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Around Town 2/21-2/27

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We are excited to see some warmer weather coming our way (at least for a little bit!) and to share these great nonprofit events with the DC community! If you end up at one of these, let us know and share your experiences with us on Twitter or Facebook!

Friday, February 21, 2014

Community Sing at Washington Revels

Washington Revels
This month we celebrate the legacy of Pete Seeger. All are welcome to bring a song to share! Children’s songs: 6:30-7:15 All Ages sing: 7:15-8pm
When: Fri Feb 21 2014 (6:30 PM – 8:00 PM)
Where: Washington Revels, 531 Dale Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Fee? no
Contact: Kate McGhee, (301) 587-3835
For more information: click here

(Post) Valentine’s Day SWING Dance!

Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
Valentine’s Day has passed but the season of love is just getting started at Joe’s Movement Emporium. Join us this Friday for a Valentine’s Swing Dance! Your ticket gets you swing dance lessons, delicious desserts, and a complimentary glass of Love Potion No. 9 (alcohol-free and kid friendly)!
When: Fri Feb 21 2014 (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Fee? yes $15 for individuals; $25 per couple
Volunteer Info: Set up, clean up, assist with food, bartenders
Contact: www.joesmovement.org, (301) 699-1819
For more information: click here

Atlas INTERSECTIONS – Opening Day

Atlas Performing Arts Center
INTERSECTIONS is the Atlas signature annual festival featuring over 700 artists in 125 performances that celebrate the energy and diversity of artists and audiences from DC and beyond. INTERSECTIONS’ 5th Anniversary schedule runs from February 21st – March 8th
When: Fri Feb 21 2014 (7:30 PM)
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Fee? yes see website for details & packages
Volunteer Info: The Atlas provides volunteers a pass for two complimentary tickets upon completing a 5-hour volunteer shift. Typical volunteer positions include: Volunteer ushers scan tickets, distribute programs, direct patrons to their seats, and complete a light clean-up of the theatre following each performance. Lobby greeters are responsible for opening doors, welcoming patrons, handling box office questions, and directing patrons. Saturday volunteers may help with arts activities for families. Positions available Friday, Saturday, Sunday: Contact Kevin Stapornkul, kstapornkul@atlasarts.org. ** We need help in our office in the weeks before INTERSECTIONS with administrative tasks (email ccarlin@atlasarts.org for details.)**
Contact:??Box Office, (202) 399-7993 ext 2
For more information: click here

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Seed Cleaning at Arlington Village

Earth Sangha
We will clean the seeds of native grass and forb species that we collected from local parks, every Saturday in January and February. (Except for February 15th) Our seed cleaning sessions during the winter months are a collaborative effort between the Earth Sangha and Arlington Regional Master Naturalist Group, but we will accept a limited number of students who study environmental science or biology/botany. The only reason for limiting the number of participants is entirely due to the space constraint, but the Arlington Village’s Meeting Room is quite large, and we hope to accommodate a larger group.
When: Sat Feb 22 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Arlington Village Condominium’s Meeting Room, See website for directions., Fairfax, VA 22032
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Clean native grass and forb species seeds.
Contact: Lisa Bright, (703) 764-4830
For more information: click here

Chopin, the Storyteller

National Philharmonic
Explore Chopin’s compelling works for the piano with Brian Ganz, who returns by popular demand with his fourth Chopin recital in his journey to perform all of the composer’s works. This concert features Chopin’s masterpiece of narrative and emotional power, the Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52; the Mazurka in A minor, Op. 17, No. 4, one of his most soulful and mysterious works; the epic Nocturne in C minor, Op. 48, No. 1; the tender and storied Waltz in A-flat Major, Op. 69, No. 1 (“L’Adieu”); as well as the highly dramatic Prelude in C-sharp minor, Op. 45. Ganz has been a prizewinner in the Queen Elisabeth of Belgium and the Marguerite Long-Jacques Thibaud (Paris) International Piano Competitions. There isn’t much about Chopin that Brian Ganz doesn’t know. The pianist has explored the nocturnes, the etudes, the sonatas and concertos and the rest in concerts, master classes and recordings for years now. His delight and wonder in this music seem to grow, apparently without bounds, as time goes on. (The Washington Post) Chopin 4 Mazurkas, Op. 17 2 Nocturnes, Op. 48 Ballade No. 4 in F minor, Op. 52 Variations brillantes, Op. 12
When: Sat Feb 22 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Fee? yes $28-$55 (Kids Free)
Contact: Deborah Birnbaum, (301) 581-5
For more information: click here

The Cole Porter Project

The In Series
“A trip to the moon on gossamer wings,” says the song, as our swellegant party celebrates Cole Porter’s incomparable words-and-music. Come and revisit the work of an American master who defined the sophisticated soul of a complex era! Conceived and Directed by Steven Scott Mazzola and Greg Stevens Music Director: Paul Leavitt
When: Sat Feb 22 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: SOURCE, 1835 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee? yes $38 general; $35 seniors;: $20 students and children
Volunteer Info: Usher, box office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, Executive Assistant, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

Sing Out for Shelter

Friendship Place
Looking to hear great live music AND support local organizations serving the homeless? Then the 22nd Annual “Sing Out for Shelter” A Cappella concert is the place for you! Performances by finalists on NBC’s “The Sing-Off”, the Tufts University Beelzebubs, the Princeton University Katzenjammers, Baltimore’s Some of the Parts, and, of course, the event hosts, DC’s Augmented 8! Proceeds benefit Christ House, Friendship Place, and Metropolitan House.
When: Sat Feb 22 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: Metropolitan Memorial United Methodist Church, 3401 Nebraska Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
Fee? yes $25 general admission; $10 students/seniors; free for children <12
Contact: Augmented 8, (202) 363-4900
For more information: click here

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Invasive Species Removal with Alan Ford

Earth Sangha
We will remove several species of invasive plants such as Wineberry, Amur honeysuckle, Wintercreeper, and Porcelainberry. Please wear long clothes and work boots as the work may be muddy and there are plenty of thorny plants present. Tools and gloves will be provided, but your own work gloves and hand-clippers are useful tools to bring. This event will be led by the president of VNPS Potowmack Chapter, Alan Ford.
When: Sun Feb 23 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Marie Butler Leven Preserve, 1501 Kirby Road, McLean Va 22101
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Remove invasive species.
Contact: Alan Ford, (703) 732-5291
For more information: click here

