Partner Sites

Civic Fellows 2023-2024 Partner Sites

Please view the project descriptions for our Civic Fellows Partner sites. Click on the site to read more about the project.

Loudoun Cares

Project Description:  

We are seeking to continue growth of our volunteer/nonprofit center through social media/IT, video production and working to assist with in office administrative tasks, as needed. The major focus would be on outreach to the nonprofit community and the general public through video and social media interfaces.

Website: https://www.loudouncares.org/

Mission Statement: 
To empower individuals and families to improve their quality of life, and to promote community cooperation and support in responding to family needs.

Address: 
8C South St., SW Leesburg, VA 20175

Modality:
Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Accesible via Public Transportation? No

Requirements:
V
ideo creation and editing experience preferred, social media and IT skills, general organizational abilities, ability to receive a task and self motivate, good communication skills.

Background Check Required? No

Northern Virginia Family Service

Project Description:

The Development Intern supports the agency: fundraising events and drives, community engagement, volunteer management and donor relations efforts to help NVFS raise unrestricted revenue and actively involve the community in advancing NVFS' mission.

Duties

  • Assist with coordination and provide support in the execution of the Back2School, Operation Turkey and Gifting for Families drives including preparing mailings, confirming donors, coordinating deliveries, recording donations and/or client data, compiling reports and coordinating volunteers.
  • Provide planning and logistical support for fundraising events including the Bowl-a-thon and Gala.
  • Assist at events and drives with set-up, registration and check-in, guest services, break-down, etc.
  • Research corporate, civic and faith prospects who could provide sponsorships, monetary and in-kind donations and/or volunteers for various drives and events.
  • Collaborate with volunteer engagement staff to identify volunteer roles, recruit volunteers, update position descriptions, improve functioning of volunteer database system, and support task assignments.
  • Support maintenance of constituent and donation records in department‚ fundraising database.
  • Maintain files in accordance with department requirements and NVFS guidelines.

Benefits:

  • Learn about nonprofit management, fundraising and community engagement
  • Gain hands-on experience with special events, volunteer management, and community relations

Website: www.nvfs.org

Address: 10455 White Granite Dr., Suite 100, Oakton, VA 22124

Mission:
To empower individuals and families to improve their quality of life, and to promote community cooperation and support in responding to family needs.

Modality:
Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements:

  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, including good customer service
  • Interest in nonprofit management, fundraising, events, communications and/or volunteer engagement
  • Ability to take initiative and mix working independently and working with teams
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite; strong Excel skills required.
  • Experience with data entry and website content editing preferred.

Background Check Required? Yes

The Office of Sustainability at George Mason University

Project Description:

Lead a university-wide action and awareness campaign in support of Mason‚ zero waste action!

Become a Zero Waste Mason Civic Fellow! Work with University Sustainability‚ zero waste working group to advance ongoing plastics elimination and composting efforts, while advancing towards our goal of a zero waste Mason.

The Zero Waste Mason Civic Fellows collaborate with each other and with members of the University Sustainability team, while also actively engaging members of the Mason community.

  • One Fellow will support and advance ongoing plastics elimination efforts in support of Mason‚ active ban and replacement of plastics with more sustainable items.
  • One Fellow will support and advance composting efforts in alignment with University Sustainability‚ goal for Mason to become a zero waste university.

The Zero Waste Mason Fellows will develop an action and engagement campaign to involve the Mason community (students, staff, faculty, and alums) in zero waste action at Mason. You will integrate core practices and values from the Civic Fellows program (social justice, anti-racism, civic engagement, etc.) throughout your Fellowship experience.

Collaboration with members of the Mason community is essential to the Fellowship. You will develop meaningful partnerships and collaborations that support members of the Mason community and advance zero waste action at Mason. You will engage the Mason community in many ways – kiosking, tabling, video conferencing, presenting (student groups, classes, representative bodies, etc.), stickering, postering, and more! This will be an opportunity for you to share ongoing action with the Mason community, develop new initiatives, and create educational materials, such as resource guides, communications materials, and more.

