Welcome to Friday, folks! Some awesome performances and events at Catalogue non-profits are right around the corner:
Northeast Performing Arts Group (at Kelly Miller Middle School Auditorium, 301 49th Street NE)
Friday at 7:30 PM, catch When Will It End: Slavery Then, Slavery Now, a thought-provoking dance musical and high-energy educational expression of Afro American History. An extra-cool fact: the performers range in age from 3 to 25. More information right here!
Welcome to the weekend (almost), Greater Washington! We have an awesome variety of events and opportunities, so just follow your interests …
Ready to Volunteer?
Saturday from 9:30 AM – 1:30 PM in Falls Church marks the first day of volunteer training with the Literacy Council of Northern Virginia and you can sign up right here. From 2:00 – 3:30 PM, For Love of Children also welcomes new and returning volunteers to learn about FLOC’s mission, accomplishments, goals, and tutoring programs; email ntorentinos@floc.org for more info. And definitely call Chess Challenge DC (202.560.1467) to learn more about Saturday’s big intramural tournament for all kids enrolled in their program.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Greater Washington! While the fourteenth of February is perhaps not my favorite holiday, I couldn’t resist a brief search to see whether valentines and philanthropy shared any common news. Sure enough, I came across this in the San Francisco Chronicle — certainly not inside the Beltway, but we like to branch out sometimes:
There is more to Valentine’s Day than flowers or conversation hearts […]
Consultant and writer Elaine Gast Fawcett of has published a list of 16 Charitable Ways to Celebrate Valentine’s Day at , offering alternative ways to spread the love — and generosity — on February 14th.
[…] “What I’m offering is a new take on the holiday. Rather than get caught up in all the commercialism surrounding Valentine’s Day, here are 16 ways to feel connected to others–whether you are in a romantic relationship or not.”
Reading through the list, I quite enjoyed #12: “Say It With Organic Flowers” and #11: “Be a Fair Trade Valentine.” And more than 100 new suggestions appear in the comments. But I also think that the list makes a broader point, one which certainly extends to the other 364 days of the year:
With Valentines or otherwise, giving can take myriad forms. We give back through philanthropy for certain — but also by volunteering as tutors or nature stewards, by spreading the word about the need for clothing or books, or even by spending a date night at a local non-profit gallery or theatre. We give back to our communities by being engaged in them and that can happen any day, in any number of ways. We give back by investing in where we live.
In conclusion, I also did a bit of research on the etymology of “Valentine” — which, as it happens, was the name of two saints and derives from the Latin “valentia” or “strength and capacity.” “Valence” derives from that same word, “valentia,” and refers to the “combining power of an element.” I assume that the definition primarily refers to chemicals and not communities, but we nonetheless can speculate that Valentine’s Day (perhaps) celebrates the strength inherent in teaming up, in sharing, in acting as one.
So, how would you like to celebrate the power of shared strength in Greater Washington?
On this chilly Monday, January comes to a close — as does the first month of 2011, as does National Mentoring Month.
In the interest of full disclosure, I had not thought about this month’s moniker until I saw it pop up around the non-profit blogsphere: on Social Media & Social Justice, Allison Jones catalyzed a discussion on mentoring and age — and how youth need not be barrier to providing career advice and support. She aptly points out that, through mentoring, “You’re forced to think about your choices: Saying “just because” doesn’t fly when you are mentoring someone. They want to know why you made certain choices and the consequences (good and bad).” And writing from the Indianapolis non-profit community, Jessica Journey blogs a tribute to three of her mentors, highlighting leaders who have transitioned from one sphere to another: from for-profit to n0n-profit or from foundations to education.
Taking her theme a bit farther, mentors have a particular power when they can alert a young person to the simple breadth and versatility of life. Especially for middle and high school students, who they are now can feel like who they will be forever — so a mentor who not only has incited social change and justice, but who took a few turns or alternative routes to get there, can provide hope and motivation. According to the MENTOR: National Mentoring Partnership:
Good morning, Greater Washington! Hope you are all enjoying this strange bout of balmy weather … prior to (predictions) of further snow. So what are you up to this weekend?
Looking to Volunteer?
Definitely stop by Byte Back’s information session this Saturday at noon. Based in DC, Byte Back has a great core of volunteer tutors who offer computer literacy instruction to low-income individuals — in everything from surfing the web to composing an email to using a mouse. To learn more about joining up, call (202) 529-3395.
At 1:00 PM on Saturday, For Love of Children invites new and returning volunteers to learn more about their mission, goals, and tutoring programs for kids in the Shaw and Columbia Heights neighborhoods. Call (202) 349-3509 for more info!
Looking for Dance and Music?
