
HU students spend spring break in Flint for water crisis

Howard University Students spent their first day of spring break handing out bottled water to help the residents of Flint, Mich., as they struggle with the city’s water crisis.
Credit: Howard University News Service
FLINT -- Like thousands of other college students, Jaquan Blackwell spent last spring break at the beach, his on the shores of Panama City Beach, Fla., indulging in “too much drinking” and partying with hundreds of other students into the early morning.
This year, Blackwell, a junior at Howard University, was getting soaked Monday by a chilly Flint rain as he and a dozen other Howard students manned the corner of Fifth and Martin Luther King avenues and helped residents struggling with the city’s water crises by loading cases of donated water into the backs of cars.
And as he placed water into the back of a crowded minivan, he smiled. “I’m not missing Florida,” the New Yorker said. “I can go anytime. That costs me money. I’m here for free, giving back.”
Blackwell, 20, and 45 Howard University students and advisors are in Flint as part of the school’s annual Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program, during which students forgo the fun and sun to help others.
Get Top Stories Delivered Weekly
More districtchronicles News Articles
- DCHFA funds first development project of FY 2017 in Deanwood
- Petworth uses Community Day to promote unity
- DCHFA names Yvette Downs chief financial officer
- Step Xplosion tour returns with FREE performances and workshops in all eight...
Recent districtchronicles News Articles
Discuss This Article
MOST POPULAR DISTRICTCHRONICLES

Religious groups to Obama: Dismantle immigration registry’s framework By Lauren Markoe, Religion News Service

Fidel Castro Is Dead By Frederick H. Lowe

Sharpton Announces D.C. March During MLK Weekend 2017 By Hazel Trice Edney
GET TOP STORIES DELIVERED WEEKLY
FOLLOW OUR NEWSPAPER
LATEST DISTRICTCHRONICLES NEWS
- DHCD Acts to Preserve 63 Affordable Housing Units in Wards 4 and 8
- Mayor Bowser releases housing report
- District Holds First-Ever State Diploma Commencement for Residents Who...
- Here are Six Black Republicans that Trump Should Be Talking to about Cabinet...
- County Launches Dementia Friendly Initiative
- County Seeks Volunteers to Work With Victims of Sexual Assault
- Empowering Kids to Combat the 'Trump Effect'
RECENT DISTRICTCHRONICLES CLASSIFIEDS
OUTSIDE THE LINES
- How Do We Know LASIK Is Safe?
- Building A Medicaid Bipartisan Bridge
- Footballer Jerry Rice Makes Big Play For Kidney Health
- Tips For Easy Snow Removal
- Thirty Years Of Perfect Harmony To Help Kids
- An IRS Incentive To Save For Retirement
- How To Wow The One Who Wows You
- Top Roofing Trends
- Living Better With Chronic Respiratory Diseases
- Prevent CO Poisoning
FROM AROUND THE WEB
- Online Conference Connects Global Startups and Investors
- Corporate Takeover Tale Offers Blueprint for Survival
- Women Say They're Ready to Put Their Money to Work for Them
- This Year, Rethink The Way You Plan a Vacation
- Fall in Love with UPtv's New Uplifting Series: Design Twins
- Pop the Question with the Perfect Song
- Post-Holiday Wake-up Call: Signs Senior Loved Ones May...
- New Year, New Goals: Tools to Get You Where You Want to Go
- How Self-Publishing Made This Author A Best-Seller
- Big Swings in The Market Haven't Dampened People's Optimism
COLLEGE PRESS RELEASES
- Enter the 2019 SVG/NACDA College Sports Media Awards Today!
- Cengage Offers College Students Free Access to Career Resources with Cengage Unlimited Subscription
- ACTA Launches HowCollegesSpendMoney.com
- Nikon Announces The Second Year Of The Nikon Storytellers Scholarship, Reaffirming Its Commitment To Education For The Next Generation of Creators
- New Survey: Demand for Uniquely Human Skills Increases Even as Technology and Automation Replace Some Jobs