Join the FOCUS Public Charter Leadership Council and Earn Community Service Hours!

Friends of Choice in Urban Schools (FOCUS) is forming a Youth Leadership Council to help public charter students get involved in their advocacy efforts.  FOCUS invites ALL 6^th – 12^th grade D.C. public charter school students to apply to the DC Public Charter Youth Leadership Council!

The D.C. Public Charter Youth Leadership Council Members will meet with other public charter student leaders several times a year for advocacy training, hands-on outreach efforts, and to share their ideas with FOCUS about needs in the charter student community. PCYLC members will also act as youth advocates for D.C. public charter schools, with monthly opportunities to speak to public officials.

So what’s in it for you?  To start, an impressive leadership and community service experience to put on your resume, one that will come in handy when filling out college applications.  Plus, given the opportunities to speak to the Mayor and the D.C. Council directly, serving on the Public Charter Youth Leadership Council will improve your public speaking and advocacy skills.  Most importantly, this is YOUR chance to engage with your community and have your ideas be heard! 

To apply, prospective applicants must submit an application and a 300-500-word essay discussing the qualities that a good leader should possess. The selection committee will make their decisions based on experience, community involvement, school engagement, and demonstrated leadership. The application is due February 6, 2012.

Please contact Danielle Shields or Whitney Stovall at 202 387-0405 or by email at dshields@focusdc.org or wstovall@focusdc.org to acquire application materials and to ask any questions you may have. 

Need an application? Stop by the Programs Office TODAY and pick one up!

Volunteer with the National Park Service: The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site

Volunteer with a site just a few blocks away from Thurgood Marshall Academy--the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site!



The Frederick Douglass National Historic Site honors Frederick Douglass' life and accomplishments. Douglass freed himself from slavery and helped to free millions of others. After the Civil War Douglass moved to Washington, DC to serve in international affairs, in the Council of Government for the District of Columbia, and as US Marshal for the District. In 1877 he purchased his home, which he named Cedar Hill and later became the location of the Frederick Douglass National Historic Site.

To find out more information:

1) Attend the Site's Volunteer Open House on February 5th, 2012, from 2-4pm (to sign up, call Ranger Christopher Jackson at 202-426-5961)

2) Go to www.nps.gov/frdo

3) Check out the National Park Service's facebook page: www.facebook.com/FrederickDouglassNHS

Three Upcoming Volunteer Events with Washington, DC Jewish Community Center

The DC Jewish Community Center (JCC) has three upcoming volunteer events. To sign up for any of the events, visit the link below the description and click "Buy Tickets" at the bottom of the page. NOTE: You do not have to pay for any of these events (tickets cost $0); however, you should reserve a spot through the online sign up. Hunger Action at the 16th Street J - February 2, 2012 Washington DCJCC

Register to prepare food for the homeless on February 2 from 7:00-9:00 pm. Join MCCCS's most successful year-round program! Hunger Action prepares over 7,000 meals a year, at about 35 events annually. Join us as we mix, chop and create food for the homeless shelters in the DC area. It's a great and rewarding experience. 2-4 Hunger Action projects are held each month. Two of these are usually held at the Center. People of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to participate. No cooking experience needed. The food prepared though this program is donated to our year-round partner, DC Central Kitchen. Sign up here. Emery Shelter Visit - February 12, 2012 Washington DCJCC Dear Volunteer, Make a difference in the lives of the homeless. If you know how to play cards, chess, checkers or backgammon, your gamesmanship will be valued. Play a game or simply visit with the men staying in this shelter in Northeast DC. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds are encouraged to participate. Volunteers will meet at the 16th Street J and travel together to Emery Shelter.                Date: Sunday, February 12, 2012 Time: 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM If you'd like to attend this event you can RSVP online here. Handmade for the Homeless - February 29, 2012 Washington DCJCC    Each year for the MCCCS December 25th Day of Service (D25), we gift wrap hats, scarves, socks and slippers for the homeless in the Washington DC community. THE GROUP MADE OVER 300 ITEMS IN 2011!! Join fellow knitters and crocheters to make handmade goodies for a great cause!  Whether you're an experienced knitter or crocheter or just interested in learning, we hope you'll join us at a Handmade for the Homeless!  Our goal is to contribute as many warm winter items as possible to distribute as gifts at D25. We know December is still months away but we want to start off the year on a warm note! December 25th seems far away but it will be here before we know it. We hope you will help add to our collection. What Should I Bring? Please bring your own needles/crochet hooks.  All levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome.  Don't know how to knit or crochet? We'll teach you! If you are not already working on a warm winter item and are looking for a great project or just starting out, please bring: #8 or #10 knitting needles (circular or straight) or a size H crochet hook at least 6 oz of any color(s) "worsted weight" yarn Patterns can be provided. Additional hat patterns using #17 needles or a size N crochet hook are also available. If you have questions about this event please contact Sheryl at sherlinov@gmail.com. If you can't join us in person, join us in spirit by knitting or crocheting: Hats Scarves Gloves and Mittens Socks or slippers Other items to keep people warm and toasty in the cold winter months Knitted and other donations can be brought to the 16th Street J. Contact Erica Steen at ericas@washingtondcjcc.org to make arrangements. Thank you! Date: Wednesday, February 29, 2012 Time: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM Sign up here.