The Cole Porter Project

The In Series
“A trip to the moon on gossamer wings,” says the song, as our swellegant party celebrates Cole Porter’s incomparable words-and-music. Come and revisit the work of an American master who defined the sophisticated soul of a complex era! Conceived and Directed by Steven Scott Mazzola and Greg Stevens Music Director: Paul Leavitt
When: Sun Feb 23 2014 (3:00 PM)
Where: SOURCE, 1835 14th St., NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee? yes $38 general; $35 seniors;: $20 students and children
Volunteer Info: Usher, box office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, Executive Assistant, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

One Hour, One World Tour

Ayuda
If you would like to get a first person introduction to Ayuda’s work and learn how you could get involved, please join us for one of our frequent One Hour, One World tours. Please sign up for a time and feel free to bring friends. (Tours are conducted in English)
When: Wed Feb 26 2014 (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: Ayuda DC office, 6925B Willow Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
Fee? no
Contact: Elise Webb, (202) 387-4848 ext 130
For more information: click here

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Empty Bowls

Our Daily Bread
Our popular Empty Bowls dinner gathering is always a heart-warming and family-friendly evening of great art, music, food and friendship — our largest fundraiser of the year. Your ticket includes selecting a one-of-a-kind soup bowl to take home, handcrafted by a local artist or community member. Hundreds of beautiful bowls to select from! Then join your neighbors in a simple meal of soup and bread as a symbolic reminder of those in our community who go hungry. All proceeds benefit local families facing financial crises – whose bowls and pantries are empty – so that they may be filled. Funds go directly to ODB’s programs to help our neighbors in need achieve financial stability.
When: Thu Feb 27 2014 (6:00 PM – 8:30 PM)
Where: Stacy C. Sherwood Center, 3740 Old Lee Hwy., Fairfax, VA 22030
Fee? yes $30 in advance ($35 at the door) includes handcrafted bowl and a simple meal of soup and bread to remind us of the struggles of our neighbors in need. Children are welcome! $10 for one child; $25 for three or more children
Volunteer Info: 2/26 — Flower Arranging (1pm – 3:30pm) 2/27 — Set Up (3:30-5:30); Clean Up (8:15-9:30) http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0C4AA4AC2EAB9-empty
Contact: Jennifer Rose, (703) 273-8829
For more information: click here

Impact — the New “It” Word: Evaluating the (Nonprofit) Evaluators, Part III

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The following blog, written by Catalogue for Philanthropy President and Editor, Barbara Harman, was published in the Huffington Post on Tuesday, February 18th. It is the third post in a four-part series on the “evaluation problem.” Parts I and II can be found here and here.

“In Part II of this series, I noted that the watchdog organizations to which donors are typically directed do not, in fact, assess the quality of the programs that nonprofits create or the effectiveness of the work. Such organizations review finances, assess good governance, and provide valuable information, but they don’t answer the basic questions that donors should be asking. Is this nonprofit meeting a real need? Is it doing so with excellence? Is it having an impact on the community it serves?

“Impact,” of course, is the new “it” word — the gold standard (so we are told) for judging the value of social programs. Just check out the Office of Management and Budget’s webpage: according to the OMB the 2014 budget provides funding to increase “the use of evidence and evaluation to spread innovation and drive better results.” Nonprofits that don’t speak the language of results-oriented programming, or who don’t understand how to use data to represent results, may have a hard time holding on to the government support they currently enjoy. But it isn’t only the government that is asking the impact question. Watchdog groups like Charity Navigator are beginning to do so as well, and others will soon do the same.

Metrics measure something, but not everything. How do you measure the impact of arts classes on kids who live in homeless shelters? Or of sports programs that provide after-school options for young people who otherwise have none? If you can’t produce data that show these experiences lead to very concrete outcomes, does this make the experiences meaningless or imply that they have no result?

The truth is, it’s hard to measure most kinds of social value. Social problems are complex, and a good assessment has to begin with a good interpretation: what is the perceived need that an organization exists to address? What are the conditions within which it works? If I create a nonprofit designed to help young people graduate from high school and go on to college, it makes a difference where on the continuum these kids lie. Do they have parents who finished high school (or not)? Do they speak English as a first language (or not)? Are they attending high-performing schools (or not)? If I don’t look at the conditions, at the quality of the need, at the beginning of the story, then my measurement will be incomplete, misleading, and perhaps even wrong.

The point I have been trying to make in this and previous posts is that the work of evaluation is hard. But there is something about the language of impact assessment – using “evidence” to “drive results” – that belies the reality of this, that leads one to think the truth is entirely measurable, not at all in the province of human persons who are thinking and judging and analyzing. It’s no wonder so many nonprofits are hesitant about the process, feel excluded by it in advance, and worry that they won’t be able to meet its standards.

So we need broader and more complex kinds of measurements. But this is only part of the story. Nonprofits need to do important kinds of new thinking as well.

First of all, they need to articulate, examine, and codify their own beliefs, their ways of seeing the world. For a youth-serving arts program, this means articulating what the organization values and why it thinks these values have social meaning. The Boston Youth Arts Evaluation Project helpfully calls this identifying your “sacred bundle”: what do you think matters in the world? What are you trying to cultivate? What values underlie your work?

If you believe, for example, that creating art is empowering, that it generates in young people a grounded sense of self, a bond with adults, and, in turn, a positive connection with one’s community, then you know what you are trying to measure. Your “results” may have a different profile from those of an organization that seeks to reduce homelessness, or prepare adults for jobs, but what you are doing is still very significant: empowering disconnected youth is serious business. It just has a different way of talking about itself.

In other words, NEED and VALUE have to be part of the equation, both for nonprofits and for agencies and groups evaluating them. If we speak about impact without using these key words, without taking the measure of the world we inhabit, and without making judgments about what we value, our society and culture will be the poorer for it. We cannot allow this to happen.

Stay tuned for Part IV.”

Evaluating the (nonprofit) Evaluators: Part II

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The following blog, written by Catalogue for Philanthropy President and Editor, Barbara Harman, was published in the Huffington Post on Tuesday, February 11th. It is the second post in a three-part series on the “evaluation problem.” Part I of this series can be found here.

Part II: The Evaluators

There is a new kid on the block that makes it possible to check reviews on some 11,000 charities. Charity Checker (sponsored by the Tampa Bay Times and the Center for Investigative Journalism) is designed to streamline the process of evaluation by aggregating reviews from the top reviewing entities into one easy-to-use tool. But what exactly is being aggregated, and what are the reviewers reviewing?

