community engagement at the Carolina Center for Public Service, provides administration for APPLES. She said the bonding experience between students is one of her favorite elements of the program. 

“They’re peer-led experiences, so with these trips, they just gain a really great camaraderie with other students,” Bender said. 

Bender said it is also a good opportunity for students to expand their outlook on public service. 

“It gives students an opportunity to visit a community they don’t know much about and learn about a specific issue or focus area that is facing that community,” Bender said. 

Mburu said his experience with APPLES reflects Bender’s idea that the program gives its participants a deeper understanding of public service. 

“APPLES really showed me how before, when I was helping a community, I used to be really just helping and not serving,” Mburu said. 

Mburu said he now sees service as an ongoing relationship rather than a one-time experience. 

“With APPLES, I now understand the community aspect, so now I try to build a stronger foundation that will last past my time working with them,” Mburu said. 

APPLES Service-Learning is celebrating its 30th anniversary of operations with this upcoming trip, one of six alternative fall breaks. 

Bender said the program has lasted so long and expanded thanks to students’ selfless commitment to service.

“It takes a lot for a student to commit their break to helping others,” Bender said.

arts@dailytarheel.com