Tutor a Student in Reading: Reading Partners

Did you know that a child's third grade reading scores can predict with 70% accuracy the likelihood they will graduate from high school?




Help a student in an elementary school near TMA by tutoring them in reading. Not sure you can tutor? Not to worry! Reading Partners uses a structured and easy-to-follow curriculum.

With just 1 hour a week, you can make a huge difference in the lives of children who have fallen behind in reading and are at risk of falling further.

Volunteers are, in turn, supported at all times by Reading Partners school site coordinators and staff.

Reading Partners is recruiting for the 2011 - 2012 school year.

Pick any 1-hour time slot that's convenient for you between 9am and 5pm, Monday through Thursday (you are welcome to help more if able).

For more information, and to sign up, go to https://www.readingpartners.org/volunteer/washington-dc-volunteer-form.

Note: You must be at least 14 years old to volunteer with Reading Partners. 

Community Service Workshop THIS Thursday!!!

Looking for creative ways to earn your community service hours? Trying to figure out how the Community Service Guide works?

You should come to the Community Service Workshop in the Library this Thursday, January 26^th, from 12pm to 2pm!

Stop by the library to search for community service opportunities, get help applying for volunteer positions, pick up community service forms, eat delicious snacks, and win PRIZES!

More Reasons to Volunteer (Scholarships, Work Study, Resume-Building)

Thurgood Marshall Academy Programs Staff recently ran across an article that may be of interest to TMA Seniors and Juniors: FinAid's Scholarships for Volunteering and Community Service. In brief, the article states that high school students who have 100+ hours of community service have a competitive edge over those who don't volunteer: they're eligible for more scholarships and work-study programs while they attend college, and their resumes look stronger to potential employers, both during and after college. Although these findings may not be news to many college-savvy TMA students, the article serves as a good reminder that completing your community service requirement can help you get into college (and help you afford it!).

The article also contains a short list of scholarships that reward students for their community service, so if there are any seniors out there looking for more money to pay for college, check out this article and the more comprehensive list on the Fastweb database!

Volunteer Opportunities in D.C. Public Schools

D.C. Public Schools have many opportunities for high school student volunteers! Coach a sports team, tutor students after school, work in after school programs, and more, all while earning community service hours! 

1. Athletic Coaches – M.C Terrell Elementary School
Coaches for various sports are needed. Time commitment: 5:00-6:15 p.m., daily. High school student volunteers are welcome. Community service hours are available.
Contact: Mecye M. Boddie, OST (After School Coordinator)
202-645-3740 (office),  216-856-0808 (cel), mecye.boddie[at]dc.gov 

2. Afterschool Volunteer Opportunities – Various Locations

Volunteers are needed to work directly with DCPS students during afterschool programs in the following areas

• Academics (one-on-one mentoring and/or tutoring in all core subjects for elementary, middle, and high school students)
• Arts and Culture (drama, theater, music, painting, any other form of arts and crafts; multicultural activities, current events/journalism, photography)
• Wellness and fitness (nutrition, healthy eating habits, healthy relationships, personal development, sports, teamwork, physical activity)

High School Student volunteers are welcome. Community service hours are available. Please contact directly the afterschool coordinator for the below schools.
Click here for school addresses: https://octo.quickbase.com/db/begjewdfy?act=API_GenResultsTable&qid=119

• Garfield ES, Rasheedah Franklin, rasheedah.franklin2@dc.gov
• Eliot-Hines MS, Rodney Fuller, fbrenda1@aol.com
• Emery ES, Amenemhet Ashenafi, amenemhet.ashenafi@dc.gov
• Winston EC, Kanishea Spencer, kanishea.spencer@dc.gov
• Deal MS, Margaret Berkey, margaret.berkey@dc.gov
• River Terrace ES, Tim Weedon, tim.weedon@dc.gov
• Randle-Highland ES, Roberta Felder, roberta.felder@dc.gov
• Brent ES, Vanity Nobles, vanity.nobles@dc.gov
• Hendley ES, Thomas Mitchell, tamitchII@verizon.net
• Plummer ES, Keona Allen, keona.allen@dc.gov
• Shaed ES, Paul Jeffries, mrpauljeffries@gmail.com
• Whittier ES, Dana Torrence, dana.torrence@dc.gov