Charity Navigator is perhaps the most well-known of Charity Checker’s sources, and it currently examines the finances of about 7,000 of the over 1.5 million US charities. One of the early groups to focus attention on the ratio between administrative and program expenses, it last year signed, along with Guidestar and the BBB Wise Giving Alliance, a “pledge to end the overhead myth” — in other words, to stop focusing on overhead as the chief charity culprit. This amounted to an admission that reliance on a strict ratio of administrative to program expenses so widely hailed as the sign of a charity’s cost-effectiveness was not the holy grail, and that, indeed, nonprofits needed to invest in themselves if they were going to thrive. Charity Navigator (CN) continues to look at the ratio, but it also focuses more broadly on financial transparency as a key indicator and has begun to look at what it calls “results reporting” — how effective a charity is at reporting, in an evidence-based manner, its outcomes and impact. CN admits that too few organizations are in a position to measure impact in this manner and that the process is a “developmental” one, so “CN 3.0, ” as it is called, is not yet here.

Guidestar, another group that powers Charity Checker, is not actually a watchdog site at all. It is, according to Guidestar itself, a “comprehensive” information source. It awards logos (bronze, silver, gold) to participants for successful completion at different levels, of their profiles on the Guidestar Exchange. To a certain extent one can see why a gold rating, for example, might mean something important: filling out the profile demands that an organization reflect on itself, gather information and write about itself, and commit significant time and energy to the process. In other words, full participation registers meaningful organizational capacity. The information, assuming it is accurately reported, can also give a serious investor a lot to consider. But it is important to remember that Guidestar isn’t actually rating the charities or their programs. It assigns its logos/awards based on a charity’s level of participation, and leaves the analysis to the reader.

Great Nonprofits, the third source of Charity Checker’s information, is the Yelp or Zagat of the charity world: it invites readers (and encourages nonprofits to invite supporters) to rate charities the way you or I might rate a restaurant or doctor or retailer. Perhaps predictably, the reviews of about 12,000 charities vary widely in their usefulness. Some are incredibly thoughtful, others are … not; many reviewers simply don’t have the deep information they need to offer an informed opinion. There is something to be said for hearing what volunteers, staff, donors and clients have to say about nonprofits, but how do these ratings stack up against the serious due diligence that we are always urged to perform before we make a donation?

BBB’s Wise Giving Alliance, which covers approximately 1500 national charities (I was unable to find the exact number on its site) focuses on four key measures: good governance, financial accountability, truthfulness and transparency (“willingness to disclose basic information to the public”). These are all important standards, but I wonder how many donors who see the BBB seal on a charity’s site are aware of the fact that, in its own words, it does “not seek to evaluate the quality and content” of a charity’s performance and effectiveness. The standards are all “best practices” in the field, and the very process of seeking to meet them will, at minimum, educate a charity about how it should govern itself and provide relevant information to the public about its operations. But there is no evaluation here of programmatic quality.

Charity Checker combines into one accessible site the ratings of four well-known organizations, making it easy for busy donors to find everything in one place — though it is important to remember that it is dealing with a relatively small number of the over a million and a half US charities, and it is likely dealing with very few of the community-based nonprofits that operate in your hometown.

In any case, it would be a mistake to think that the review process, because aggregated, is necessarily comprehensive. None of the sites that powers Charity Checker assesses the need a charity exists to meet, the programs it has created to meet those needs, or the effectiveness of the work. None of them claims to do this either, but the whole business of awarding stars and badges and seals, and then of aggregating them, creates the illusion of comprehensiveness for a public eager for hard answers about where to give — and short on time to conduct its own research.

So what would it take to make the evaluation process really valuable, and how might it work in communities around the nation?

Stay tuned for Part III.

Evaluating the (Nonprofit) Evaluators, Part I

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The following blog, written by Catalogue for Philanthropy President and Editor, Barbara Harman, was published in the Huffington Post on Wednesday, February 5th. It is the first post in a three-part series on the “evaluation problem.”

Evaluating the (Nonprofit) Evaluators, Part I

The Bad Guys Club

A recent Huffington Post blog refocused attention on a 2013 Tampa Bay Times/ CNN report on “America’s Worst Charities” — a group of 50 bad guys in a club to which no charity seeks admission. Lists like these are, so the notion goes, helpful in alerting unsuspecting donors to the dangers of giving: these donors often don’t know that some big charities with compelling-sounding names have massive armies of paid telephone solicitors, and… clients who barely benefit from the funds that are raised. President and CEO of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Andrew Watt, chastised the makers of the list in a response, noting that most of the guilty parties are such notorious offenders that the list is hardly newsworthy. But Watt also admitted that there was some benefit in alerting donors to the importance of exercising due diligence.

Of course we should all exercise due diligence when making charitable contributions, but there is something disheartening about the focus on what doesn’t work in our charity system.

There are 50 charities on the “worst” list — out of some 1.5 million nationwide. And while there are likely more than 50 that deserve to be called out, the number would still represent a small fraction of US charities. The truth is, most charities cannot afford to pay expensive solicitors, know that such solicitation is frowned upon, and wouldn’t do it if they could.

Making a splash about how little money actually ends up in the right hands is a familiar story, and one that the press likes to tell. But it just confirms the belief that many Americans sadly hold — that nonprofits take the money of well-meaning citizens and squander it on administrative expenses, while the people who should benefit go unaided. True in a small number of cases, not true at all in most. Wouldn’t it be an interesting turn of events if stories about the best charities got the same kind of attention as those about the worst?

But how do we know who the best are? Who is doing the work of evaluating them? What is the basis of their evaluations? And do they really make sense?

Stay tuned for Part II.”

Around Town 1/31-2/6

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Are you a Catalogue nonprofit with an event coming up that you want our network to know about? Let us know and you can see your event posted with the likes of the ones you see below!

Saturday, February 01, 2014

Invasive Species Removal

Earth Sangha
We will remove several species of invasive plants such as Wineberry, Amur honeysuckle, Wintercreeper, and Porcelainberry. Please wear long clothes and workboots as the work may be muddy and there are plenty of thorny plants present. Tools and gloves will be provided, but your own work gloves and hand-clippers are useful tools to bring. This event will be led by the Sangha’s Conservation Coordinator, Matt Bright.

