Guest Post: LearnServe International

Posted on December 11, 2013 by Spur Local

Today’s post comes from LearnServe International, whose programs spark high school students’ passion to make a difference and equips them with the knowledge, tools, and relationships to effectively drive local solutions to pressing global challenges. Bringing together students from across the DC area, LearnServe prepares them with the skills of business leadership, innovative problem-solving, and cross-cultural fluency. Then students are challenged to lead community-based change in their schools, across the DC region, and around the world.Empowering high-schoolers who have the motivation to make a difference, the Fellows Program guides them through the creation of their own “social venture.”

LearnServe Fellows Prepare to Speak Out

by Scott Rechler, Director & CEO, LearnServe International

When is the last time you saw someone teased, harassed, or picked on simply because of who they are? Did you recognize it as bullying? Stand up to the perpetrator? Console the person these attacks were directed towards?

Madison and Alichea, both students at Parkdale High School in Prince George’s County, ask these questions every day. Both Madison and Alichea have seen bullying first-hand. And both are ready to do something about it.

In September we challenged Madison, Alichea, and the other 70 members of the 2014 class of LearnServe Fellows to articulate the injustices they witness or experience, that they would like to put an end to. As LearnServe Fellows, Madison and Alichea and their peers will spend the year developing business plans around their respective causes, then mobilize teams to get these “social ventures” off the ground.

Madison herself has been bullied. She knows the sting of teasing and intimidation, which she has endured for more than a year. She appreciates all that her school — through counseling and peer mediation — has done to address the problem. But she feels that students can also do more to support their classmates who have been targets of bullying.

Madison plans to create a peer-to-peer support network for targets of bullying and their allies. With additional guidance from the school’s counselor, students would support each other in working through some of the emotional effects of bullying.

Alichea, a member of Parkdale’s JROTC squad, sees it as her responsibility to intervene when she sees other classmates being bullied. She wonders why more students don’t step in. Do they see it all as a harmless joke? None of their business? They’re too afraid to respond? Or they simply don’t know what bullying looks like – and feels like – in all the forms it can take?

Alichea would like to help would-be bullies and would-be bystanders better understand what bullying is and why it must stop. Through school outreach she hopes to shed light on bullying at her school and build a network of allies ready to step in and stop it as it happens.

Each year, the LearnServe Fellows Program offers leadership and social entrepreneurship training to 70 high school students like Madison and Alichea – students who represent more than 30 public, private, and charter schools in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. LearnServe guides these students as they translate the causes they are most passionate about into community impact.

LearnServe invites you to meet Madison, Alichea, and the other members of the 2014 class of LearnServe Fellows as they debut their social venture ideas at the 7^th Annual Innovators Coffee House, tomorrow, December 12, 2013. The LearnServe Fellows will offer a series of 30-second “elevator pitches” on the causes they have chosen to address and the solutions they plan to design and implement this spring.

For more information about the LearnServe Fellows Program visit www.learn-serve.org/fellows.

For details or to RSVP for the 7^th Annual Innovators Coffee House, visit http://learn-serve.org/learnserve-fellows-events/.

Around Town 12/7 – 12/13

Posted on December 6, 2013 by Spur Local

Miss #GivingTuesday? You’re in luck: there’s still plenty of time to get involved with our great nonprofits! Check out what’s coming up and how you can support them this holiday season.

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Canal Stewards at Fletcher’s Cove

Potomac Conservancy
Join us at Fletcher’s Cove! We’ll be meeting at 10 am at Fletcher’s Cove to clean up the picnic area and surrounding trails. This cleanup is open to all ages, and we’ll provide all the necessary supplies – just wear clothes that can get dirty! This event is part of the National Park Service’s Canal Stewards program, engaging volunteers to become long-term caretakers of a site within the C & O Canal National Historical park.
When: Sat Dec 7 2013 (10:00 AM)
Where Fletcher’s Boathouse, 4940 Canal Road, Washington, DC 20007
Fee? no
Volunteer Info: Typical activities include picking up trash, pruning vegetation, or repairing the towpath and trails.
Contact: Lien Vu, (301) 608-1188 ext 205

Hospice Caring Tree of Love and Candle Luminary

Hospice Caring
Make the world a brighter place this holiday season as we honor and remember those who have touched our lives. Event includes: traditional lighting of the Tree of Love; Instrumental and Vocal music; Responsive readings; Reading of the Names; Light Refreshments
When: Sat Dec 7 2013 (5:00 PM)
Where: Hospice Caring Cottage, 518 South Frederick Avenue (Bohrer Park), Gaithersburg, MD 20877
Fee? yes: sponsor a name $25, or 5 names for $100
Contact: Penny Gladhill, (301) 990-8904
For more information: click here

Le Villi & Heart of Madrid

Director: Abel Lopez Conductor: Carlos Cesar Rodriguez Cast: Randa Rouweyha, Peter Burroughs, Gregory Stuart, Heidi Kershaw, Eduardo Castro, Adriana Gonzalez, Aurelio Dominguez, Mary Gresock, Adrienne Starr, Christine Soler, Brendan Sliger
When: Sat Dec 7 2013 (8:00 PM)
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW Washington, DC 20010
Fee? yes $42 general admission; $37 seniors; $20 students with school id & children
Volunteer Info: Ushering, box office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, Executive Assistant, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Living Well With Cancer One-Day Retreat

Smith Center for Healing and the Arts
This condensed version of our longer retreats help participants strengthen their innate healing mechanisms, complementing medical care with knowledge and tools to live healthier and more fulfilling lives. The day features group discussions, gentle yoga, a simple yet profound creativity activity, and talks on nutrition and healing.
When: Sun Dec 8 2013 (09:00 AM – 4:00 PM)
Where: Smith Center for Healing and the Arts, 1632 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee? yes $40
Contact: Adrienne Dern, (202) 483-8600
For more information: click here

Do Good Things Sunday

Volunteer Fairfax
On December 8, Stone’s Cove will partner with Volunteer Fairfax for a do good things Sunday. Join us to eat well and 10% of your purchase will be donated to support the Volunteer Fairfax mission.
When: Sun Dec 8 2013 (11:00 AM – 9:00 PM)
Where: Stone’s Cove KitBar, 2403 Centreville Road, Herndon, VA 20171
Fee? no
Contact: Emily Davis, (703) 246-3892
For more information: click here