3. Afterschool Volunteers – CW Harris ES
CW Harris needs three volunteers to work with students in grades K-5. This is an ongoing opportunity and requires 2 or more days a week commitment. High School Student volunteers are welcome. Community service hours are available.
Volunteer times: M-F, 3:15 – 6:15 pm
Location: CW Harris ES, 301 53rd St. SE
Contact: Jana Jones, Afterschool Coordinator,  jana.jones@dc.gov, (202) 645-6767

4. Afterschool Volunteers –Moten ES
Creatively Developing Abilities (CDA) Outreach needs volunteers for the afterschool program for Moten ES @ Wilkinson, Drew ES and Simon ES.  Servsafe certification holders needed also, if you have one please let us know.  High School Student volunteers are welcome. Community service hours are available.
Volunteer times: afterschool hours
Location: Moten ES @ Wilkinson (2330 Pomeroy Rd. SE), Drew ES (5600 Eads St. NE) and  Simon ES (401 Mississippi Ave. SE)
Contact: C. Simms at 202-641-4410, csimms@cdaoutreach.org

History Buffs: Volunteer at the National Archives!

 Develop your love of history, learn about archival work, and become a member of the National Archives Volunteer Association that sponsors enjoyable and educational activities. You can help the National Archives accomplish its mission by assisting archivists with archival projects behind the scenes or by giving tours or assisting at public programs. Opportunities abound at our historic building in Washington, DC, as well as at the modern facility in College Park, Maryland.

Our diverse corps of volunteers ranges from high school seniors to retired seniors. They value being actively engaged in learning, giving, researching, and teaching. Volunteers at the National Archives say that they come to volunteer because they enjoy history, but they stay because of the friends they make.

Join the National Archives Volunteer Crew!

• What are the Benefits?
• What is Required?
• Is there Training?
• How do I Get Started? 

Note: you must be 16 years old or older to volunteer at the National Archives.

What are the Benefits?

Volunteers enjoy numerous benefits at the National Archives:

• Easy access to the exhibits at the National Archives Experience
• Regular continuing educational opportunities, such as guest speakers, film series, and field trips
• Monthly informative newsletter, The Columns
• Membership in the National Archives Volunteer Association and its monthly programs
• Annual recognition events
• Instruction in museum education, processing and reference services, preservation practices, and electronic records
• Social gatherings, such as quarterly lunches at nearby restaurants and ice cream events
• Discounts at the gift shop
• Working and socializing with a diverse and fun group of people who have a passion for history
  

 

What is Required to Volunteer at the National Archives?

Whether you are a retired federal employee with professional expertise, a student seeking to build your resume, or someone active in the workforce looking for something rewarding to do, volunteering at the National Archives requires the following:

• Attention to detail
• Knowledge of, and interest in, U.S. political and social history
• Ability to work collaboratively with NARA staff and fellow volunteers to achieve organizational goals
• Commitment to lifelong learning, demonstrated by initiative in pursuing additional historical knowledge, and a willingness to participate in training or retraining when needed.
  

 

How to Become a NARA Volunteer

If you are 16 and older and decide to become a volunteer, you can expect to go through the following process:

1. Complete a volunteer application
2. Participate in an interview with the volunteer program coordinator
3. Attend a 16-hour volunteer orientation course over 4 days
4. Complete an online personal and professional history form for a background check
5. Provide two forms of ID in order to obtain a NARA badge and access card

Once new volunteers receive a NARA badge, they may review Project Staffing Worksheets that describe available projects. The volunteer program coordinator also attempts to match volunteers with available projects, and recommends the volunteer to a supervisor. After the volunteer, project supervisor, and volunteer program coordinator meet, and if they agree the match is a good one, supervisors will provide specific instructions for the project.

 

How to Get Started

Select a location at which you'd like to volunteer:

• Washington, DC
• College Park, MD

Community Clean up Opportunity in Congress Heights

Save the Date!

Help the Congress Heights Community Association clean up Shepherd Parkway on March 17^th!

The Community Association has been working hard to clean up and restore Shepherd Parkway. 

The wooded areas of Shepherd Parkway are among the most neglected in Washington, DC. No trails offer access to the forest, and no signs mark it as a national park. Where the park meets the residential streets, there are few benches or trash cans and no picnic tables or other facilities commonly found on national parkland in the western part of the city. 

For more information, check out the Shepherd Parkway website here.

To sign up for the cleanup, or to help out at another time, contact Nathan Harrington at 301-758-5892, or by email at nbharrington@yahoo.com

Questions? See Ms. Boehle-Silva in Programs!