When: Sat Feb 1 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Marie Butler Leven Preserve, 1501 Kirby Road, McLean VA 22101
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Remove invasive species
Contact: Matt Bright, (703) 764-4830
For more information: click here

Cheeky Monkey Sideshow Performance

Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
Award-winning troupe of professionals specializing in astounding feats and amazing oddities: sword swallowing, fire eating, extreme physical stunts (human blockhead, bed of nails, glass walking), contortion, magic, mentalism, escapes, human and animal anomalies and more!
When: Sat Feb 1 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Fee? yes $15 general admission
Contact: Malori Rhones, (301) 699-1819
For more information: click here

Creating Nonprofit Stories Worth Sharing

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Post written by Aline Newman, Catalogue for Philanthropy Director of Marketing and Communications

The first story I ever wrote was called “The Day it Rained Birthday Cakes.” At the age of six, I was convinced that in merely four sentences I had written the next great American short story.

As children, storytelling is an integral part of the way we develop and learn to communicate. Fairytales, nursery rhymes and short stories are often passed down with the similar “plot-conflict-resolution” structure. As adults, storytelling evolves to become not only part of how we learn, entertain and persuade, but also how we build relationships with friends, family and colleagues. We share our stories (and stories of others) with ease in conversations both online and offline.

Yet, when it comes to telling stories on behalf of our organization, storytelling becomes more of a strategic challenge than merely a natural extension of the way we communicate. It requires us to assess not only the intended audience, their motivations and where to reach them, but also the risks (such as sharing benefactors’ stories with dignity) and expected outcomes once the story is shared (such as fundraising or volunteering). As nonprofits it is up to each of us to determine how we define our unique stories; however, as a sector we have an opportunity to learn from one another about how we can tell our stories more effectively and inspire change.

This morning, the Meyer Foundation hosted Julie Dixon of Georgetown University’s School of Continuing Studies to present key findings from their joint research project: “Stories Worth Sharing: Storytelling for Nonprofits.” During the course of their research, Julie and her team at the Center for Social Impact Communication (CSIC) sorted through hundreds of nonprofit stories in order to better understand the general nonprofit storytelling landscape and how local organizations share their stories online. While the full research analysis will be available later this spring, Julie shared key insights to get nonprofits thinking about the realities and opportunities that exist when it comes to storytelling and their organization.

Among some of the insights shared, one of most striking was the gap in the recognized importance of storytelling, and our ability to do it well. Nearly all nonprofits surveyed (96%) agreed that storytelling is an important part of communication, yet only 23 percent were satisfied with the quantity of their content, and 39 percent satisfied with the quality. While it’s good that nonprofits see the critical importance of storytelling, there is still a tremendous opportunity for the sector in creating richer and more accessible content.

Another interesting takeaway (and great news for smaller nonprofits): According to the research, there is no direct correlation between having a large budget and strong storytelling. So if it’s not always about the budget, what makes for good storytelling? Thinking about the insights presented we can glean that having a clearly defined audience and call-to-action are of course important (84% and 68% of nonprofits, respectively, already do these regularly as part of their storytelling), but so is making your story easily accessible and shareable, both on a traditional desktop and a mobile device. Think about the last time you looked at your website on a mobile phone or tablet: Did your video, images and text appear as you expected? Accessibility aside, developing to-the-point, original content (i.e. changing your stories’ heroes, challenges and calls to action) can keep an audience engaged and excited to find out “what’s new?” with your organization, and at the end of the day an engaged audience is perhaps our most valuable asset in fulfilling our missions.

This spring, Julie and the team at CSIC will continue to share how nonprofits can improve storytelling and make our stories worth sharing. While our storytelling as nonprofit organizations may not be as simple as a four-sentence exploration in birthday cakes falling from the sky, we certainly believe that by applying the best practices shared by CSIC in the coming months, it can be just as (if not more) gratifying.

Note: In addition to CSIC’s publications, the Catalogue for Philanthropy will also be exploring the topic of storytelling in upcoming workshops. Stay tuned for details!

Guest Post: Mentoring Today

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As Mentoring Month draws to a close, we’re excited for today’s guest post from Mentoring Today! Since 2005, Mentoring Today has served DC youth both before and after they are released from incarceration to support their successful reintegration into their families and community. Advocates and mentors from the Washington College of Law help youth with critical issues such as education, employment, and housing as they enter adulthood. Through these comprehensive, client-centered services, Mentoring Today strives to improve the juvenile justice system and empowers our young people to recognize their dreams and realize their aspirations.

About the Author: Sasha Garcon is a third year law student at American University’s Washington College of Law. Sasha is currently interning with Mentoring Today and hopes to pursue a career in juvenile defense.

A Mentor, An Advocate, And All That Is In Between

by Sasha Garcon

I have been a mentor in the past. And as a law student, I am developing skills to become a better advocate. But rarely have these two roles merged, until I started working with Mentoring Today. Mentoring Today is a DC-based organization that serves youth both before and after they are released from incarceration to support their successful reintegration into their families and community. Mentoring Today, through a partnership with Students United, a student organization at American University Washington College of Law, sends mentors to meet weekly with incarcerated youth at New Beginnings Youth Development Center in Laurel, Maryland. Once the youth are released, mentors continue working with the youth in the community by maintaining a mentoring relationship and by helping with critical issues such as education, employment, and housing.

“What is a mentor?” I asked my mentee on the first day we met. He explained to me that he had had a mentor before and that this individual gave him advice on life and staying out of trouble. I thought about this a little more and thought about how I wanted to define my role and my relationship with him. I knew that I was not there to tell him what to do and what not to do. My role, as I saw it, was to be a support to my mentee — to help him define goals and to help him in accomplishing those goals. While I wanted to provide emotional support and advice on how my mentee could grow as an individual, I also wanted to make sure that I fought for things that my mentee wanted or needed to grow as an individual. I wanted to be more than a mentor; I wanted to also be his advocate.

The idea of being both a mentor and an advocate may seem foreign but they work quite well together. I could see change in our relationship the first time I shifted from my role as a mentor to being an advocate for my mentee. My mentee had what is called a “Youth Family Team Meeting” (YFTM) meeting scheduled. At this meeting, New Beginnings staff members, service providers, and family members came together to prepare for my mentee’s release and to discuss what services needed to be set in place once he was in the community. In preparation for the meeting, I discussed with my mentee what to expect. We talked about his goals, what he hoped to accomplish in the meeting, and any issues that he wanted to raise. I reassured him that I would also be there at the meeting on his behalf to help make sure his goals were met and that he accomplished what he wanted to accomplish. As I said this, he stopped and looked at me with a look that I can only describe as pure shock. “What? You didn’t expect me to come?” I asked. His answer, “No.”