A Family Reunion

The In Series
The world premiere of a haunting American opera-musical by Chris Patton & Bill Moses. When disparate family members gather for the holidays, love, loss, duty and memories of happy times converge as they wrestle with strained relationships and issues of care for their aging mother. Director: William Moses Music Director: Paul Leavitt Cast: Laura Lewis, Anastasia Robinson, Patricia Portillo, Alexandra Linn, Sean Pflueger, Andrew Adelsberger, Brian Shaw, Alessandro Topa, Nephi Sanchez
When: Sun Dec 8 2013 (3:00 PM)
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Fee? yes $38 general admission; $35 seniors; $20 students with school ID & children
Volunteer Info: Ushering, Box Office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

Aerial ARts

Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
Elevate Studios and Archane Aerial Arts proudly present this afternoon of aerial work. See just how possible it is to fly and the many ways it can be accomplished! Choreography and performance by the students and teachers of Elevate Studios and Archane Aerial Arts.
When: Sun Dec 8 2013 (4:00 PM)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Fee? yes $12 General; $10 Students & Seniors; $7 Youth
Contact: Malori Rhones, (301) 699-1619
For more information: click here

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Tuesday Warehouse Volunteering

DC Diaper Bank
Come help us in the warehouse! Volunteering is family friendly and all are welcome whether it’s for one hour or four. We’ll be sorting and packing diapers and even little hands can help with that (or just play in the play area!). Our Volunteer Dates are a great way to starting talking about giving back and community in a very tangible way that kids can relate to well.
When: Tue Dec 10 2013 (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

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 Dec 11 2013 (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

Global Kids’ DC Friendraiser

Global Kids
Global Kids presents, Live at Spike’s place: A Senator, an Ambassador, a Film, a Celebrity Chef and an Exceptional Group of Youth Leaders Please join Global Kids for dinner, drinks, and a special screening of “21st Century Global Kids: The New Soul of the City,” a short film created by DC high school students enrolled in Global Kids’ Summer Foreign Policy Institute and service-learning trip to Costa Rica. With special guests: Muni Figueres, Ambassador to the United States from Costa Rica Senator Harris Wofford (ret.) of Pennsylvania – former advisor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.; advisor to President John Kennedy on civil rights and the formation of the Peace Corps; CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service Spike Mendelsohn, Top Chef veteran and Washington, DC celebrity chef (We the Pizza; Good Stuff Eatery; Bearnaise) Enjoy great company and great food with a great cause: Washington, DC’s youth leaders learning locally and acting globally. Attendance for this occasion is at cost: $38. Space is limited to 150.
When: Wed Dec 11 2013 (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM)
Where: We the Pizza, 305 Pennsylvania Ave SE, Washington, DC 20003
Fee? yes $38 (covers food & beverages)
Contact: Catalina Talero, (202) 263-4534
For more information: click here

#GivingTuesday: We’re not done yet!

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Spur Local

Still looking for opportunities to give this #GivingTuesday? Look no further! The organizations below are all running #GivingTuesday campaigns, and need your support.

Arlington THRIVE
As winter approaches, your Arlington neighbors in need require your support now more than ever. Your gift of $250 can prevent the shut-off of an Arlington family’s heat and keep them safe and warm this winter. You can be confident that your gifts to Arlington Thrive prevent evictions and utility shut-offs and pay for emergency medical and dental care for our Arlington neighbors.
http://givingtuesday.razoo.com/story/Emergency-Needs-Utility-Assistance

A-SPAN
On December 3rd at 5pm, please consider?making a gift to A-SPAN?(as little as $10) to make an impact on Giving Tuesday. Razoo is hosting a giving Power Hour from 5 to 6 pm where the nonprofit who receives the most number of donors will earn bonus money! When you give, share your donation on twitter and facebook through Razoo and ask your friends to give as well. Tag each post with#GivingTuesdayand spread the word!
http://www.razoo.com/story/Givingtuesday-For-A-Span

Asian American LEAD
Help us spread the good word AND reach a fundraising goal of $2,500 to go towards our AALEAD After School, Summer and Mentoring Programs serving low-income and underserved Asian American youth! https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/AALEAD

CASA Prince George’s County
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)/ Prince George’s County empowers community volunteers to advocate and provide a voice for abused and neglected children in the Prince George’s County foster care system. A CASA volunteer is very often the only adult a child has been able to rely upon in their entire lives. It’s that simple – a qualified, caring adult can change everything. Your tax-deductible donation to our #GivingTuesday for the Child! Campaign will help us recruit and train more volunteers who will bring a voice to children in foster care.
http://givingtuesday.razoo.com/story/Givingtuesday-For-The-Child

DC SCORES
If you walk around in a community that includes one of DC SCORES 47 schools, you’re guaranteed to see a child in a DC SCORES T-shirt. The jersey is only one element of a DC SCORES soccer uniform. To participate in a weekly Game Day, a student also needs socks, shinguards and shorts. Can you help provide a soccer uniform for 250 new studentshttp://www.razoo.com/story/Givingtuesday-Provide-A-Child-A-Soccer-Uniform

FACETS
As you share in the joy of the holiday season we hope you will remember that there are hundreds of families in Fairfax County needing FACETS’ help. They are living in cars or motels or doubling up with family members. Some are barely scraping by in their own homes with the specter of eviction looming. And there are hundreds of people who simply need a helping hand to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. Your generosity this season will not only open doors for people in need, it will also literally bring people home for the holidays’
http://givingtuesday.org/partner/facets/

Girls on the Run – DC
Girls on the Run is growing by leaps and bounds in Washington DC! In the past year alone, we have experienced a 100% growth in the number of girls we serve! Our goal is to continue this kind of growth until we can reach as many girls in Washington DC as possible. We invite you to join us by helping us financially to expand to more schools and offer scholarships to girls who otherwise would not be able to afford this transformational program.
https://www.raceplanner.com/donate/Girls_on_the_Run__Washington_DC

Healthy Babies Project
Healthy Babies Project’s recently-opened Perennial Transitional House gives homeless, pregnant teen moms a roof over their heads, a safe place to live, and a chance for a healthy baby. Will you help us reach our goal of $50,000 to fund household expenses so these pregnant teenagers can come off the streets and live in a safe place, eat healthy food, have medical care, and continue with their education?
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Black-Friday–Cyber-Monday–But-the-Best-is-Giving-Tuesday–Join-Us-.html?soid=1103044049871&aid=McYFJDUECFc