Volunteer in the Community for MLK Day 2012

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"

The MLK Holiday is a great time to reflect on and live out Dr. King's legacy by volunteering with service projects all over the DC metro area. There are over 40 MLK Day-themed opportunities to serve the community this weekend, and you can find one that fits your interests through these search engines: 

 VolunteerMatch.org's MLK Day of Service 2012 page: http://www.volunteermatch.org

MLKDay.gov's list of registered volunteer opportunities: http://www.allforgood.org

Many of the listed opportunities are now closed, but have some available slots. Be sure to email or call the program coordinators to make sure they can accommodate you!

Help Us Help Cats in the DC Metro Area: Alley Cat Allies

In the Washington, DC area, Alley Cat Allies is raising awareness and educating the community about outdoor cats, feral cat colony care, Trap-Neuter-Return, and the importance of accessible, affordable neuter services through workshops, outreach, and organizing. Join them today! 

Opportunities include:     

• Put out flyers about Trap-Neuter-Return in your community
• Learn how to hold Trap-Neuter-Return workshops in your area
• Assist with general office work inluding filing, data entry, mailings, and special projects
• Help trap cats
• Help recover cats
• Help transport cats

Volunteers must be at least 16 years old. Apply today through Alley Cat Allies' Volunteer Match page, or check out their available opportunities on their Volunteer page.

Volunteer...WITH DOGS!!! Pet Harbor Rescue and Referral

What youth/ young adult doesn't love dogs?

Pet Harbor Rescue and Referral is an organization which rescues Siberian Huskies and cats from high kill shelters. As an organization, they foster and place abandoned Huskies and cats in new forever homes.
They are currently looking for volunteers within the ages of 14-25 to take part in their Youth and Youth Adult Program. This opportunity may consist of transporting, grooming, assisting with adoption events, and playing with dogs.

This program is located in Virginia, and some sites are metro-accessible.

To apply, visit Pet Harbor Rescue and Referral's Volunteer Match page, and click on "I Want to Help!" at the bottom left hand corner. Be sure to tell them you're looking for high school community service hours!

Youth 202 and Teen Library Helper Programs at DC Public Libraries

Teens & High School Community Service at the DC Public Library (ages 14 - 19) 

 

 

The DC Public Library system has two volunteer opportunities for high school students: 

 

Youth202 (MLK Teen Space Only)
Youth202 is the voice of DC's teens--created for youth, by youth. Learn radio production skills from the Radio Rootz crew, interview people in the community, and help keep other teens “in the know” about news, issues, events, programs, and anything else you think is important. Youth202 meets Mondays and Wednesdays from 4-6:30pm at the Martin Luther King Library's Teen Space, starting September 2011. Get community service hours, get a stipend, and join the movement! Click these links to learn more about the program and apply directly online, for Spring 2012.

Teen Library Helper (neighborhood libraries or Martin Luther King)
High school community service may be earned at a local library depending on project and supervisor ability.  You must be 14 or older, and can complete up to five service hours per week.  (We can't honor requests for lots of hours at the last minute, so please apply early!) 

To apply:

• Visit www.dclibrary.org/about/neighborhood to find the library closest to you
• Print and complete the High School Community Service Application & Permission Slip
• Return your application to staff at your local library

Before matching you to a project, staff may wish to interview you further about your skills and interests.

Contact Us

Can't find what you're looking for?  Call the volunteer program at 202-741-5803 or e-mail libraryvolunteers@dc.gov.

Help Provide Medical Care to DC's Homeless Population at Christ House

Christ House was the first 24-hour residential medical facilities for homeless men and women in the United States. Today, Christ House is still the only facility of its kind in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area where over 6,000 people experience homelessness every day.

The mission of Christ House is to provide comprehensive health care to sick, homeless men and women from the District of Columbia, and to assist them in addressing critical issues to help break the cycle of homelessness.

As volunteers at Christ House, students can work in many different departments and programs. Start by checking out their volunteer page (here). Then, download an application, fill it out, and either email it back to Christ House or ask someone in Programs to fax it to Christ House for you!
Questions? See Ms. Boehle-Silva.

Work with Elderly District Residents at Downtown Cluster's Geriatric Day Care Center

Ring in the new year with community service! If you're interested in working with Seniors, check out DC's Geriatric Day Care Center, a community resource for DC residents located at Mt. Vernon Place United Methodist Church.

The Day Care Center provides seniors with many services, including classes, group activities, meals, transportation, medical care, and therapy. Volunteers can work with one of the Center's many programs. To sign up, email  clustersdc@aol.com or complete this form on their website to learn more about available opportunities.