She's no fairweather volunteer
Shalamar Fairweather started to volunteer with Young Ladies of Tomorrow in 2014.
“When I first began,” she said, “I would teach seminars and help students write narratives. Now we have fellows here and I am their supervisor.”
A native of Jamaica, Fairweather moved to the District a little more than a year ago. Now, she is an advocate for volunteer engagement.
“I think everyone needs to give back to their community," she said. "It’s really fulfilling. And you can gain a lot of skills from volunteering. My public speaking skills have increased since I started here. Plus, I have doubled up on my management skills.”
Stephanie Oboite and Sasha Bruce of The College of Dentistry at Howard University deliver a presentation on how to maintain good oral health./Photo courtesy of Young Ladies of Tomorrow
YLOT offers numerous opportunities to volunteer—either working directly with the young ladies—or working behind the scenes. Here are a few opportunities:
1. Love one-on-one interactions? Become a tutor!
2. Enjoy engaging with small groups? Facilitate a workshop or become a mentor.
3. Have extra space? Host a field trip or support an internship for a YLOT participant.
Young Ladies of Tomorrow work with DC Central Kitchen/Photo from DC Central Kitchen
About the Author: Chanté Griffin, an Older Lady of Tomorrow, is a writer and edu-tainer. You can catch her online at www.yougochante.com and @yougochante.