Critical Exposure - Photographer

Help in the classroom. This is the trickiest role to coordinate, because there are limited opportunities for us to bring volunteers into the schools where we work, but we do try to engage skilled photographers in helping lead photo walks, work with students on photography basics, share professional experiences, and more.


Donate your work to our annual photo auction. The auction takes place in October and is our major fundraiser of the year. You can donate a print (framed, if possible) to help us raise money to continue providing photography and leadership training to our students. (Please know that there's a chance that we might not be able to include the image in the auction -- photographers have been so generous that we sometimes have too many!)


Take photos of our events and classes. We regularly have events that we need to document, and we like to give our students and staff a reprieve from shooting in order to talk to people about their work. If you're able to attend events or occasional classes and capture images of our programs in action, that's incredibly helpful. Does this sound like your wheelhouse? Join the "Volunteer: Photographer" group!

 

Best Kids, Inc. - Mentors

BEST Kids, Inc. seeks mentors

Requirements: 

1) Be a positive adult role model and commit to your mentoring relationship for at least one year.

2) See your mentee for ten hours a month, with some form of weekly contact with your mentee. Weekly contact can consist of face-to-face meetings, phone calls, emails, or postcards. However, the majority of those hours must be face-to-face.

3) Attend BEST Kids Peer Groups every 2nd Saturday of the month with your mentee. These are fun, free and organized specifically for the mentors and mentees in our four age appropriate groups. Each group meets together for an educational and enrichment opportunity. It is a great support network for the mentors and the youth are able to build friendships with other youth in similar life situations.

Some of our recent Peer Groups include: Arts/Improv Workshops, Sporting Events, Museum Scavenger Hunts, Career Workshops, Kayaking on the Anacostia, etc. 4) Complete the background check and clearance process within 8 weeks. Please review our website for specifics on the clearance process: 5) Attend a match meeting with your mentee and the closure meeting when your commitment ends. 6) Complete a simple online monthly report about your mentoring relationship.

Volunteers must: Be 21 years old or older; Be living in the DC area long enough to fulfill your 1 year commitment; Have access to a reliable vehicle; either you own a car or have a subscription to Zipcar, etc; Have a clean driving record and clean criminal background record

Contact: Danny Silbert, daniel@bestkids.org

AHC Inc. - Tutors

AHC is a nonprofit developer of affordable housing in the mid-Atlantic region that provides quality homes for low- and moderate-income families. Created in 1975, AHC has developed 38 properties with more than 4,400 affordable apartments. Our Resident Services department, initiated more than 20 years ago, is helping build stronger futures for more than 2,000 children, youth and adults who live in our affordable housing communities through education programs, community partnerships and local services.

AHCs Teen Tutoring Program offers teens resources for helping them with school work, guidance on how to succeed in high school, and making plans for their future beyond high school. Through participation in our program, teens learn to set high expectations for their academic performance and learn the skills necessary for academic achievement. The staff and volunteer tutors who facilitate our programs provide vital support through one-on-one mentoring and coaching. The first day of programming is September 21st and the last day is June 4th. We follow the Arlington Public School schedule and do not have programming on school off days and vacations. Programming is Monday-Thursday from 6 - 8 p.m. and volunteers are needed for one hour once or multiple times a week.

We need assistance at the following community centers:

1. Fort Henry - 2470 S. Lowell Street, Arlington, VA 22204
2. Harvey Hall - 850 S. Greenbrier St., Arlington, VA 22204
3. Virginia Gardens - 1712 S. Taylor St., Arlington, VA 22204
4. Rinker at Gates of Ballston - 4108 4th St. N, Arlington, VA 22203
5. The Berkeley - 2910 S. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22206
6. Woodbury Park/The Frederick - 2230 N. Fairfax Dr., Arlington, VA 22201

Contact: Cindy Rozon, rozon@ahcinc.org


Reading Partners - Tutors

Can you share just one hour each week with a student who is struggling to read? By becoming a reading partner and volunteering as little as one hour a week, you can help a child learn to read. We provide an easy to use curriculum and on-site staff support to enable volunteers to be effective tutors. You bring your commitment and we’ll help you with everything else. Eighty-seven percent of fourth graders from low-income families in our nation’s capital do not read proficiently. Devoting just one hour each week to a student can make a tremendous impact. Last year, 95 percent of Reading Partners’ DC students improved their rate of learning in reading, and 86% narrowed their achievement gap.

We work in 18 schools across DC. You can see a map of our school sites here: http://bit.ly/1KuqrWl. Volunteer hours are available from around 8:30 to 5:30, depending on the school site. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old and pass a background check. Contact: Rachel Woods, rachel.woods@readingpartners.org



826DC - Literacy Supporters

Volunteers helped us support more than 4,400 students between the ages of 6-18 in the District of Columbia in 2014 and 2015. Volunteers create and lead or support writing workshops; mentor students in writing and literacy; support publishing projects and book releases; provide small group homework help; guide children through story creation; illustrate stories; and spread the word in our storefront, the Museum of Unnatural History. All volunteers must be 18 or older and complete a background check in order to work directly with our students.

Contact: Paige Deckelbaum, paige@826dc.org

The Black Swan Academy - Mentors

We are seeking passionate mentors, who are committed to encouraging and assisting students to develop his/her full potential. Mentors assist in the implementation of the curriculum; including planning/participating in community service activities and advocacy efforts. Most importantly counselors are expected to be positive role models to the youth. This position is not paid, however a transportation stipend may be offered. Mentors are expected to attend required trainings and one to two times per week, 3-6 hours per week (3:30-6:30 p.m.).

Requirements: Experience working with youth; Interest in Social Justice and Black History; Sensitivity to people of diverse educational, ethnic, and economic backgrounds; Interest/Background in Social work, Education or Public Policy preferred; All volunteers MUST secure DCPS clearances.

Contact: Samantha Davis, sdavis@blackswanacademy.org