After this meeting, I could see how my role as a mentor-advocate shaped and defined my relationship with my mentee. It was encouraging to see that he was not only comfortable sharing his goals with me but also wanted to include me in his pursuit of accomplishing those goals. I had the ability to not only advocate on his behalf, but also to help him learn to advocate for himself. One cannot truly advocate for someone, if they do not teach them to advocate for themselves. It is the assurance that I will not only advocate for him as best I can, but that I will also provide him with the confidence to advocate for his own needs that I believe will truly make a difference in my mentee’s life.

Learn more about Mentoring Today at: www.mentoringtoday.org, or check out their Catalogue webpage for more ways to get involved.

Around Town 1/24-1/30

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We hope everyone is staying warm in this cold DC weather! Trying to find a great way to keep the chill off while meeting some great, local nonprofits? See what’s going on around town for the next week!

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Distribution Day

DC Diaper Bank
Our distribution days are one of the most exciting and important days at DC Diaper Bank. This is the day we distribute more than 50,000 diapers to over 17 amazing organizations across the DC Metro area. Come join us as we help these great organization fill their trucks with much needed diapers for the families that they serve.
When: Sat Jan 25 2014 (09:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: DC Diaper Bank Warehouse 8858 Monard Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Sorting and packing diapers; helping with other inventory
Contact: Corinne Cannon, (202) 656-8503

Seed Cleaning at Arlington Village

Earth Sangha
We will clean the seeds of native grass and forb species that we collected from local parks, every Saturday in January and February. (Except for February 15th) Our seed cleaning sessions during the winter months are a collaborative effort between the Earth Sangha and Arlington Regional Master Naturalist Group, but we will accept a limited number of students who study environmental science or biology/botany. The only reason for limiting the number of participants is entirely due to the space constraint, but the Arlington Village’s Meeting Room is quite large, and we hope to accommodate a larger group.
When: Sat Jan 25 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Arlington Village Condominium’s Meeting Room, See website for directions., Fairfax, VA 22032
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Clean native grass and forb species seeds.
Contact: Lisa Bright, (703) 764-4830
For more information: click here

Swinging with the Bumper Jacksons

Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
Traditional jazz and pre-war country flare will have you on your feet dancing all night! Admission includes a swing dance lesson.
When: Sat Jan 25 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Fee? yes $12 in advance; $15 at the door
Contact: Malori Rhones, (301) 699-1819
For more information: click here

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Invasive Species Removal with Alan Ford

Earth Sangha
We will remove several species of invasive plants such as Wineberry, Amur honeysuckle, Wintercreeper, and Porcelainberry. Please wear long clothes and work boots as the work may be muddy and there are plenty of thorny plants present. Tools and gloves will be provided, but your own work gloves and hand-clippers are useful tools to bring. This event will be led by the president of VNPS Potowmack Chapter, Alan Ford.
When: Sun Jan 26 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Marie Butler Leven Preserve, 1501 Kirby Road, McLean Va 22101
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Remove invasive species.
Contact: Alan Ford, (703) 732-5291
For more information: click here

FREE Wellness Fair

Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
New Year’s Resolution off track? Get back on track at Joe’s Wellness Fair. Get a free massage, learn about healthy eating and exercise. Experience yoga, acupuncture and the Alexander Technique of movement with local practitioners
When: Sun Jan 26 2014 (1:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Fee? no
Contact: Joe’s Movement Emporium, (301) 699-1819
For more information: click here

Monday, January 27, 2014

You’re Invited to Coffee Talk with Jubilee Jobs

Jubilee Jobs
This year, Jubilee Jobs helped 1,000 people obtain employment. Want to know how we did it? Want to help us place 1,000 more people in jobs in the coming year? Then join us on January 27th at The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Rd NW at 8:30 am. We need your help to assist the unemployed in the community. Come and hear applicant testimonials, meet our Executive Director Terry Flood, learn more about our volunteer opportunities, and join others who want to make a real difference and help others in the community. Please call ahead of time at (202) 667-8970 so we know to look for you.
When: Mon Jan 27 2014 (08:30 AM)
Where: The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee? no
Contact: Sheila Robinson, (202) 667-8970

Wednesday, January 29, 2014

One Hour, One World Tour

Ayuda
If you would like to get a first person introduction to Ayuda’s work and learn how you could get involved, please join us for one of our frequent One Hour, One World tours. Please sign up for a time and feel free to bring friends. (Tours are conducted in English)
When: Wed Jan 29 2014 (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: Ayuda DC office, 6925B Willow Street NW, Washington, DC 20012
Fee? no
Contact: Elise Webb, (202) 387-4848 ext 130
For more information: click here

Thursday, January 30, 2014

Winter 2014 New Volunteer Training

Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
The core of the Legal Clinic’s work is the representation of individual low- and no-income clients through a network of over 250 volunteer attorneys and legal assistants. Volunteers obtain clients at one of six intake sites run by WLCH at meal programs, health clinics, and day programs throughout the District. Our intake sessions last for one hour and, on average, about 3-5 clients attend each intake. If clients present legal issues that meet our case selection guidelines, then the intake volunteer acts as the primary legal representative for those clients. WLCH staff attorneys provide advice and guidance on all volunteer cases. Attendance at our training is required for all new volunteers. Attorneys must be authorized to practice law in the District of Columbia: attorneys must be a current member of the D.C. Bar or have begun the process for waiving in admission; attorneys employed by the Federal Government must be a member in good standing in the highest court of any state. Paralegals may volunteer only in partnership with and under the direct supervision of an attorney authorized to practice in D.C.
When: Thu Jan 30 2014 (11:45 AM – 4:00 PM)
Where: K Street, NW, Washington, DC .
Fee? no
Contact: Kaitlyn Uhl to register for the event, (202) 328-1263

CASA Preservice Training

Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County
The first step to becoming a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) is attending the preservice training. During training, you will learn about child development, child welfare regulations, how to write a court report and other pertinent topics. Prospective volunteers must submit and application, undergo background screening and be invited to attend training.
When: Thu Jan 30 2014 (6:00 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: Local 400 Union Hall, 4301 Garden City Drive, Landover, MD 20785
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will complete training and become a Court Appointed Special Advocate.
Contact: Penny Gerber, (301) 209-0491
For more information: click here

In the (Snow Day) News…

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A few highlights from last week’s news, in case your paper is buried in the snow!

