Contact: Jessie Grosshart jessie@oneworldeducation.org 417-413-6707

Volunteer description: Do you have a knack for writing and a passion for helping others? Volunteer with One World Education to mentor middle and high school students as refine argumentative essays for publication!

Join us for session two, February 6th, of our seven week Challenge Academy, where students will transform written argumentative essays into oral presentations and refine them for publication. At the culmination of our Challenge Academy, students will compete in our annual Ambassador Challenge on March 20th for college scholarships.

Your guidance as a mentor will be invaluable to students during this session!

Date: February 6 Time: 4:00-7pm

Location: Columbia Heights Community Center 1480 Girard St NW, Washington, DC 20009 

Mission First Housing Group ensures quality services to its residents through its affiliate, Columbus Property Manamgement. The Resident Services Department operates to fill service gaps in a community, connecting residents to the needs they may have. Mission First Housing Group develops and manages affordable and sustainable housing for people, with vulnerable populations in mind.

 Mr. Patrick Williams, MSW; (202) 817-7510; pwilliams@columbuspm.org

Volunteer description: At one of our Section 8 properties, Golden Rule Apartments, Resident Services just launched a new program called Homework Club that provides a safe place for children after school where they can complete their homework. We are looking for volunteers to help out with this new program held every Wednesday from 3:30-5:00pm at Golden Rule Apartments (901 New Jersey Ave. NW), only a few blocks from Union Station.

Special skills required: Must be able to engage with children (K-8) and help them with homework. Background check is required. 

A Wider Circle is a non-profit organization with a mission to help one individual and one family after another to rise out of poverty. We work in partnership with those we serve and with those seeking to help to ensure that every child and adult has the chance to succeed and the opportunity to live well. A Wider Circle's holistic approach integrates individual and community level interventions, focusing on workforce development, neighborhood revitalization, wraparound support, restorative health services, and the provision of basic need items.

Point of contact name, phone number, and email: Rachael Buck, 301-608-3504, rachael@awidercircle.org

Volunteer description: Looking for student volunteers to stock and organize donations and assist clients in selecting items. This is a great opportunity for groups of all sizes! We are also seeking volunteers to join our truck team and pick up donations for the Basic Needs program throughout the region! Truck team volunteers must be 18 years old, strong enough to carry half of a sleeper sofa, which we know many of you can do, and able to commit to a full day of volunteering! Opportunities are available Monday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. and Sunday 11:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.

Special skills required: For some opportunities, volunteers must be able to lift and transport furniture.

The family engagement committee of the FTA functions to engage ALL families because engaged families normally mean better outcomes for students. We have a very diverse student body and host low cost/free monthly events to get parents/students involved.

Contact: Nakita Miller 703-656-6705 nakitanmiller@gmail.com

Volunteer description: Hosting a family dance party with DJ. January 20. 1-3 pm. Volunteers would be needed as early as 11am for set up and as late as 5pm for clean up.

Special skills required: Looking for anyone who wants to have a good time with the children. Ages Pk3-5th grade. People to man food/drink tables. Help with set up/clean up. Dancers. Anyone who wants to lead a small activity station like face painting, glam station, play doh, large blocks, cake walk, freeze dance, musical chairs, DIY photo booth with props, etc. 

Washington Parks & People, a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization, is the capital's hub for activating public lands & waters for broad community revitalization - through partnerships, innovation, discovery, and workforce development. Our mission is to grow city-wide park-based community health and vitality by nurturing innovation and partnerships. Parks & People began 25 years ago in Meridian Hill/Malcom X Park, founded by a range of community and parks leaders and organizations. We led the transformation of the single most violent park in the capital region into one of its safest. Today, we lead greening initiatives across the city - massive land reclamation, native reforestation, watershed restoration, public health and fitness programming, urban agriculture, and green job training - to help revitalize our parks and work for justice alongside our local communities.

Contact Hannah Moore 910-258-2420 hannah.moore@washingtonparks.net

Volunteer description: Washington Parks & People is a great way to get outside and give back to your community and its parks! Parks & People is perfect for any size group or individual looking for a great day of service whether it's tree planting, getting your hands dirty in either of our two urban farms, or cleaning up our DC parks. Our service opportunities vary with the seasons so contact Parks & People to see what projects we have available!

Special skills required: Love of the outdoors! 