Joy of Motion
Our Seniors in Motion outreach program provides free dance classes to low-income seniors at seven housing communities and wellness centers in five wards of DC and Silver Spring, MD, along with our annual “by seniors, for seniors” concert at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. All classes are provided at no cost to the centers or the participants, and our Seniors in Motion Concert is free and open to the public. Support from our community members is how we bring this program to life. We depend on you to share uplifting arts experiences with those of all ages. Join us on #GivingTuesday! http://www.razoo.com/story/Givingtuesday-2077

KidPower
Kid Power students are achieving their ambitious goals for the school year, and Kid Power is there every step of the way to help students achieve these goals through regular goal tracking, small group academic instruction, hands-on enrichment activities, and service-learning projects. Will you support our goal to raise $4,000 on Giving Tuesday so that we can help these amazing students reach their goals?http://givingtuesday.razoo.com/story/Giving-Tuesday-For-Kid-Power-Community-Leaders

Life Pieces to Masterpieces
Help us mend shared humanity‪#‎1stitch at a time! Life Pieces to MasterpiecesColor Me Community Conversations is a series of community discussions that provide a diverse group of people from all around Washington, DC with a safe environment to discuss challenges in our community. Participants commit to one-stitch (#1stitch) towards mending shared humanity. Hear more about their experienceshere. Our goal is to have one workshop every month in 2014, and we need YOUR help in order to continue this important conversation!

Offender Aid and Restoration (OAR)
Founded in 1974, OAR is a community-based, non-profit organization working with incarcerated individuals, returning citizens, and those performing court-mandated community service in Arlington County and the Cities of Alexandria and Falls Church, VA.
http://www.razoo.com/story/Oar

Our Daily Bread – Fairfax: Give the gift of HOPE this holiday season. It always fits, and it never goes out of style! Sponsor a Fairfax area family for holiday meals and gifts for kids through ODB’s Holiday Program. 2,400 people are still waiting for help in December. Share our #GivingTuesday page and help spread the word.
http://givingtuesday.org/partner/odbfairfax/

PEN/Faulkner
Last month, author Maria Semple visited the SEED School of Washington where she met with 21 11th grade students who had read her novel “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?” This visit (and the approximately 170 others we’ll hold in DC this school year) was made possible by the generosity of our friends and donors. On Tuesday, Dec. 3rd, PEN/Faulkner is proudly participating in Giving Tuesday, and we’re raising funds to help buy great books for great students!
http://givingtuesday.org/partner/penfaulkner-foundation/

Reach, Inc
Donate During December: Children’s Book Challenge!
Help us raise $50,000 from individual and corporate supporters before the end of the year! If we raise $50,000, Reach will donate 200 sets of our children’s books. Each set of donated books includes all four of ouracclaimed, teen-authored children’s books. All books will be donated to schools and programs serving low-income students in the District of Columbia. Learn more at: http://www.reachincorporated.org/donate/

Washington Youth Garden
A local family foundation and long-time Washington Youth Garden supporters have pledged to match every dollar we receive in this campaign up to $7,000.00. Some of the needs you’ll be supporting with your gift include school garden development, SPROUT field trip subsidies, Green Teens internship program, Family Garden Day scholarships and Nature Explore classroom renovation.
http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/washington-youth-garden

Young Playwrights’ Theater
Join YPT in celebrating how far we’ve come, and how far we can go. By teaching students to express themselves through playwriting, our programs empower students with the creativity, confidence and critical thinking skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. Your donation will help us say “yes” to new students throughout the DC region.
https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/1436983

#GivingTuesday is here! How will you make an impact in your community today?

Posted on December 3, 2013 by Spur Local

Since Thanksgiving, retailers have been promoting incredible steals and deals to help you complete your holiday shopping. What if you could turn the pennies you saved from those deals into pennies given to our Catalogue for Philanthropy charities?

The Catalogue’s #APennySaved campaign, in partnership with #GivingTuesday, combines the thrill of saving with the thrill of giving. We encourage you to turn your holiday savings into tangible good in the community through your support of our 350+ vetted charities.

After you give, don’t forget to tell us about it on social media! Use the hashtags #GivingTuesday and #APennySaved to tell us about how you’re supporting our community with the money you saved. Together we can make this a season of getting AND a season of giving.

Looking for ideas on ways to give? Think about how you saved, and use the wish lists below to guide your giving! Remember, this is only a small sample of our network of 350+ charities. Go to cfp-dc.org/nonprofits to learn more about them.

Saved $10 on a gift for your sibling? Use that $10 for:

One (1) load of laundry and a shower for a homeless individual (Carpenter’s Shelter)
Five (5) student poetry books (Split this Rock)
One (1) adoption or foster care themed children’s book to a local school (The Barker Foundation)
A package of energy efficient CFL light bulbs for a first time homebuyer (Housing Initiative Partnership)
Diapering a baby for two (2) weeks (DC Diaper Bank)
A three (3) piece winter set (hat, gloves, scarf) for one formerly homeless adult or child (Community Family Life Services)
One (1) student workbook (Literacy Council of Montgomery County)
Two (2) books for the “Ready to Read” program for homeless families (The Literacy Lab)
Art supplies for one (1) student for an entire month (Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus)
Transportation for one (1) unemployed individual to travel to job interviews (Jubilee Jobs)

Saved $25 on a gift for mom or dad? Use that $25 for:

Books for one (1) student for English as a Second Language classes (Language ETC)
Cab ride for an injured service member and his spouse to go out to dinner and a movie (Yellow Ribbon Fund)
Superhero action figures and capes for kids fighting life threatening illnesses (to enjoy when superheroes come visit) (Hope for Henry Foundation)
32 heavy duty trash bags to haul 640 pounds of trash from the Potomac (Potomac Conservancy)
One (1) pair of ballet shoes for a young dancer in need (Joy of Motion Dance Center)
Books for one elementary school student to read over the holiday break (Reach, Inc)
Three (3) books to help build a student’s home library (Reading Partners)
A teddy bear or other comfort toy for a child grieving the loss of a loved one (Wendt Center for Loss and Healing)
Two (2) native tree seedlings for restoration work in DC area parks (Earth Sangha)
Rechargeable batteries to power audio recording equipment (Stone Soup Films)
Complete Writing Program (guide, teacher training, evaluation) for one (1) student (One World Education)
Teaching a teen financial literacy skills (Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA)/Prince George’s County)
A Social Club outing for one (1) adult with a disability (ArtStream)
Destination Graduation: 2nd semester school replenish kit (pencils, notebooks, paper, memory cards, and highlighters) (The House, Student Leadership Center)

And for the really savvy shoppers out there…Did you save $50 on a holiday gift?Use that $50 for:

One (1) Know-Your-Rights session to inform shelter residents of their rights under Federal and Local law (Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless)
Thermal underwear for seven (7) people (Georgetown Ministry Center)
One (1) professional actor into a local classroom to perform students’ original plays (Young Playwrights’ Theater)
One (1) poet-athlete with soccer equipment and writing supplies for one DC SCORES season (DC SCORES)
Framing a student photo and hangs it in an art gallery (Critical Exposure)
A week’s worth of snacks in the after-school program (Mary House)
One (1) raincoat to outfit a child for a backpacking trip (City Kids Wilderness Project)
Sponsors a student’s participation at the Global Kids youth leadership conference in NYC (Global Kids)

Happy Giving!!

