The District is full of nonprofits that specialize in a wide assortment of different causes. While the list leaves students with many options, the Scene chose five of the best ones to start for students looking to give back to the city. These nonprofits have been chosen for this list because they have found creative, beneficial ways to give back to the areas of their city that have been neglected. After all, if you want to impact the planet, you need to start with one city at a time.
1. D.C. Creative Writing Workshop
Location: 601 Mississippi Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20032 • (202) 297-1957
The D.C. Creative Writing Workshop works to unite parents, teachers and professional writers-in-residence to change the lives of children and teens with self-expression and the power of the written word. Professional writers-in-residence, after-school classes, literary magazines and performances reach 500 aspiring writers in Congress Heights each year, opening up opportunities for youth to freely display their artistic talents.
2. ArtStream
Location: 620 Pershing Drive, Silver Spring, MD 20910 • (301) 565-4567
ArtStream wants to inspire and heal through various art forms like theatre, visual arts or dance through interactive workshops and productions, on-going classes, seminars, performances and training. ArtStream reaches out to adults with disabilities, long-term illnesses, people who are grieving and others in need of encouragement to become artists as well as audience members. They search for volunteers to be on-stage mentors, help with theater classes, backstage tech or events like their annual art gala. This organization builds confidence and an understanding of its disabled performers by placing them in the spotlight and exhibiting their talents on stage.
3. Community Family Life Services
Location: 305 E St. NW, Washington, DC 20001 • (202) 347-0511 ext. 411
Community Family Life Services provides housing, case management, employment counseling, mentoring, youth development and emergency services to low-income and homeless individuals and families in Washington, D.C. For 43 years, CFLS has been delivering short-term assistance (food, clothing, etc.) to those in crisis and long-term support as they seek permanent homes and the opportunity to improve their difficult living situations. They are open to individual and group volunteers for family or youth mentoring, photography and video, after school tutors, community breakfasts and additional help with various events.
4. Georgetown Ministry Center
Location: 1041 Wisconsin Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20007 • (202) 338-8301
Georgetown Ministry Center attempts to find long term solutions to homelessness by providing each homeless person who comes to their center resources to ease their hard living situations. This nonprofit has grown into a year-round drop-in center, providing psychiatric and medical outreach, social and mental health services, case management, shelter and housing support, handicapped-accessible bathrooms and laundry facilities. They are searching for volunteers to help in the center with jobs such as program assistant or craft sales coordinator or in the shelter for dinners or overnights.
5. Stone Soup Films
Location: 1070 Thomas Jefferson St. NW, #202, Washington, DC 20007 • (202) 337-1070
Stone Soup Films builds the storytelling capacity of nonprofits through storyboard assistance and magnifies their ability to effect change using visual aids. This organization helps nonprofits using filming, writing, illustration, and more. Stone Soup’s goal is to tell the real-life stories of how local groups are transforming the lives of individuals in need. This nonprofit selects new partners with limited communication budgets four times a year and helps them develop a clear communications strategy. An application to volunteer with the making of their nonprofit films is available on their website.
