PETWORTH: Can You Support MacFarland Middle School in Petworth This Year?
Email info@dcTutorMentor.org or text (202) 688-1261 “MACFARLAND” to get started!
Click here to Start the Application Process.
Our Vision
Imagine a teacher in an understaffed, low-resource school struggling to keep up with the dynamic needs of his many students. He turns to his community for support, and 5 different volunteers decide to get involved, get trained, and commit to showing up every week for a couple hours to tutor his students in small groups. Now the teacher can focus on building lesson plans, advocating for better resources for his students, who are getting the extra support that could propel their academic progress forward.
Now, imagine this for the 39 or so high-need DCPS schools where at least 50% of the kids are considered at-risk. Just two hours of trained and reliable volunteer time each day could mean that virtually every student in most of these schools could have small group tutoring at least three times a week – critical for helping them catch up. (This is the “dosage” recommended by the High-Impact Tutoring research for consistently effective academic improvement.)
We believe that by building strong communities and nurturing neighborhoods around these schools, we can achieve this ambitious goal. Join us for a free volunteer training, movie night, yoga session, gardening and mural painting, and more right at your local elementary or middle school. Let’s make neighborhoods feel like neighborhoods again.
2024 Volunteer Opportunities
MacFarland Middle School (Petworth)
MacFarland Middle School is looking for a wide range of summer & fall volunteers to support their academic, mentorship, administrative, social and technical needs. This school is at 4400 Iowa Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 (Ward 4), with volunteer hours from 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM in hour-long blocks. We aim to recruit between 200 and 400 volunteers that will volunteer at varying intervals.
Malcolm X Elementary School
Malcolm X Elementary School is looking for volunteers this upcoming school year. This year the school is located at 4430 H Street SE (a temporary school building in Ward 7), and volunteers are needed from 8:40 AM to 5:30 PM in hour-long blocks. We will need 90 volunteers to commit to volunteer on a once a week basis.
Shirley Chisholm Elementary School
Shirley Chisholm Elementary School will need volunteers this upcoming school year. They are located southeast of Capitol Hill at 1001 G Street SE, Washington, DC 20003 (Ward 6). Volunteer hours are from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM in hour-long blocks, and 20 weekly volunteers are needed.
Stanton Elementary School
Stanton Elementary School needs volunteers this upcoming school year. The school is located at 2701 Naylor Road SE, Washington, DC 20020 (Ward 8), and volunteer hours are from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM in hour-long blocks. We need 10 weekly volunteers for this location.
The Howard Project
Overview: With nearly 80,000 college students in the DC College Consortium alone and approximately 60,000 primary and secondary students in need of support, we recognized an opportunity to bridge this gap and make service a cornerstone of our community. Our pilot initiative, starting with Howard University, has already mobilized 400 students in just one semester. As we look ahead, we aim to scale this initiative, making impactful community engagement a standard across DC and a model for universities nationwide.
Volunteering
Volunteers acted as teachers’ assistants, read to children, played soccer & other games during Malcom X’s afterschool program, assisted with school projects in the library, and supported music classes. Volunteers also gave 1-on-1 attention to students in special education classes.
Room for Growth
While we were able to fill 38% of the available time slots, our team is driven to expand this program further. We are actively seeking additional volunteers and partnerships to maximize our impact and provide even more support to the dedicated educators and bright young minds at Malcolm X Elementary and beyond.
Number of 1-hour sessions completed in the 11 weeks that Howard University students volunteered at Malcolm X.
Recruitment Process
We recruited over 400 Howard University students, 100 of whom completed the background check and onboarding process.
Number of Howard University students who volunteered throughout the 11 weeks.
Testimonials
“Small groups is one of the area where I need a lot of hands in the classroom. So having them was really helpful, because I was able to focus on my small group while they were helping the other students manage themselves and their behaviors.”
– Danielle Goua, 1st grade teacher
“A lot of our kids need to see people like us in college […] so they can believe and see that it’s achievable for them to make it to higher education. That’s what we’re about.”
– Keith Parham, Restorative Justice Coordinator & After School Site Leader
“I’ve been with this program for 10 years. I LOVE it […]. It’s just a joy, and I tell them [volunteers] every time – come back. We need you guys.”
– Shirley “Grandma” Meecham, long-term volunteer and ex-Malcolm X staff member
How To Get Involved
For Administrators & teachers
Apply for Volunteer Support:
- Contact Us: Schools interested in receiving volunteer support should contact our coordinator at nala@dctutormentor.org or call (202) 688-1261.
- Application Form: Complete our online application form available at [our website link], detailing your school’s specific needs and the number of volunteers required.
- Needs Assessment: Schedule a needs assessment meeting with our team to discuss the specific areas where volunteers can provide the most benefit.
For volunteers
Volunteer at the Schools: Make a direct impact by volunteering at one of our partner schools! Follow these steps to get onboarded and start making a difference:
- Fill Out the Form: Complete our volunteer application form available here and optionally specify which school(s) you’d like to volunteer with.
- Initial Meeting: Our staff will connect with you by phone and email after your application has been received to discuss your interests and availability.
- Get Matched: We will try and match you with a volunteer opportunity that best compliments your schedule and interest (try our fun quiz here to see which school your personality aligns best with).
- Complete Background Check: Our team members will show you how to get a DCPS background check to ensure the safety and security of our students.
- Start Volunteering: Finally, you will be connected with the volunteer coordinator for your assigned school to get started!
For Community Members
Become a Volunteer Driver for Our University Buddies: Join our team as a volunteer driver to help transport university students to and from their volunteer assignments. We hope that you will form a deep connection and bond with these students. To become a volunteer driver, please contact us at info@dctutormentor.org or call (202) 688-1261.
Donate to Our Volunteer Transit Fund: Help us cover transportation costs for our volunteers by donating to our Volunteer Transit Fund. Your generous contributions will provide necessary funds for fuel, vehicle use, and public transportation fees, ensuring our volunteers can continue their crucial work. To make a donation, please visit https://givebutter.com/NCbena.
Involve Your Workplace: Encourage your workplace to support our volunteer initiatives by organizing group volunteer days, offering corporate sponsorships, or providing in-kind donations. For more information on how to involve your workplace, please contact us at info@dctutormentor.org or call (202) 688-1261.
Be Part of Our Upcoming Events: join our recurring Yoga Sessions and Community Movie Nights! Have a question or event suggestion? Hop into our Thursday afternoon Virtual Office Hours on Zoom or email info@dctutormentor.org.