Reflections from the Road: Holiday Journeys and #GivingTuesday

Posted on November 27, 2013 by Spur Local

As we prepare for the holidays – packing suitcases, loading up the car, battling traffic or airport lines – it seems that the process of getting to our destination has become as much a part of holiday tradition as turkey, stuffing and that awkward annual dinner toast from a distant relative.

This inevitable “are we there yet?” mentality stretches beyond just the holiday travel season — it extends to our personal goals, career objectives and other milestones in life. Yet, while we’re on these personal journeys, it’s important that we use this time of year to stop and reflect — here, in this moment — on the things that have brought us to where we are today…and be thankful.

This Tuesday, December 3rd, #GivingTuesday gives us that unique opportunity after both Thanksgiving and the holiday shopping that follows to further reflect on all that we’ve been given, and turn our gratitude into impact.

As an official #GivingTuesday partner, the Catalogue for Philanthropy encourages you to reflect and re-think your approach to holiday shopping: as you shop for loved ones this year during the sales on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, turn your pennies saved into pennies…given.

With the Catalogue’s #APennySaved campaign, think about using your holiday shopping savings to lift up those in need in our community through your support of our 350+ local, vetted charities (You can learn more about them and give at www.cfp-dc.org/nonprofits). Use the money you save on items purchased this holiday weekend to change your community for good.

This holiday season, travel safely, reflect on the journey, and give thanks by giving back.

Around Town 11/22-11/11/28

Posted on November 22, 2013 by Sherika Brooks

We hope that you have received your new copy of the 2013-14 Catalogue by now! If not, request one here and find some great nonprofits to support, just like the ones below!

Friday, November 22, 2013

‘No School Day’ Camp

CREATE Arts Center
When school is out, art is in at CREATE! Join us for one of our exciting one day camps where students ages 6+ will work on projects that include drawing, painting, sculpture, collage and more!
When: Fri Nov 22 2013 (09:00 AM – 3:00 PM)
Where: CREATE Arts Center, 816 Thayer Ave., Floor 1, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Fee?:yes $65/ day. Before Care & After Care available for additional cost.
Contact: Lauren, (301) 588-2787
For more information: click here

EMANCIPATION:Meditations on Freedom

District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC)
November 22, 2013 to January 5, 2014 PRODUCED BY Black Artists of DC CURATOR: Esther Iverem OPENING RECEPTION: November 22, 7-9 PM Closing Reception : January 5, 2014, 2-5pm This year marks the 150 th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation in the United States. Though the proclamation which freed millions of African descendants from bondage is the starting point, this show will also explore various aspects of emancipation, from the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual, to the social, economic and political realms as well. What does emancipation or freedom mean in the year 2013 compared to the year 1863, or throughout the millennia of human history? What is the meaning of freedom for different populations on the globe, or how has emancipation impacted relationships between different populations? How has technology altered our ideas about freedom? What does it mean to be free?
When: Fri Nov 22 2013 (2:00 PM – 7:00 PM)
Where: 2438 18th St, NW, Washington, Dist of Columbia 20009
Fee?: no
Contact: DC Arts Center, (202) 462-7833
For more information: click here

The Bannermen Presents Lesser known Tales

District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC)
Lesser Known Tales is an entire one act play, completely improvised by the talented cast, based on a title given by you, the audience. What these performers do will absolutely make you question whether or not they really are making it up on the spot. But The Bannermen guarantee you that they are!
When: Fri Nov 22 2013 (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St., Washington D.C., DC 20009
Fee?: yes $12 for DCAC memebers / $15 for Non-DCAC members
Contact: DC Arts Center, (202) 462-7833
For more information: click here

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Run For Shelter 5K/10 K + Fun Run

Carpenter’s Shelter
Carpenter’s Shelter and Pacers Events is proud to bring back the Run for Shelter 10K, 5K & Fun Run, an event dedicated to ending homelessness in the DC area. All proceeds benefit Carpenter’s Shelter and our mission to end homelessness. Sign up by November 1st and you’ll be guaranteed a technical t-shirt.
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (08:00 AM)
Where: USPTO- Madison Building (Eisenhower Ave) 600 Dulany St., Alexandria, VA 22314
Fee?:yes $35 5K Registration, $35 10K Registration, $30 Fun Run Registration
Contact: Kelly Andreae, (703) 548-7500 ext 203
For more information: click here

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 Nov 23 2013 (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

Children’s Book Reading

Reach Incorporated
This summer, 15 DC teens set out to become children’s book authors. Join us on Saturday, November 23rd, to hear from the four original children’s books they authored.
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (10:00 AM – 11:30 AM)
Where: The Hill Center, 921 Pennsylvania Avenue SE, Washington, DC 20003
Fee?: no
Contact: Mark Hecker, (215) 205-9902
For more information: click here

Wild Plant Nursery Work Day

Earth Sangha
This nursery workday will focus on winterizing our stock. We will be spreading sand in the propagation beds, and filling pots with new topsoil to have the ready for sowing in early Spring.
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Wild Plant Nursery, See website for directions or search Google Maps for Wild Plant Nursery., Springfield, VA 22150
Fee?: no
Contact: Lisa Bright, (703) 764-4830
For more information: click here

Herbal Harvest

City Blossoms
The season is almost over, and one of our last activities is to cut back our perennial herbs – rosemary, lavender, thyme, sage, and more – to donate to local community organizations. Come and join us for an educational, delicious and fantastic smelling afternoon!
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Marion St. Intergenerational Garden, 1519 Marion St NW, Washington, DC 20011
Fee?: no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers will learn about a variety of herbs and how to care for them before the winter season. During the event, volunteers will cut and harvest herbs to be donated (and also taken home with volunteers)
Contact: Lola Bloom, (202) 870-8158

