Some ways to Volunteer/Get involved in the Community

from Center for Children and Families, Department of Community and Human Services, City of Alexandria

Careers/Volunteerism

SOHO-Space of Her Own Mentor Orientations SOHO is a creative mentorship program that serves pre-teen girls with yearlong mentoring through engagement in life skills instruction, creative art activities, and meaningful community service projects. Mentor orientations will be held on Saturday, March 23 from 10 a.m. – Noon; Monday, April 8 from 5:30-7:30 p.m., and Tuesday, April 23 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at The Art League’s Madison Annex (901 N. Fairfax Street). The sessions will provide details about SOHO, the mentor commitment and the application process. Emailquestions and register online.

George Washington STEM Garden Seeks VolunteersThe teachers of the George Washington Middle School Campus invite families to be a part of the school garden and expansion project. The garden took off last spring when a student-led project created an organic garden to improve the local watershed. Teachers are now working innovatively to tie core curriculum areas with learning in the garden. The grassroots Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) initiative could use the support of committed families. The garden team meets Thursdays after school in room C123. Email Mary Breslin to support the program.

National Missing Children’s Day Poster ContestThe Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention is encouraging fifth grade students to participate in the annual poster contest, which creates an opportunity for schools, law enforcement, and other child safety advocates to engage children and families in discussions about child abduction and how to prevent it. Entries must be received by March 21.

Banking on YouthThe Consumer Bankers Foundation has partnered with Ashoka’s Youth Venture to sponsor an opportunity for youth ages 13-22 to showcase great ideas for a venture that directly benefits society. In addition to thirty $1,000 seed money prizes, the top six entrants will compete for the Audience Choice Award of $5,000 and the Grand Prize of $15,000. Entries must be submitted by March 15.

Together We BakeTogether We Bake is a comprehensive workforce training personal development program for women in need of a second chance, specifically women recently released from the corrections system. The program is centered on a small baking business where women actively learn and participate in food production, packaging and delivery. Support this initiative by ordering cookies or granola.

SAPCA March NewsletterAmong the articles features in the latest edition of the newsletter of the Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition of Alexandria is a study that found many doctors do not ask theirteenage patients about their drinking.

Volunteer Alexandria March NewsletterLearn more about the 6^th Community Service Day (May 3) in the latest edition of Volunteer Times, the newsletter of Volunteer Alexandria.

International Foundation for Ethical Research Graduate FellowshipsFellowships provide up to $12,500 a year to students enrolled in master’s and doctoral programs in the sciences and human or veterinary medicine who are working to develop alternatives to use of animals in research, testing, and education. An additional $2,500 will be provided for supplies. The fellowships are renewable annually for up to three years. Fellowships also will be considered for graduate students in other fields (e.g. education, psychology, humanities, journalism, the law) for projects that show promise with respect to increasing public awareness and/or promoting changes in the legal system or public policy regarding the use of animals in research, testing and education. The deadline for pre-proposal applications is March 30.