Education

According to a Washington Post article, approximately 6,000 state-funded preschool slots in Virginia were not filled this year beucase localities did not invest the required matching funds to take full advantage of the program. Though data show $23 million earmarked for the Virginia Preschool Initiative went unclaimed, at a cost of $6,000 per student, some 60 districts said they were constrained by lack of resources and space and did not fill their programs. In Northern Virginia, Arlington was the only district to fill 100 percent of funded spots. Some advocates note that the state’s pricetag does not reflect the cost of a high-quality pre-K program, which would run closer to $9,300 per student. This discrepancy leaves communities scrambling to make up the difference. Virginia’s cost per pupil is in keeping with regional spending: $8,000 per student in Maryland and nearly $15,000 per student in the District, which covers all 3- and 4-year olds.

Also in the Post: 100 local school boards in Virginia, including the cities of Alexandria, Fairfax, Falls Church, and Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William counties, are challenging a measure that allows for state takeover of struggling local schools. Resolutions filed by these board support a lawsuit currently fighting the General Assembly measure, which affects any school that fails the state’s accreditation or is accredited with a warning for three consecutive years.

Minimum Wage Across the Region

On the heels of D.C.’s minimum wage hike to $11.50 by 2016, Maryland Governor O’Malley has proposed raising the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2016, up from $7.25 currently. D.C.’s increase was signed by Mayor Gray last week, and by 2017, the District and Maryland’s Montgomery & PG Counties will all have a minimum wage of $11.50.

Housing

The good news is that Maryland’s housing prices are on the rise. Prince George’s County, one of the region’s hardest hit during the foreclosure crisis, saw a 16 percent housing price increase last year – the second highest in the region. The bad news, according to a WAMU article, is that those rising prices are encouraging banks to foreclose more quickly on homeowners who are late on payments, causing a soar in foreclose rates as banks work through a backlog of foreclosures from the recession. PG County received $10 million in a national mortgage settlement, but very little goes to mortgage assistance, helping approximately 200 homeowners. While most struggling homeowners in PG County owe less than $10,000, many lost income in the recession and “even getting current on their mortgage may not make their home affordable.”

Local Giving & Our Region

The 2013 Combined Federal Campaign is over but reports from the Nonprofit Quarterly & the Federal Times indicate a “sharp decline” in this year’s giving. In the National Capital Region, the largest CFC campaign, pledges were approximately $47 million going into the CFC’s last day, down from nearly $62 million last year. The CFC peaked nationally at $283 million in 2009 and raised $258 million last year, but was hampered by government furloughs, the shutdown in October and coincided with a three-year freeze on federal pay scales. Some 2,000 local charities and 2,500 national charities participated in the 2013 CFC.

More than a third of of greater Washington zip codes are “super zips” according to the American Enterprise Institute. WAMU reports that these zips are mostly contiguous and rank in the top 5 percent nationally on scales of average income and number of adults with college degrees. That means households with an average income of $120,000+ and 7 out of 10 adults with a college degree. Check out the Post’s map of our region’s “superzips” here.

Around Town 1/17-1/23

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Happy Friday! We have a lot of great events happening this over long weekend and hope that you are able to get out and give back to your community! See what these great Catalogue nonprofits are offering for your Martin Luther King Jr. weekend!

Friday, January 17, 2014

La Vie en Rose

The In Series
A stunning assembly of French art-song and cabaret chanson–from Le nuis d’ete to La vie en rose– from Berlioz, Debussy, and Satie, to Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel. A collaboration with the exuberant dances of The Washington Ballet Studio Company. Choreography and Direction by Septime Webre and David Palmer. Music Direction and Pianists: Frank Conlon and Carla Hubner. Featuring Fleta Hylton and Byron Jones
When: Fri Jan 17 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Fee? yes $40 general admission; $37 seniors; $20 students with school id & children
Volunteer Info: Usher, Box Office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, Executive Assistant, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

Saturday, January 18, 2014

MLK Weekend Of Service- Rock Creek Parkway

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Come out and participate in the MLK Weekend of Service to remember and celebrate the great achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join Rock Creek Conservancy to work along Rock Creek Parkway. Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees and ground and remove trash from the woods. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools.
When: Sat Jan 18 2014 (09:00 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: Rock Creek Parkway – Waterside Drive & Massachusetts Ave NW, corner of Waterside Drive NW & Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees and ground and remove trash from the woods. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate. Please dress for the weather by wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Dressing in layers is the best option. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. If you have your own gloves and tools, please bring them. If not, bags, gloves, and tools will be provided. Feel to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. Students can earn SSL hours, please bring needed forms.
Contact: Karen Zeiter, (301) 775-2960
For more information: click here

MLK Weekend Of Service- Glover Archbold Park

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Come out and participate in the MLK Weekend of Service to remember and celebrate the great achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join Rock Creek Conservancy to work in Glover Archbold Park of Rock Creek. Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees, pick up litter from the woods, and clear the two meadows from invasive plant species. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools.
When: Sat Jan 18 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Glover- Archbold Park on the AGP trail (1/2 way between Cathedral and Mass Avenues. The trailheads are located on: 1) Cathedral Ave. 100 yards downhill (east) from New Mexico Ave 2) Massachusetts Ave. 100 yards north of intersection at Macomb St.), 4100 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees, pick up litter from the woods, and clear the two meadows from invasive plant species. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate. Please dress for the weather by wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Dressing in layers is the best option. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. If you have your own gloves and tools, please bring them. If not, bags, gloves, and tools will be provided. Feel to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. Students can earn SSL hours, please bring needed forms.
Contact: Peter Forbes, (301) 775-2960
For more information: click here

MLK Weekend Of Service- Broad Branch

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Come out and participate in the MLK Weekend of Service to remember and celebrate the great achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join Rock Creek Conservancy to work in the Broad Branch section of Rock Creek Park. Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees and ground and cleanup trash from the woods. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools.
When: Sat Jan 18 2014 (10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: intersection of 36th Street and Nevada Ave NW, Washington, DC., Washington, DC 20015
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees and ground and remove trash from the woods. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate. Please dress for the weather by wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Dressing in layers is the best option. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. If you have your own gloves and tools, please bring them. If not, bags, gloves, and tools will be provided. Feel to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. Students can earn SSL hours, please bring needed forms.
Contact: Karen Zeiter, (301) 775-2960
For more information: click here