The Bannermen Presents Lesser known Tales

District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC)
Lesser Known Tales is an entire one act play, completely improvised by the talented cast, based on a title given by you, the audience. What these performers do will absolutely make you question whether or not they really are making it up on the spot. But The Bannermen guarantee you that they are!
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (7:30 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St., Washington D.C., DC 20009
Fee?: yes $12 for DCAC memebers / $15 for Non-DCAC members
Contact: DC Arts Center, (202) 462-7833
For more information: click here

Verdi’s Powerful and Timeless Requiem

National Philharmonic
Danielle Talamantes, soprano Margaret Mezzacappa, mezzo-soprano William Davenport, tenor Kevin Deas, bass National Philharmonic Chorale Stan Engebretson, conductor Written near the end of Verdi’s long career as a composer of opera, the monumental Requiem combines the drama of the stage, the passion and emotional power of an oratorio and the intensity of a symphony in a grand romantic expression of grief. This choral tour de force will feature two recent winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa and tenor William Davenport.
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (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, (301) 581-5
For more information: click here

Intro to Performance Showcase

Joy of Motion Dance Center
Join us for the first Intro to Performance concert at the Jack Guidone Theater! Styles presented are Modern with Haley Culter, Tap with Tamara Henry and Hip Hop with Natasha Hawkins! Don’t miss your chance to join in on the fun with a disco dance party on stage following the performance.
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (8:00 PM)
Where: The Jack Guidone Theater, 5207 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20015
Fee?: yes $12-15
Contact: JOMDC Friendship Heights, (202) 362-3042
For more information: click here

Le Villi & Heart of Madrid

The In Series
Pocket-Opera Double-Bill: Puccini’s first triumph, an opera-ballet in which the spirit of a jilted young woman returns to haunt her unfaithful lover. Paired with a charming Spanish fairy tale of lovers reunited serves as the vehicle for a cavalcade of zarzuela hits. In Elizabeth Pringle’s delightful libretto, fun-loving madrileos reunite an estranged American couple. Director: Abel Lopez Conductor: Carlos Csar Rodriguez Cast: Randa Rouweyha, Peter Burroughs, Gregory Stuart, Heidi Kershaw, Eduardo Castro, Adriana Gonzalez, Aurelio Dominguez, Mary Gresock, Adrienne Starr, Christine Soler, Brendan Sliger
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (8:00 PM)
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW Washington, DC 20010
Fee?: yes $42 general admission; $37 seniors; $20 students with school id & children
Volunteer Info: Ushering, box office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, Executive Assistant, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

CAPITAL CITY SHOWCASE

District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC)
The Capital City Showcase is the variety show that brings you some of the best comedians, musicians, and performing artists in the DMV. Hosted by Christian Hunt, it has featured some of the DC area’s finest stand up comedians, improv comics, rock bands, jazz bands, acoustic guitarists, and hip-hop artists.
When: Sat Nov 23 2013 (10:00 PM – 12:00 MIDNIGHT)
Where: DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St, NW, Washington, Dist of Columbia 20009
Fee?: yes At the door: $20 general/$15 DCAC Members ONLINE: $15 General/$12 DCAC Members
Contact: DC Arts Center, (202) 462-2438
For more information: click here

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Native Species Planting: Marie Butler Leven Preserve

Earth Sangha
If the weather permits, we’d like to do our last planting of the season on this day. We’ll add more Little Bluestem in our raised bed that we started on November 3rd. We’ll also bring some edge-of-the-wood native herbaceous plants species to plant where we removed Japanese Stiltgrass
When: Sun Nov 24 2013 (10:00 AM – 1:00 PM)
Where: Marie Butler Leven Preserve, 1501 Kirby Road, McLean VA 22101
Fee?:no
Volunteer Info: Plant native herbaceous plants.
Contact:Lisa Bright, (703) 764-4830
For more information: click here

Le Villi & Heart of Madrid

The In Series
Pocket-Opera Double-Bill: Puccini’s first triumph, an opera-ballet in which the spirit of a jilted young woman returns to haunt her unfaithful lover. Paired with a charming Spanish fairy tale of lovers reunited serves as the vehicle for a cavalcade of zarzuela hits. In Elizabeth Pringle’s delightful libretto, fun-loving madrileos reunite an estranged American couple. Director: Abel Lopez Conductor: Carlos Csar Rodriguez Cast: Randa Rouweyha, Peter Burroughs, Gregory Stuart, Heidi Kershaw, Eduardo Castro, Adriana Gonzalez, Aurelio Dominguez, Mary Gresock, Adrienne Starr, Christine Soler, Brendan Sliger
When: Sun Nov 24 2013 (3:00 PM)
Where: GALA Hispanic Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010
Fee?: yes $42 general admission; $38 seniors; $20 students with school ID & children
Volunteer Info: Ushering, Box Office
Contact: Gregory Stuart, (202) 204-7765
For more information: click here

Pirouettes Workshop with Kathleen Weitz

Joy of Motion Dance Center
This workshop will examine the principles of turning, beginning with exercises focused on achieving balance and alignment, and will progress from basic pirouettes to traveling turns, grands pirouettes and turning jumps. Level: Beginning Ballet and above
When: Sun Nov 24 2013 (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Where: JOMDC Friendship Heights, 5207 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20015
Fee?: yes $25 advanced registration; $30 day of workshop
Contact: JOMDC Friendship Heights, (202) 362-3042
For more information: click here

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Hope for Henry Reads Presents Elisabeth Dahl

Hope for Henry Foundation
Children’s Book Author Elisabeth Dahl will share her book Genie Wishes with all the kids at Children’s National’s Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders.
When: Tue Nov 26 2013 (11:00 AM – 12:30 PM)
Where: Children’s National Center for Cancer & Blood Disorders, 111 Michigan Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20010
Fee?: no
Contact: Laurie Strongin, (202) 277-2710

Guest Post: One World Education

Posted on November 18, 2013 by Spur Local

Today we welcome Eric Goldstein, Founder & Executive Director of One World Education (OWEd) to GoodWorks. OWEd provides middle and high school common core literacy programs and publishes student essays about cultural and global issues, promoting peer-to-peer learning and building skills for college and career writing. Founded in 2007, the teacher-created nonprofit has been recognized throughout the Capital Region as an outstanding literacy program that improves and celebrates student writing. Nationally, OWEd has been featured on Edutopia, ASCD’s Education Blog, Huffington Post, Comcast Newsmakers, and CBS News. In 2013, OWEd was selected as the first writing program to be adopted for all DC Public High Schools.Prior to One World Education, Eric was a middle and high school teacher in a DC Charter School. We’re delighted to welcome Eric & the OWEd team as a new 2013/14 Catalogue partner!