On Saturday at 8:00 PM and Sunday at 4:00 PM, Dance Place will welcome TAKE Dance and a showcase of Artistic Director Takehiro “Take” Ueyama’s repertory of powerful athletic movement contrasted with delicate gesture. Nab your tickets here.
You can still catch The In Series‘ double-bill of “pocket operas:” new English adaptations of the iconic Cuban musical, Maria la O, and the clown tale I Pagliacci are back at the Source Theatre on 14th Street on Saturday at 8:00 PM. (And the reviews have been great!)
Looking for Theater?
DCAC is busy again this weekend! Bright Alchemy Theater’s A Cre@tion Story for Naomi, the tale of a teenager in search of direction and purpose in the realms of cyberspace, returns at 7:30 on Saturday and Sunday. Then at 10:00 PM on Saturday, the lively Capital City Showcase (a variety show that will feature any and all things DC) will take the stage. Lean more here.
… Are you looking to perform?
Skipping ahead to next week, Washington Revels will kick off its next round of awesome children’s classes. Monday marks the first day of How Deep is the Snow? A Blizzard of Fun! For students in grades 2-3, these workshops will celebrates the coldest months through crafts, stories, song, and dance, while developing skills in collaboration and performance. You can register online!
And at 7:00 PM on Monday, singers and non-singers alike can head to CHAW to learn all about the oral tradition and singing rhythms, chants, traditional songs from Africa and the Diaspora. Reservations are definitely encouraged and all the info is here.
Welcome to mid-January, Greater Washington.
First, to skip to the end of the long weekend … both Heart of America Foundation and Joe’s Movement Emporium are offering great Martin Luther King Jr. Day programming. HOA Foundation invites young students and their families to an annual MLK Day of Service Literacy Celebration at 11:00 at Howard University — striving to make this a great day “on” rather than a day “off.” And in Mount Rainier starting at 10:00, Joe’s will offer service projects, guest speakers, and featured performers, including the Buffalo Baptist Church Choir and students in their Arts Education programs.
Throughout the weekend, we also have a bundle of exciting performances at our non-profits. So read on and enjoy!
And we’re back! 2011 already is yielding plenty of cool weekend happenings at our non-profits. Read on to find one (or many) events in your community:
First, congratulations to Class 16 on their graduation from Operation Understanding DC this weekend! For a great performance, written and directed by OUDC’s young leaders, about their year-long journey to find their voice and passion, head to Temple Shalom in Chevy Chase on Saturday at 7:00. Email info@oudc.org to learn more.
Welcome to Friday, Greater Washington! We’re trying out a new format here on GoodWorks for our weekend event listings — sorting events by type, rather than by time of day, so that you can go straight to your main interests. Let us know what you think!
Looking to … Volunteer?
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11
ASHA for Women will be offering a training session from 9:30-4:30 in Rockville for those interesting in working directly with clients as an advocate; these sessions only come four times a year, so sign up quickly by calling (202) 683-2019. Plus Empowered Women International needs volunteers for their holiday gala, “Women of Courage: the Art and Stories of Entrepreneur Artists and Change Makers.” Call (301) 693-1346 to sign up today!
Looking to … Help the Planet?
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 11
Take this special yoga class at 5:00 in Dupont; proceeds will benefit the the Bonobo Conservation Initiative’s great work in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
And … we’re back! I hope you all had a pleasant first day back on the job. To jazz up your Tuesday morning, we’re welcoming Damien Matthews Power, Communications & Outreach Specialist of Potomac Riverkeeper to “7 Questions.” Read on to learn more about him and everything Potomac Riverkeeper is doing to keep our rivers clean and our natural resources safe.
1. What was your most interesting recent project, initiative, partnership, or event?
Over the summer, we partnered with three Shenandoah Valley outfitters (Downriver Canoe Company, Front Royal Canoe Company, & Shenandoah River Outfitters) to jump start the Shenandoah Riverkeeper Conservation Fund. The fund supports on the ground action in the Shenandoah Valley: improving farms, cleaning up trash, and keeping the Shenandoah River healthy and beautiful.
It’s almost Thanksgiving, friends! So there is really no better time to express our thanks for our communities and give something back to our local non-profits. And this weekend offers some great (and fun) opportunities to do just that. Check it out:
Saturday, November 20
* 23rd Annual Help the Homeless Walkathon: The National Mall will host the largest walk to benefit the homeless in the nation and no less than seven Catalogue non-profits will take part. Definitely consider signing up and choosing one of these great organizations as your beneficiary: Carpenter’s Shelter, L’Arche Greater Washington, Miriam’s Kitchen, Pathways to Housing DC, Samaritan Inns, The Dwelling Place, and Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless. And you can sign up right here! Continue reading