Invasive Species Removal

Earth Sangha
We will remove several species of invasive plants such as Wineberry, Amur honeysuckle, Wintercreeper, and Porcelainberry. Please wear long clothes and workboots as the work may be muddy and there are plenty of thorny plants present. Tools and gloves will be provided, but your own work gloves and hand-clippers are useful tools to bring. This event will be led by the Sangha’s Conservation Coordinator, Matt Bright.
When: Sat Jan 18 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Marie Butler Leven Preserve, 1501 Kirby Road, McLean VA 22101
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Remove invasive species
Contact: Matt Bright, (703) 764-4830
For more information: click here

Seed Cleaning at Arlington Village

Earth Sangha
We will clean the seeds of native grass and forb species that we collected from local parks, every Saturday in January and February. (Except for February 15th) Our seed cleaning sessions during the winter months are a collaborative effort between the Earth Sangha and Arlington Regional Master Naturalist Group, but we will accept a limited number of students who study environmental science or biology/botany. The only reason for limiting the number of participants is entirely due to the space constraint, but the Arlington Village’s Meeting Room is quite large, and we hope to accommodate a larger group.
When: Sat Jan 18 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Arlington Village Condominium’s Meeting Room, See website for directions., Fairfax, VA 22032
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Clean native grass and forb species seeds.
Contact: Lisa Bright, (703) 764-4830
For more information: click here

MLK Weekend Of Service- Pinehurst Tributary

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Come out and participate in the MLK Weekend of Service to remember and celebrate the great achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join Rock Creek Conservancy to work in the Pinehurst Tributary of Rock Creek Park. Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees and ground and other invasive plant species. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools.
When: Sat Jan 18 2014 (1:00 PM – 4:00 PM)
Where: ibasketball court at the intersection of Beech Street NW and Western Ave., Washington, DC 20015
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees and ground and other invasive plant species. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate. Please dress for the weather by wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Dressing in layers is the best option. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. If you have your own gloves and tools, please bring them. If not, bags, gloves, and tools will be provided. Feel to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. Students can earn SSL hours, please bring needed forms.
Contact: Karen Zeiter, (301) 775-2960
For more information: click here

Three Great Classics

National Philharmonic
Gabriela Martinez, piano Julie Keim, soprano Robert Petillo, tenor Kerry Wilkerson, bass National Philharmonic Chorale Victoria Gau, conductor The brilliant inventiveness and virtuosity of the D Major Divertimento is, to echo the words of Alfred Einstein, “a masterpiece of masterpieces, on the smallest possible scale.” It is followed by Bach’s Piano Concerto No. 1, among the first concertos written for keyboard. The concert concludes with Schubert’s famous Mass No. 2 in G Major, composed in less than a week in 1815. All but unknown during Schubert’s life, it has become one of his most popular sacred works. Mozart Divertimento K. 136 Bach Piano Concerto No. 1 Schubert Mass No. 2 in G Major
When: Sat Jan 18 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: The Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, MD 20852
Fee? yes $28-$84 (Kids Free)
Contact: Deborah Birnbaum,
For more information: click here

La Vie en Rose

The In Series
A stunning assembly of French art-song and cabaret chanson–from Le nuis d’ete to La vie en rose– from Berlioz, Debussy, and Satie, to Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel. A collaboration with the exuberant dances of The Washington Ballet Studio Company. Choreography and Direction by Septime Webre and David Palmer. Music Direction and Pianists: Frank Conlon and Carla Hubner. Featuring Fleta Hylton and Byron Jones
When: Sat Jan 18 2014 (8:00 PM)
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Fee? yes $40 general admission; $37 seniors; $20 students with school id & children
Volunteer Info: Usher, Box Office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, Executive Assistant, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

Sunday, January 19, 2014

MLK Weekend Of Service- Beret Park

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Come out and participate in the MLK Weekend of Service to remember and celebrate the great achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join Rock Creek Conservancy to work in Beret Park section of Rock Creek. Volunteers will remove trash from the woods before it can wash into Rock Creek. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate.
When: Sun Jan 19 2014 (10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: Beret Park, 3401 Beret Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20906
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will remove trash from the woods before it can wash into Rock Creek. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate. Please dress for the weather by wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Dressing in layers is the best option. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. If you have your own gloves and tools, please bring them. If not, bags, gloves, and tools will be provided. Feel to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. Students can earn SSL hours, please bring needed forms.
Contact: Karen Zeiter, (301) 775-2960
For more information: click here

MLK Weekend Of Service- Glover Archbold Park

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Come out and participate in the MLK Weekend of Service to remember and celebrate the great achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join Rock Creek Conservancy to work in Glover Archbold Park of Rock Creek. Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees, pick up litter from the woods, and clear the two meadows from invasive plant species. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools.
When: Sun Jan 19 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Glover- Archbold Park on the AGP trail (1/2 way between Cathedral and Mass Avenues. The trailheads are located on: 1) Cathedral Ave. 100 yards downhill (east) from New Mexico Ave 2) Massachusetts Ave. 100 yards north of intersection at Macomb St.), 4100 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees, pick up litter from the woods, and clear the two meadows from invasive plant species. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate. Please dress for the weather by wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Dressing in layers is the best option. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. If you have your own gloves and tools, please bring them. If not, bags, gloves, and tools will be provided. Feel to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. Students can earn SSL hours, please bring needed forms.
Contact: Peter Forbes, (301) 775-2960
For more information: click here

La Vie en Rose

The In Series
A stunning assembly of French art-song and cabaret chanson–from Le nuis d’ete to La vie en rose– from Berlioz, Debussy, and Satie, to Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel. A collaboration with the exuberant dances of The Washington Ballet Studio Company. Choreography and Direction by Septime Webre and David Palmer. Music Direction and Pianists: Frank Conlon and Carla Hubner. Featuring Fleta Hylton and Byron Jones
When: Sun Jan 19 2014 (3:00 PM)
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Fee? yes $40 general admission; $37 seniors; $20 students with school id & children
Volunteer Info: Usher, Box Office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, Executive Assistant, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