Step Back & Move Forward

by Eric Goldstein, Founder & Executive Director, One World Education

Sometimes the most effective step an organization can take toward improving its programming is to improve the organization behind its programming. Seven years ago in an 8^th grade Charter School classroom, where One World Education (OWEd) was created with my 8^th grade students, thinking about anything other than involving more students in our successful writing project wasn’t even a speck on the radar.

The success of that classroom project propelled OWEd’s expansion into a citywide organization. Now the organization provides in DC middle and high schools. As students strengthen the skills needed for college and career-level writing, they learn to write and frame arguments about cultural and global issues that they care about. The organization then on its website with aligned curriculum, so students can read and learn about these topics from the perspective of their peers.

Just as our programs ensure that teachers have strong plans for their students, OWEd followed suit and used the last school year to preparing its own strategic goals. The results have spearheaded program improvements, expansion, and more efficient partner collaboration. As a new member organization in the Catalogue of Philanthropy Community, I’ll use this blog post to share some of One World Education’s goals for long-term success and sustainability.

First, schools had asked OWEd about offering more in-school, professional development (PD). We realized that a higher quality of writing was coming from students whose teachers had participated in our trainings. In response, OWEd developed a Teacher Trainer Academy where our educator team trains a teacher from each partner school. These teachers then lead OWEd’s PD in their own schools – creating leadership opportunities, fostering collaboration, and ensuring program expertise exists in each partner school.

Second, OWEd needed to change its partnership model to be more effective. This year the organization transitioned from working with individual schools to working with school districts and Charter school networks. For the 2013-2014 school year, OWEd partnered with DC Public Schools (DCPS) to implement a citywide, high school writing program. Every 9th and 10th grade DCPS student and teacher has the opportunity to participate in the One World Writing Program this year.

OWEd’s third goal was to deepen its commitment to evaluation. With the DCPS partnership in place, OWEd needed a strong evaluation partner to assess our work with 3,500 DCPS high school students and their teachers. This summer, OWEd contracted the Trachtenberg School of Public Policy and Public Administration at George Washington University to lead this citywide evaluation.

The importance of having a strong, long-term plan is often overlooked in the face of short-term gains. As OWEd programs have demonstrated the ability to create successful teaching and learning experiences in classrooms, the organization was also successful in accomplishing its own goals over the past year. I want to thank those of you who have been a part of this accomplishment.

Thank you for your commitment to education and philanthropy.

To learn more about One World Education, please visit, www.oneworldeducation.org and keep up with Eric’s monthly blog here.

Around Town 11/15-11/21

Posted on November 15, 2013 by Sherika Brooks

Looking for something fun to do with your friends and family in the next week? Check out what is happening with Catalogue nonprofits in your neck of the woods!

Saturday, November 16, 2013

FLOC Book Festival

For Love of Children
The Book Festival is an opportunity for FLOC students and their families to celebrate the importance of reading and literacy. At last year’s event, more than 80 students and family members enjoyed a story from Master of Ceremonies Cynn Simpson of WJLA-TV and local author Laura Murray read her book The Gingerbread Man Loose in the School. Students participated in the presentations and at the conclusion of the event took home 20 books to start their own personal libraries. According to a 2007 study by the NCES, 4th graders who reported having 25 books or more at home had higher scores on reading tests than children who reported they didn’t have that many books. This year FLOC is hoping to engage our corporate partners and local businesses to support this event by hosting workplace book drives.
When: Sat Nov 16 2013 (4:00 PM – 6:00 PM)
Where: Pepco Edison Place Gallery, 702 Eighth Street, NW, Washington, DC 20068
Fee?: no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers would host book drives at their place of business for FLOC students to take home and add to their personal libraries.
Contact: Kate Fleischer, (202) 462-8686 ext 3613
For more information: click here

Naked Girl Reading

District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC)
Sandman, Neverwhere, Stardust, American Gods and Coraline. Do those words bring excitement to your very being? Then this is the show for you! Don’t know those titles yet? Then come and find out about this amazing literary and film sensation. Naked Girls Reading dedicates the month of November to the winner of a multitude of literary awards and one of our favorite author’s, Neil Gaiman!
When: Sat Nov 16 2013 (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM)
Where: DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St. Washingtond D.C., DC 20009
Fee?: yes $20 Online Presale/at the door DCAC members // $25 at the door Non-DCAC members
Contact: Jae Lee, (202) 462-7833
For more information: click here

The Groove Experience, A Film Premiere and Dance Party

Joy of Motion Dance Center
* All proceeds go towards supporting Groove Elements Come walk the red carpet with Joy of Motion Dance Center’s teen Hip Hop company, Groove Elements, as they premiere their first concept video titled “Groove(n).” Music, games, prizes, food, and lots of dancing. Special performance by Groove Elements, with guest appearance by Hip Hop Company Prep Class. Fun for all ages.
When: Sat Nov 16 2013 (7:30 PM – 10:00 PM)
Where: JOMDC Bethesda, 7315 Wisconsin Avenue Suite 180E, Bethesda, MD 20814
Fee?: yes $7
Contact: Rachel Pearl, (202) 399-6764 ext 162
For more information: click here

Aerial Arts

Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
DC’s own Archane Aerial Arts welcomes performers in aerial dance and theater, circus arts, music and poetry as collaborating partners and as guests “just flying in.” Join us, with artists from near and far for an evening of work using the ground, the ceiling and all the space in between.
When: Sat Nov 16 2013 (8:00 PM)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Fee?: yes $20 General; $15 Students & Seniors; $10 Youth
Contact: Malori Rhones, (301) 699-1619
For more information: click here