The Youth Leadership Foundation (YLF) builds character among youth in our Nation's Capital. Our signature programs - the Program for Academic & Leadership Skills (PALS) for young women and the Tenley Achievement Program (TAP) for young men - train young professionals and college-aged men and women to mentor 3rd-8th graders throughout the school-year.

Contact: Amanda Tindall (Director, PALS) atindall@helpingkids.org 202-697-3003

Wilfred Thomas (Director, TAP) wthomas@helpingkids.org 202-494-3140

Volunteer description: YLF is seeking volunteers to work with 3rd-8th grade kids after school. Commitment level: 2-4 hours/week. Programs between 3 & 6pm, 1-2x/week

Duties: Volunteers tutor, mentor, and lead extracurricular activities for students. Extracurricular activities include chess and sports.

Locations: St. Anthony Catholic School - 3400 12th St. NE, Washington, D.C. St. Augustine Catholic School - 1421 V St. NW, Washington, D.C. Highland Park Academy - 6801 Sheriff Rd. Hyattsville, MD Washington School for Girls - 1901 Mississippi Ave SE, Washington, DC 

We are an education campus with kids Pre-K through 8th grade. Our school is STEM focused, since we want to prepare our students for careers in the ever-changing 21st century!

Contact: Catalina Carbonell catalina.carbonell@dc.gov 786-614-4264

Volunteer description: We need help with: class support, after school clubs/programs, front office, and special events! 

The mission of the Latino Student Fund (LSF) is to provide opportunities for a strong academic foundation for underserved PreK-12th grade students of Hispanic descent to promote higher education and professional leadership. We support students and their families through scholarships, academic support services and informational outreach.

Lauren Rice, 202-244-3438, lrice@latinostudentfund.org

Tutor PreK-12 grade Latino students in English and Math and help them graduate high school! Tutoring takes place every Saturday 9:30am-12pm from October-June at Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School in Takoma Park, MD. Opportunities are also available to help with adult English and computer classes.

Special skills required: Spanish is helpful but not required. 

Washington English Center is a non-profit, community based program that offers excellent and affordable English language classes and other educational programs to adult immigrants using volunteer teachers.

Elizabeth Madjlesi, 202-387-0023 Email: emadjlesi@washingtonenglish.org

We are currently recruiting volunteer English teachers for the Fall 2016 term, which begins September 19th and runs through December 11th. Students come to class multiple times a week, but the volunteer commitment is only once a week.

We use a unique co-teaching method to provide new volunteers with the support needed throughout the semester. It provides the course syllabus, textbook, and hands-on guidance. For more information, please visit www.washingtonenglish.org/volunteers/ OR email, call, or stop by the volunteer office on California Street, near the Dupont circle Metro. Special skills required: Interest in teaching, cross-cultural exchange, and languages. No previous teaching experience required. No second language required. Classes are taught in English. Textbook, training, and class syllabus provided. 

Leveling The Playing Field is a 501(c)3 organization that collects new and gently used sporting equipment and donates the items back out to schools and programs that serve underprivileged kids. We believe that all kids deserve the chance to participate in sports, regardless of their socioeconomic background.

Maitlyn Healy; 301-844-5622; maitlyn@levelingtheplayingfield.org

Volunteer description: LPF is always in need of volunteers to help sort and organize equipment donations throughout our 4,000 square foot warehouse.

Special skills required: No special skills are required, but a general knowledge of sports equipment is helpful. 

Age-In-Place® (AIP) provides free yard work and house cleaning to older adults over the age of 60 in wards 4, 5, and 6 of Washington, DC to help ensure they can remain safe and independent in their homes.

Alex Watt, 202-635-9384 ext.108, ageinplace@seaburyresources.org

Volunteer description: AIP volunteers will go to client homes and complete tasks including: Yard work (weather permitting) - lawn mowing, hedge trimming, raking leaves, and making sure that there are clear pathways from the door to the sidewalk.

House cleaning - making sure food preparation areas are clean, that bathrooms are tidy, and that the client has clear walkways from room to room. For more information click here visit our website.

SOUL (Students-Athletes Organized to Understand Leadership) is a sports-based youth development program that collaborates with DC Public Schools and other community-based organizations to provide academic, athletic, and professional enrichment opportunities for undeserved DC youth.