Monday, January 20, 2014

MLK Day of Service: Marvin Gaye Park Community Greening Center

Washington Parks & People
Come help improve the Marvin Gaye Park Community Greening Center – Weed and add soil to raised garden beds – Remove debris/rubbish from site and surrounding park lands – Install hoop house and plant cold weather crops – Remove invasive underbrush – Organize tools and complete inventory – Spreadwood chips on trails (if available) – Make signage for vegetable beds, bee hives, rain barrels, trail, tree names for nursery, tree names for planted trees, etc. – Paint the community board (weather depending) – Complete painting the front of the storage container (weather depending) – Organize shed into office space – Move nursery trees to accommodate expanding gardens
When: Mon Jan 20 2014 (09:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Where: Marvin Gaye Park Community Greening Center, 5000 block of Nannie Helen Burroughs Avenue, NE,, Washington, DC 20019
Fee? no
Contact: RonDell Pooler, (202) 462-7275 ext 25
For more information: click here

MLK Weekend Of Service- Glover Archbold Park

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Come out and participate in the MLK Weekend of Service to remember and celebrate the great achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join Rock Creek Conservancy to work in Glover Archbold Park of Rock Creek. Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees, pick up litter from the woods, and clear the two meadows from invasive plant species. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools.
When: Mon Jan 20 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Glover- Archbold Park on the AGP trail (1/2 way between Cathedral and Mass Avenues. The trailheads are located on: 1) Cathedral Ave. 100 yards downhill (east) from New Mexico Ave 2) Massachusetts Ave. 100 yards north of intersection at Macomb St.), 4100 Massachusetts Ave NW, Washington, DC 20016
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will remove English ivy from the trees, pick up litter from the woods, and clear the two meadows from invasive plant species. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate. Please dress for the weather by wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Dressing in layers is the best option. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. If you have your own gloves and tools, please bring them. If not, bags, gloves, and tools will be provided. Feel to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. Students can earn SSL hours, please bring needed forms.
Contact: Peter Forbes, (301) 775-2960
For more information: click here

MLK Day of Service: DC Law Students in Court & Green Scheme

DC Law Students In Court Program
Please join us for a Day of Service by lending a helping hand to Green Scheme while advancing Dr. King’s dream of opportunity for all. Green Scheme promotes access to healthy living within DC’s low-income community through community gardens and nutrition classes. Kickoff & Refreshments 10:00 AM Lincoln Heights Family Enhancement Center 400 50TH Street NE 20019 Gardening Project 10:30 AM to 11:30 AM Community Outreach 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM Know Your Rights Presentation by LSIC 12:45 PM to 1:30 PM
When: Mon Jan 20 2014 (10:00 AM – 1:30 PM)
Where: Lincoln Heights Family Enhancement Center, 400 5th St NE, Washington, DC 20019
Fee? no
Contact: Angela Wang, (202) 638-4798 ext 207
For more information: click here

Diaper Drive @ MLK Day of Service, Montgomery County

DC Diaper Bank
Diaper Drive & diaper tip sheet coloring!
When: Mon Jan 20 2014 (10:00 AM – 12:00 NOON)
Where: Silver Spring Civic Center, 1 Veterans Place, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Fee? no
Contact: Heather Foley, (202) 656-8503
For more information: click here

Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day

Volunteer Fairfax
Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day celebrates Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, and the spirit of service this day represents. Join us for the fifth annual Give Together: A Family Volunteer Day on Monday, January 20, 2014. Come give back as a family and enjoy a experience that allows children to witness first-hand how fun and easy volunteering can be. Three sites are available including Fairfax, Herndon, and Alexandria.
When: Mon Jan 20 2014 (10:30 AM – 3:30 PM)
Where: Heritage Presbyterian Church, 8503 Fort Hunt Rd, Alexandria, VA 22308
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers age 0-12 and their care givers are invited to complete age appropriate projects. In addition, adult volunteers are needed to support registration, set up, and tear down.
Contact: Emily Davis, (703) 246-3825
For more information: click here

MLK Weekend Of Service- Meadowbrook

Rock Creek Conservancy (formerly Friends of Rock Creek’s Environment)
Come out and participate in the MLK Weekend of Service to remember and celebrate the great achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Join Rock Creek Conservancy, Montgomery Parks, John Shorb Landscaping and Norman’s Farm Market to work in the Meadowbrook section of Rock Creek. Volunteers will remove English ivy and other invasive vines from the trees and pick up litter before in travels into Rock Creek. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools.
When: Mon Jan 20 2014 (1:00 PM – 3:00 PM)
Where: Meadowbrook Park Recreation Center, 7901 Meadowbrook Lane, Chevy Chase, MD 20815
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will remove English ivy and other invasive vines from the trees and pick up litter before in travels into Rock Creek. We encourage volunteers of all ages to participate, but you must be 16+ to use tools. Please dress for the weather by wearing long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Dressing in layers is the best option. Wear sturdy boots or sneakers, no sandals. What to Bring: Bring water. If you have your own gloves and tools, please bring them. If not, bags, gloves, and tools will be provided. Feel to bring your own sunscreen and bug spray. Students can earn SSL hours, please bring needed forms.
Contact: Karen Zeiter, (301) 775-2960
For more information: click here

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

A Rememberance of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Atlas Performing Arts Center
The Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) and the Atlas Performing Arts Center will offer a “Remembrance of Martin Luther King, Jr.” on Tuesday, January 21, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. in the Lang Theatre of the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE. The event is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by a grant from the Capitol Hill Community Foundation. The venue is accessible and the event will be interpreted for the deaf. This year’s Remembrance will include performances by a variety of groups, including a cappella groups Fortissima, Not What You Think and Nuance, choral groups Washington Youth Choir and All Souls Jubilee Singers, and performances by private music students at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW) and an ensemble from the DC Youth Orchestra (invited). Individual artist Pamela Jafari is the MC. For more information about the King Remembrance, contact (202) 547-6839 or http://www.chaw.org/ or http://www.atlasarts.org/.
When: Tue Jan 21 2014 (7:00 PM)
Where: Atlas Performing Arts Center – Lang Theater, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002
Fee? no
Contact: Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, (202) 547-6839
For more information: click here

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Whine/Wine Wednesday

DC Diaper Bank
Come join us Wednesday nights for Whine/Wine Wednesday! Bring your own “whine” or wine!” Help us bundle diapers for the families we serve and make great new friends.
When: Wed Jan 22 2014 (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM)
Where: DC Diaper Bank Warehouse 8858 Monard Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland 20910
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Sorting and packing diapers; helping with other inventory
Contact: Corinne Cannon, (202) 656-8503