Creating Nonprofit Stories Worth Sharing

Posted on January 29, 2014 by Spur Local

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

Posted on January 27, 2014 by Spur Local

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.

In the (Snow Day) News…

Posted on January 21, 2014 by Spur Local

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.

MLK Day of Service and Benefits of Volunteering

Posted on January 16, 2014 by Spur Local

On Monday, January 20th, we celebrate not only Martin Luther King Jr. Day but also the official MLK Day of Service, a day to honor the legacy of Dr. King by moving us closer to his vision of creating a “Beloved Community” through Americans taking community action to help solve our nation’s social issues.

The Catalogue for Philanthropy’s community of charities has a number of opportunities for volunteers to participate in MLK Day of Service. We encourage you to take a look at what they have to offer, and keep us posted on social media how you decide to turn your “day off” into a “day on” by helping your community.

It’s widely known that volunteering has many intangible benefits such as a sense of belonging and achievement, but did you know that volunteering can also benefit you in other ways, too? The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) research suggests that volunteering can have a significant positive impact on employment prospects. For example, volunteers have a 27 percent higher likelihood of finding a job after being out of work than non-volunteers. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that volunteering can help build up the critical elements needed for success in the workplace: socialization (networking) and skill-building (including both soft skills such as time management or teamwork, and professional job skills).

In addition to employment benefits, volunteering is good for your health! A recent survey from UnitedHealth Group and Harris Interactive reports that volunteers have lower stress, better physical, mental and emotional health, and feel more connected to their communities. Another, more unique, perk is that volunteers tend to be more informed healthcare consumers as well, and therefore are more proactive in managing their own health.

So, on this MLK Day of Service, gather your family, friends or colleagues, and join a Catalogue charity to help create a “beloved community.” Whether you are an experienced volunteer or new to service, we can all benefit in unique and substantial ways when we come together as a community.

Mentoring Monday

Posted on January 13, 2014 by Spur Local

Today is Mentoring Monday around the District! There are thousands of youth across our region who are in need of a caring adult, a positive role-model, a friend to offer guidance about and spark interest in school, new activities and their future…in other words, a mentor. This consistent, positive relationship has a profound effect on mentees; in fact, youth who meet regularly with a mentor:

have better school attendance, a better chance of going on to higher education, and better attitudes toward school,
are less likely to abuse drugs or alcohol, or engage in criminal behavior,
are more self-confident and have more positive social relationships,
are more likely to get involved with community/extra curricular activities and broader their horizons.

Though the need is great, we are lucky to have so many wonderful mentoring organizations as part of our network. So if you missed the Mentoring Monday phonebank this morning, consider becoming a mentor and checking out some of our charities below.

Capital Partners for Education makes a college degree possible for low-income youth in the Washington, DC area. Since 1993, CPE has connected motivated students from low-income families with the opportunities, resources, and guidance they need to graduate from high school and college and pursue professional careers. CPE provides students with a unique combination of one-on-one mentoring, individualized staff support, college and career readiness programming, and scholarships. By complementing the rigorous education with additional wrap-around services, CPE levels the playing field between our students and their upper-income peers, thereby breaking the multigenerational cycle of poverty one family at a time. Over the past 20 years, the organization has supported more than 500 students and has produced a 75% program completion rate, a 99% college enrollment rate and a 70% college completion rate for its graduates — more than three times the rate nationally and five times the rate in DC. Contact: Chris Lockwood, Recruitment and Selection Associate, mentor@cpfe.org 202-682-6020 ext. 221, http://www.cpfe.org

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) — For children living in foster care in Prince George’s County, MD and Fairfax County, VA, their Court Appointed Special Advocate may well be the only source of comfort and safety they have while they wait for a permanent and stable home. CASA gives a voice to abused and neglected children in the foster care system by training and supervising volunteer advocates and promoting the timely placement of children in stable homes. Volunteers are assigned to one child and commit to advocating for one year. Volunteers spend 10-15 hours per month meeting with their child and advocating on his or her behalf. In Hyattsville, MD, contact: Ann Marie Binsner 301-209-0491, pgerber@pgcasa.org , or visit: http://www.pgcasa.org/.

In Fairfax, contact Elisa Kosarin, volunteer@casafairfax.org, (703) 273-3526 or visit:http://fairfaxcasa.org/

Higher Achievement – Targeting academically motivated students at a critical juncture – 5th through 8th grade – and working with them in the “gap” hours after school and over the summer, Higher Achievement offers rigorous academic classes and stresses the discipline and dedication children need to succeed. A four-year, sustained academic intervention, it requires a serious commitment from its scholars and offers exciting bonuses in return: advanced intellectual discussions, university trips, and lectures on current topics. 100% of scholars improve by 20% or more on standardized tests, 100% of 2011 graduates advanced to college-preparatory high schools (90% to top choice schools like Gonzaga, Banneker, and Sidwell), and 93% ultimately head to college, compared to 50% citywide. Mentors teach a small group (3-4) of 5th or 6th graders in a core academic subject: Math, Literature, or an Elective Seminar (all curriculum and training provided), one night per week Mon, Tue, or Thurs, mid-September until early May. Serves DC and Alexandria, VA. Contact: Matt Thornton, Dir. Volunteer Management 202-375-7733 http://www.higherachievement.org/