Yun Simpson, 484-597-1016, vista@american.edu

Volunteer description: SOUL is looking for tutors/mentors for CASH (College Access Study Hall) at Luke C. Moore High School. Tutors would assist high school students in completing homework in addition to providing guidance for college applications, scholarships, financial aid, etc… Tutors would need to be willing to make a weekly commitment for at least one semester but two would be preferable. Please email volunteer@soulprograms.org for more information. 

Special skills required: Patience and regular attendance! 

Our mission is to help at-risk youth recover from trauma. We provide a text-messaging service that helps youth build positive coping skills for managing traumatic and chronic stress.

Alina Liao, (408) 892-9219, alina@getmindright.org

Volunteer description: Your role is at the core of what we do. We are looking for volunteers to deliver our text-messaging service that provides at-risk youth with personalized tips for managing stress and overcoming adversity. The content is grounded in evidence-based practices for managing traumatic and chronic stress, including cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance commitment therapy, and mindfulness-based stress reduction. Everyday, coaches text students following our structured conversation flow. This involves asking students how they are feeling, asking or eliciting what thoughts are driving their feelings, classifying students into appropriate emotional states, and selecting strategies to send. Sending messages involves light customization of pre-canned content. coaches need to show empathy while maintaining a neutral tone and using non-clinical language.

Texting is conducted over our web platform. Coaches receive in-depth training on using our platform and protocols for coach-student interaction, language, content selection, and crisis/suicide response. Special skills required: 1+ year of experience working with youth from disadvantaged backgrounds who have/had emotional/behavioral, mental health, or substance abuse challenges or equivalent previous experience. Either volunteer or professional work is acceptable.

Ability to interact with youth in a strengths-based way Highly organized. You will be conducting conversations with 10-20 students per shift Demonstrated ability to synthesize information and learn on the fly.

Special skills needed: Effective time management skills and the ability to work semi-independently.

Academy of Hope is an adult public charter school in Washington D.C., offering excellence in adult education since 1985. Our mission is to provide high quality education and services that change lives and improve our communities. At Academy of Hope, students become part of a learning community where everyone is valued, adds value and is both a teacher and a learner. Our curriculum is experiential and focuses on life skills, which means that students can immediately begin applying what they’re learning to their own lives—and reap the benefits.

Meredith O'Connell, 202-269-6623 ext 142, meredith@aohdc.org

Volunteer description: Passion for social justice is a must. An interest in education or teaching would be helpful. Volunteer must be comfortable tutoring students their age or older.

Special skills required: Volunteers must have a basic understand and knowledge of math, science, reading, and writing. These four subjects are what the volunteers will be tutoring the learners in. 

The Raising a Village Foundation (RAV) is an independent non-profit organization, committed to providing high-quality intervention programs and community resources to children, youth, and families in the areas of education, health and wellness, and the arts.

Jaleesa Hall, 202.810.1668, raisingavillageinc@gmail.com

Volunteer description: Raising a Village Foundation launches its new education initiative Driven 2 Succeed. Driven 2 Succeed is a youth-development organization for elementary school students that provides support in the areas of academia, social emotional learning, and college and career preparedness.

We are looking for mentors/tutors to help students complete their homework in reading, writing, and math. Tutoring takes place every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4:00pm-6:00pm from September-June at the Hughes Memorial Community Center in Washington, D.C.

Special skills required: Performing and visual arts, public speaking, digital or social media, etc. 

The YMCA DC Youth & Government program empowers youth to become ethical leaders and responsible citizens through training in the theory and practice of making public policy. Over the course of a school year, high school students from across the greater metropolitan Washington area learn invaluable skills that they can use to improve their communities for years to come. Students learn parliamentary procedure, public speaking skills, and develop their own solutions to community challenges. Acting as a mayor, council members, committee members, board of education members, and the press, students debate and pass laws that they think can solve the District of Columbia’s problems.

Dana Rodriguez, (202) 400-0570, dana.rodriguez@ymcadc.org

Volunteer description:

1. Adopt a Delegation: Delegation volunteers regularly attend delegation meetings to assist students with bill research and writing as well as teaching students how to debate using parliamentary procedures. Delegation volunteers prepare students for the Youth Summit and Legislative Weekend conferences and attend the conferences, if possible. Delegation volunteers also help delegations fundraise to cover the Youth Summit and Legislative Weekend registration fees. Finally, delegation volunteers are asked to serve as mentors to the students in the programs and to encourage students to incorporate the YMCA’s core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility into their lives.