Dissonance Dance Theatre Presents East To West: Dances of a Minority Mind

Joy of Motion Dance Center
Saturday, November 16, 8:00 PM Sunday, November 17, 7:00 PM East to West: Dances of a Minority Mind (East to West), is an evening length concert of dance works of African and Afro – American blends constructing stories through contemporary ballet and modern styles. Examining themes of loss, love and the celebration of life, African American choreographer, Shawn Short presents choreographic works from the heart. By blending western and European dance influences, Short’s work is diverse and brings a universal message.
When: Sat Nov 16 2013 (8:00 PM)
Where: The Jack Guidone Theatre, 5207 Wisconsin Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20015
Fee?: yes $15-18
Contact: JOMDC Friendship Heights, (202) 362-3042
For more information: click here

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Aerial Arts

Joe’s Movement Emporium/World Arts Focus
DC’s own Archane Aerial Arts welcomes performers in aerial dance and theater, circus arts, music and poetry as collaborating partners and as guests “just flying in.” Join us, with artists from near and far for an evening of work using the ground, the ceiling and all the space in between.
When: Sun Nov 17 2013 (4:00 PM)
Where: Joe’s Movement Emporium, 3309 Bunker Hill Road, Mount Rainier, MD 20712
Fee?: yes $20 General; $15 Students & Seniors; $10 Youth
Contact: Malori Rhones, (301) 699-1619
For more information: click here

Monday, November 18, 2013

You’re Invited to Coffee Talk with Jubilee Jobs

Jubilee Jobs
Last year, Jubilee Jobs helped 1,000 people obtain employment. Want to know how we do it? Want to help us place 1,000 more people in jobs this year? Then join us on November 18th 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 Nov 18 2013 (08:30 AM)
Where: The Festival Center, 1640 Columbia Road, NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee?: no
Contact: Sheila Robinson, (202) 667-8970

New Writers Now! – Save The Day!

Young Playwrights’ Theater
Hijinks ensue when unconventional heroes fight for truth, glory and chores? Join YPT as we launch our eighteenth season with a special, family-friendly evening of five new plays written by some of our most imaginative playwrights and performed by professional actors. We will begin with a reception at 6:30pm, where guests will have the opportunity to meet our playwrights and enjoy light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments. The performance will begin at 7pm, and will be followed by a post-show discussion with the playwrights. The performance is free and our plays are appropriate for all ages. Bring the whole family to this free, fun performance event, and learn more about the exciting things YPT has coming up this season!
When: Mon Nov 18 2013 (6:30 PM – 9:00 PM)
Where: Josephine Butler Parks and Recreation Center, 2437 15th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20009
Fee?: no
Volunteer Info: Volunteers would assist YPT staff with set-up for the performance and reception, greet guests and collect contact information, serve as ushers during the performance and help with clean-up after the performance. We would greatly appreciate any volunteer help!
Contact: Alison Beyrle, (202) 387-9173
For more information:

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Tuesday Warehouse Volunteering

DC Diaper Bank
Come help us in the warehouse! Volunteering is family friendly and all are welcome whether it’s for one hour or four. We’ll be sorting and packing diapers and even little hands can help with that (or just play in the play area!). Our Volunteer Dates are a great way to starting talking about giving back and community in a very tangible way that kids can relate to well.
When: Tue Nov 19 2013 (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

Look at Literacy

Literacy Council of Montgomery County
The Literacy Council is presenting a one-hour program and tour that will “open your eyes” to the state of adult literacy in Montgomery County and give you a first-hand look at how our organization helps adult learners achieve literacy skills for life.
When: Tue Nov 19 2013 (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
Where: LCMC Office, Rockville Memorial Library, 21 Maryland Ave., Suite 320, Rockville, MD 20850
Fee?: no
Contact: Marty Stephens, (301) 610-0030 ext 202

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

CFLS Open House

Community Family Life Services
Join us for cookies and tea and find out why Community Family Life Services was selected as one of greater Washington’s best small nonprofits by the Catalogue for Philanthropy! It’s a great opportunity to learn more about CFLS. We host all of our Open Houses on the third Wednesday of every month from 10:30 – 11:30 am.
When: Wed Nov 20 2013 (10:30 AM – 11:30 AM)
Where: Community Family Life Services, 305 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20001
Fee?: no
Contact: Kevin Holst, (202) 864-6308

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 Nov 20 2013 (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

What Hope Looks Like: mural show and 15th anniversary celebration

Hope House DC
This is an exhibit of the murals created by our Hope House fathers and children at our Father to Child Summer Camp behind bars. The event will feature great art, live jazz music, delicious food, and a chance to meet our families. Valet parking available.
When: Wed Nov 20 2013 (6:30 PM – 8:30 PM)
Where: McDermott, Will & Emery, 500 North Capitol Street, NW, Washington, dc 20001
Fee?: yes $50
Volunteer Info: staff our christmas table and our registration table.
Contact: Carol Fennelly, (202) 506-2253
For more information: click here

DC Law Students in Court and Justice Aid Benefit Concert

DC Law Students In Court Program
On November 20, 2013, JusticeAid honors the non-profit DC Law Students in Court for its 45 years of training law students from area schools to represent the disenfranchised in the nation’s capital. LSIC prevents homelessness by keeping families in safe and affordable housing while also striving to end the school-to-prison pipeline and reduce the mass-incarceration of the poor. Its mission is to break the cycle of poverty, attack injustice, and to inspire the next generation of lawyers. 7:00 PM – Mix and mingle with DC’s top legal professionals. Please see our website http://justiceaid.org/ for more information about the featured D.C. lawyers. 8-11 PM-Music Featuring: The Morrison Brothers Band, Flow Tribe, and Pants Velour.
When: Wed Nov 20 2013 (7:00 PM – 00:00 AM)
Where: The Black Cat 1811 14th Street, NW,, Washington DC 20009
Fee?: yes $20 Individual Ticket
Contact: Angela Wang , (202 ) 638-4798 ext 207
For more information: click here

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Thursday Warehouse Volunteering

DC Diaper Bank
Come help us in the warehouse! Volunteering is family friendly and all are welcome whether it’s for one hour or four. We’ll be sorting and packing diapers and even little hands can help with that (or just play in the play area!). Our Volunteer Dates are a great way to starting talking about giving back and community in a very tangible way that kids can relate to well.
When: Thu Nov 21 2013 (10:00 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

Guest Post: ArtStream

Posted on November 13, 2013 by Spur Local

Today we’re delighted to have a post from Patricia Woolsey, Executive Director of ArtStream, Inc., about their Allies in the Arts program at Walter Reed Medical Center, in honor of Veterans Day earlier this week. ArtStream, Inc. provides specialized arts opportunities to people who often lack access to the many benefits of arts involvement. Serving the greater Washington region and the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina, ArtStream supports people who are dealing with a variety of life challenges, including those with intellectual, developmental, and physical disabilities; youth who are adopted or in foster care; children and adults in hospital and hospice settings; individuals and families who are bereaved; wounded military personnel, veterans, and their families; and senior citizens.

by Patricia Woolsey, Executive Director

In honor of Veterans Day, I want to tell you about ArtStream’s Allies in the Arts Program at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. ArtStream was founded on our belief in the healing power of the arts, and we take our programs into the community where the need is. Wounded servicemen and women can’t come to us, so ArtStream artists go to Walter Reed two evenings per week to work with wounded service members, their families, and caregivers.

