Community Service 101

As fall gets into full swing in the District, TMA students are knuckling down for Math projects, Biology reports, English papers, and …community service hours. As is the case with other DC high schools, students at Thurgood Marshall must complete 100 hours of community service in order to graduate. 

While raking leaves and cleaning out gutters may be great services for their communities, students were also reminded this past week that DCPCHS have more rigorous community service requirements; namely, that students work without pay for a structured and supervised program run by someone who is not related to them. They were also advised that colleges look for students who demonstrate commitments to specific programs or sites by volunteering there over a long period of time. 

Most students are familiar with these guidelines, but for those who aren’t, Programs staff are hard at work putting together the annual Community Service Opportunities Guide. Packed with information on local programs that focus on everything from animal therapy to multilingual youth education, the guide will help even the most stellar of TMA-ers to find new and challenging ways to complete their service hours.

For those who can’t wait, here are a few highlights from the guide:

Looking for something nearby? Head to:

Children of Mine Youth Center

2263 Mt. View Place, S.E.
Washington, D.C. 20020
After-school program located in Anacostia. Includes tutoring and playground recreation with youth.

Want to volunteer for lots of different programs? Check out:

Latin American Youth Center

1419 Columbia Road, NW
Washington, DC
The LAYC provides education, recreation, culture, skills training, and support services to Latin@ and other youth. The Center has many different volunteer opportunities and events; check under the Volunteer page for specific info.

Want to work with other teenagers? Check out:

Sasha Bruce House

741 Eighth Street
Washington, D.C. 20003
* An advocacy network for young people all over Washington. Outreach programs include a residence for teenage mothers, a crisis intervention telephone hotline, a run-away shelter and neighborhood "safe houses." There are many opportunities available, including tutoring, peer counseling, and hotline attendant. This program involves considerable training. Minimum age for volunteers is 16.

Keep your eyes peeled for other volunteer opportunities that are right up your alley—coming soon to a cafeteria near you!!!