2. Monthly Speaker Series: Each year, the program’s Student Advisory Board sponsors a Monthly Speaker Series. Guest speakers share information with students on a variety of topics. Past guest speakers have discussed college preparation and college life, leadership skills, how to read and understand the District of Columbia’s budget, job skills, and many more.

3. Bill Writing Workshop: Each spring, the program hosts a Bill Writing Workshop for all student participants. During the workshop, volunteers assist students with developing a bill topic, researching the topic, and writing the bill. Students’ bills cover a variety of topics including education, transportation, health, environment, and many more.

4. Youth Summit: Volunteers assist with all conference components, which includes registering students, assisting students with finding the appropriate rooms, ensuring students receive breakfast and lunch, setting up and breaking down rooms, and various other tasks. Volunteers are also needed to help the student leaders lead the bill writing and parliamentary procedure workshops.

5. Legislative Weekend: Volunteers assist with all conference components, which includes registering students, assisting students with finding the appropriate rooms, ensuring students receive breakfast and lunch, setting up and breaking down rooms, and various other tasks. Volunteers are also needed to monitor committee rooms and support the student leaders to ensure the conference runs smoothly. 

Don Bosco Cristo Rey High School and Corporate Work Study Program is a Catholic college-preparatory school for young women and men from the Washington, D.C. area who have the need and the motivation to help earn their own tuition through an innovative Corporate Work Study program. We have just celebrated our 10th anniversary! As we continue to grow our program, we need diverse talents from our community in order to more fully serve our students for the opportunities ahead of them.

Regina Saravia, rsaravia@dbcr.org, (301) 891-4750 ext. 174

Volunteer description: Volunteers have a special place at DBCR. We strive to build mutually beneficial relationships between volunteers and students, and invite you to become part of our mission by volunteering your time and talents to help our students. Whether you want to work one-on-one with students at the school or lend your business experience to the Corporate Work Study Program, there are myriad opportunities available to become part of our Wolfpack family: Afterschool Tutoring; Reading/Writing Support; Athletic Coaching; Club Moderating; Visual/Performing Arts; College Counseling; Corporate Work-Study; Youth Ministry; Career Exploration/Mentoring; Development Special skills required: interest in working with students from diverse backgrounds and low-income families; patience; dependability.

Community of Hope creates opportunities for low-income families in Washington, DC, including those experiencing homelessness, to achieve good health, a stable home, family-sustaining income, and hope. Lauren Cranman, 202.407.7757

Volunteer description: Volunteers are needed to spend time with children in our housing sites and health centers. Create art projects, read books, be imaginative, play games, and have fun! Our housing sites are in Columbia Heights and Southeast DC, and our health center is in Southwest DC. 

District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH) is an innovator in providing access to safe housing and services to survivors of domestic violence and sexual violence and their families as they rebuild their lives on their own terms.

Marla Coyoy, 202-462-3274 x227, mcoyoy@dashdc.org

Volunteer description: DASH is looking for passionate and dedicated Art Group volunteers to help assist in our weekly art group program. Beth of the Arcade leads weekly Children’s Art Group. This is one of the kid’s favorite programs where they are able to unleash their creativity by painting, making masks and creating Andy Warhol inspired art. Volunteers engage the children, help maintain the peace and create their own art.

Special skills required: Help DASH kids complete weekly art projects. Attend Art Group every Tuesday - some exceptions allowed. Help maintain an orderly, safe space for the kids. 

The mission of the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project is to nurture healthy child development and reduce the effects of trauma among children living in temporary housing programs in Washington, D.C. We seek to create a city that provides every opportunity for children in families experiencing homelessness to succeed by ensuring consistent opportunities to play and learn, offering support services for families, and advocating for affordable housing and safe shelter.

Deborah Sherman, 202-329-4481, deborah@playtimeproject.org

Volunteer description: Play Ranger volunteers (highest need!): Volunteers with the Homeless Children's Playtime Project engage youth in trauma-informed play programming on weekday evenings. We serve youth ages 6 months - 18 years old, so there are opportunities to work with youth of any age! Playtime Project implements play-based programming at four family shelters/transitional housing facilities in Washington, DC.

Volunteers support program functions at one of these sites one weekday evening per week (2 hours) for a minimum of 6 months. Volunteers must first attend a training, and then complete our application and background check process. Click here to learn more.