Some patients love a visit from Jude, a musician. Others prefer writing with Roseanne or storytelling with Ermyn. Still others enjoy making things with Nancy, a visual artist. One of the highlights of my job as Executive Director of ArtStream is reading the artists’ reports of their work at Walter Reed.

For example, musician Jude Crannitch writes:

“I played/demonstrated harmonica techniques to one patient — how to bend notes, breathing techniques, single note isolation, music theory-chord structure, keys — all in response to his questions. I played Rev. Gary Davis’ You Gotta Move, with and without guitar accompaniment. The patient showed me a bracelet with the names of his buddies who had died and described his vision of honoring and consolidating their memory and presence through mastery of the harmonica. He told me he was “shaky” before I came, about his surgery in the morning, but was empowered and focused by the visit.”

Storyteller Ermyn King works with words instead of music.

“The patient was cringing, wincing, and moaning with nerve pain in his injured leg, yet he welcomed the Allies arts session in determination to use it for pain distraction. He chose to work with the magnetic poetry board and “Healing Words.” After concentrating on this and maneuvering words on the magnetic slate, he said that the set didn’t have the words needed to express his thoughts and feelings adequately. I quickly gave him a tablet of paper and pencil so he could use all the words that he needed. He poignantly expressed the guilt that he feels in having survived the attack that killed three of his comrades. He said he feels this guilt “every second of every day.”

We are so grateful to be part of the Artist-in-Residence Program at Walter Reed and proud to be on the cutting edge of the “Arts in Healthcare” movement. ArtStream’s work at Walter Reed is featured as a model program in The National Initiative for Arts & Health in the Military’s report, Arts, Health and Well-Being across the Military Continuum: White Paper and Framing a National Plan for Action, presented to every member of Congress before Veterans Day.

The paper is a result of a growing number of military leaders recognizing that art helps heal the wounds so prevalent in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan: traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress, depression, and lost limbs. Fortunately, they also understand that artists have expertise and training worth investing in. At the moment, ArtStream supports this program entirely, but one of the findings of the report is that a public/private partnership benefits the military, artists, and the community. “Today, with only 1% of our population in the military, many individuals have no connection to the military yet are concerned and eager to help,” said Judy Rollins, lead writer.

Community support is important to the seriously wounded servicemen and women we work with. Many of them are very young, yet have given so much. Their lives are changed forever in ways that can’t always be expressed in words or treated with medicine. We are honored to share the healing power of the arts with them.

To learn more about ArtStream and the Allies in the Arts program, visit our website at: www.art-stream.org.

Guest Post: Yellow Ribbon Fund

Posted on November 11, 2013 by Spur Local

In honor of Veterans Day, we welcome the Yellow Ribbon Fund to GoodWorks. While Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and Ft. Belvoir Community Hospital provide world-class medical care for gravely wounded service members, the Yellow Ribbon Fund provides the programs that make daily life more manageable for the wounded and their family caregivers. YRF serves over 1,000 soldiers and their families annually through practical, hands-on assistance during recovery at the hospital, and ongoing support during reintegration to civilian life back home.

by Kristin Henderson

Communications Director, YRF

It’s Veterans Day again, a time to honor and thank those who’ve served in uniform. Be sure to thank the families, too. Every week, we hear stories like this one from the injured service members and families we serve:

“The Yellow Ribbon Fund took care of us when no one else would. I arrived at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on a weekend to greet my wounded husband, with a newborn son and 3-year-old daughter in tow. No one is in the offices there on the weekends and my kids desperately needed a place to rest other than the hospital. YRF paid for our hotel room for those first few nights until the Army had cut us orders to stay at the hotel on base. Later in my husband’s recovery, when he could leave the hospital, they took us to baseball games. This seems inconsequential but it gave our entire family a break from the hospital environment. It made our daughter feel special and let us smile and laugh together. We’re eternally grateful for that. Our daughter’s best Walter Reed memories are going with the Yellow Ribbon Fund to see the Nationals play. And my husband’s first solo trip without me was on a Yellow Ribbon Fund tour of a battlefield. That trip gave him confidence that he could do some things on his own despite his physical limitations. Yellow Ribbon Fund provides not just assistance for wounded warrior families, but they build hope as well.

Through the Yellow Ribbon Fund, our supporters are able to offer real thanks to injured service members and their families for their sacrifices. Since 2005, we’ve been listening to what the injured and their family caregivers tell us they need. Then we fill those gaps in support with practical help for the whole family, because when the service member is wounded, the whole family is wounded. Our focus on the family sets us apart, especially the services we pioneered for family caregivers — mostly moms and wives who sacrifice jobs and put their lives on hold to help care for their injured loved ones. It can take years to recover from a devastating combat injury. Family caregivers are truly America’s unsung heroes.

So while injured troops are recovering at Walter Reed and Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, YRF provides free rental cars, taxi rides, hotel stays, and apartments for visiting family members. We arrange for family-friendly activities and stress-relieving massages for the family caregivers. We organize more than 100 social events and outings yearly for the injured and their families, including free tickets to sporting and cultural events. These events and outings nurture family relationships during a difficult time. We also offer career and education mentoring. Even after they return to their hometowns, our nationwide network of volunteers continues to provide practical support.

The needs of our injured heroes and their families will go on long after the wars are over. But with the help of our donors and volunteers, we will ensure they don’t fall through the gaps. We’ll keep on saying thank you in ways that make a real difference.

Learn more or get involved at: www.yellowribbonfund.org

Catalogue Blog

LearnServe Fellows Prepare to Speak Out

Saturday, December 07, 2013

Sunday, December 08, 2013

Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Friday, November 22, 2013

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Step Back & Move Forward

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Monday, November 18, 2013

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Thursday, November 21, 2013

by Patricia Woolsey, Executive Director

by Kristin Henderson

Communications Director, YRF