Mentoring Today — Youth at the secure residential treatment facility for young males (New Beginnings) have frequent arrests to their names. When they return home, poverty, violence, and staggering unemployment await them. So Mentoring Today targets 17-19 year-olds before, during, and after re-entry. Through a partnership with Students United, Mentoring Today pairs each youth with a Washington College of Law student who can act both as confidante and zealous advocate. Together, they plan post-release goals, from earning a GED, to beginning vocational training, to finding a job; guided by a staff attorney, mentors also ensure that each young man receives the public education, health, and support services to which he is entitled. Last year, only one-third of mentees re-offended; none committed violent crimes. Imagine the change. Serves DC. Call (202) 678-9001 or find more here: http://mentoringtoday.org/get-involved

Mentoring to Manhood, Inc. – Last year in Prince George’s County, only 55% of black males graduated from high school. A grassroots mentorship nonprofit, M2M offers personal and academic support to African-American middle and high school boys (grades 7-12) in the county whose average GPA is 1.8 and most of whom report low self-confidence. Through weekly group mentoring and tutoring, mentees develop collaboration and life skills, enjoy team sports and community service, and come together for a Leadership Retreat. Offices located in Upper Marlboro, MD Contact: Rob Howze, 240-461-8474; rhowze@m2minc.org http://m2minc.org/

Mentors Inc. – Founded by a DCPS educator and parent of a high school student to combat DC’s low high-school graduation rates, Mentors, Inc. places at-risk students in one-on-one relationships with trained adults to help them develop their potential, encourage them to stay in school, and see that they graduate with a plan for the next step in life. While only 58% of the city’s seniors graduate from high school, 93% of the most recent Mentors, Inc “proteges” did, and 84% are enrolled in college. Mentors are paired with students ages 14-18, grades 9-12. Offices located in Washington, D.C. Contact: Remeka Blakey at rblakey@mentorsinc.org or 202-783-2310, http://www.mentorsinc.org/

You’ve made your list, but have you checked it twice?

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Spur Local

Still searching for the perfect gift?

This year, save yourself from a frantic last-minute trip to the mall and consider giving the gift that gives back. The Catalogue for Philanthropy offers gift e-cards that make the perfect gift for anyone on your list: from that one person who has everything to the budding junior philanthropist in the family. In fact, we can’t think of a time when a Catalogue gift card wouldn’t be a great gift.

Still looking for inspiration? What about giving a Catalogue gift card…

as a “thank you” to your favorite hard-working barista, postal carrier, dog-walker or doorman?
as a way to introduce philanthropy to the next generation in your family? (We think the inspiring work of our charities as told in the Catalogue makes a great substitute for the annual reading of “Twas the Night Before Christmas”)
as a hostess gift for holiday parties?
as a creative gift for teachers at your child’s school?
for the neighbor who is always there to lend a hand?

The Catalogue for Philanthropy’s e-gift card not only captures the spirit of the holidays through the joy of giving, but it also gives recipients the opportunity to support the causes that mean the most to them, whether in the environment, arts, education or human services. And it’s SO easy to give! Simply click. Give. And inspire.

Guest Post: Washington Youth Garden

Posted on December 18, 2013 by Spur Local

Today we welcome the Washington Youth Garden to GoodWorks! Using the garden cycle as a tool to enrich science learning, inspire environmental stewardship and cultivate healthy food choices http://iga.edu/best-paper-writing-service-essay/ in youth and families, the Washington Youth Garden is in its 40th year to service to local youth and families.

Today’s post is from Mel Jones, the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Coordinator at John Burroughs Education Campus. Gardening is hard work. So is being a public school teacher. It’s no surprise then that school gardens are such an uphill battle for DC teachers and administrators. This letter from one of the Washington Youth Garden’s partner schools helps show why partnerships are so valuable.

Growing Green Dreams at Local Schools

by Mel Jones

Since beginning as a science teacher here over ten years ago, I have made repeated attempts to start a garden. I knew my students would have a better understanding of science if there was more hands-on learning. However, despite my efforts, I didn’t have the expertise or the time to develop a real, working garden.

In 2011, our partnership with the Washington Youth Garden made the dream of a school garden come alive as third graders filled new raised beds with soil and transplanted lettuce, which they later harvested for salad pitas. Since then, the garden has become a part of every student’s experience, from compost investigation projects to school-wide sweet potato tastings.

The garden continues to expose students to new fruits and vegetables and provide an outdoor science laboratory. With grant funding, we’ve hired a School Garden Coordinator who regularly teaches our Early Childhood classes and collaborates with teachers to integrate the garden into science and literacy lessons. Plans are in progress to install a kitchen classroom to give our students year-round opportunities to cook healthy foods and learn about science and nutrition. The Washington Youth Garden has made a truly wonderful difference for our students and our school!

How does the Washington Youth Garden support school gardens?
The Washington Youth Garden provides multi-stage school garden partnerships that help schools integrate their school garden into the curriculum, teach garden-instruction best practices, seek independent funding, and plan for long-term sustainability. Currently, we support thriving school garden programs at four low-income partner schools in Ward 5.

How can you support this?
A pledge of $500 supports the cost of closely collaborating with a teacher to deliver four hands-on, curriculum-aligned garden lessons.

Learn more about the Washington Youth Garden on their website, blog, Facebook page and current Indiegogo Online Fundraiser.

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

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 madrilenos reunite an estranged American couple.

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