This is an impactful opportunity for you to promote positive social change that is fiscally and environmentally responsible while fostering a culture of sustainability at Mason.

Mission: 
The mission of University Sustainability is to use the strengths of George Mason University - innovation, responsiveness, flexibility, and community strength - to provide leadership in environmental, social, and economic stewardship on our campuses and throughout the local and global communities of which we are a part.

Website: https://green.gmu.edu/

Address: 4400 University Drive, MSN 1E4 Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Modality:
Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements:
None

Background Check Required? No

 

Food for Others

Project Description:  

Food for Others Front Desk Volunteer Role

Front Desk Tasks:

  • Greet clients and assist them with the intake process
  • Work with clients in finding additional resources for any other needs they may have using our Information walls
  • Answer phone calls and questions about Food for Others' operations and programs
  • Direct individual and group volunteers to Volunteer Coordinators
  • Straighten waiting area
  • Copy client handouts
  • Additional office tasks as needed

Front Desk Training:

  • Train with Karen, FFO staff member, on the client intake database while serving clients
  • USDA guideline form must be completed, one time per year, before signing up for a shift
  • All volunteers must renew training on an annual basis

Holiday Assistance Tasks (in November and/or December):

  • Assist clients, over the phone only, on how to receive food through our various programs
  • Let donors know how best to donate food and/or funds
  • This task is for experienced volunteers only; it is not open to the public
  • There are 3 shifts to choose from Monday through Friday
  • Knowledge about Food for Others and our programs is necessary
  • Training: arrive a little early and we will give you a brief overview

Office and its setup:

  • you will be sitting behind plexiglass
  • sanitizer wipes will be available to wipe down your phone and desk
  • vaccinated staff are stationed in the office
  • volunteers come through the office to check in, but stationed in the warehouse
  • you will be the only volunteer stationed in the office

Characteristics of Success:

  • Good people skills
  • Ability to work with a diverse group of clients, volunteers, and staff members
  • Basic computer skills
  • Have patience and a respectful manner

Helpful Skills:

  • Fluency in Spanish or another language (Korean, Vietnamese, Farsi, etc.)

Website: www.foodforothers.org 

Mission Statement: 
Our mission is to distribute food to our neighbors in need by mobilizing our giving community and volunteers.

Address: 2938 Prosperity Ave

Modality:
In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes. 
You can get to Prosperity Ave by Bus or Metro. These are the lines and routes that have stops nearby -

  • Bus: 1A or 1C
  • Metro: METRORAIL ORANGE LINE

Requirements:

  • Good people skills
  • Ability to work with a diverse group of clients, volunteers, and staff members
  • Basic computer skills
  • Have patience and a respectful manner
  • Spanish or other languages preferred

Background Check Required? No

Catholic Charities Migration Services

Project Description:  

Two potential opportunities

Community Outreach:

  • Coordinate collegiate volunteer and intern recruitment and registration for the upcoming term; plan and co-present at various outreach and recruitment events, workshops, local campuses, and support groups assist in recording intern hours and maintaining departmental database entries; identify opportunities for MRS to participate in.
  • Daily operations management of the agency mailbox, replying, forwarding, and resolving donor requests.
  • Help presenting the MRS Refugee Simulation to local schools and organizations.
  • Assist in event planning and donor recognition

Refugee Health Education and Outreach:

  • Assist with client consultations and referrals
  • Assist in management of Healthy Babies Program in conjunction with the Greater D.C. Diaper Bank
  • Plan and co-present at various health education outreach events, workshops and support groups
  • Assist clients in obtaining health coverage under the Affordable Care Act or private insurance
  • Assist in management of internal databases and reporting mechanisms
  • Occasionally assist resettlement staff with client transport to newcomer medical screenings
  • Provide special services and support to disabled and aging refugees as needed

Website: https://volunteer.ccda.net/custom/501/opp_search

Mission Statement: 
Catholic Charities helps newcomers become self-sufficient and productive members of American society by offering a combination of legal immigration consultation and representation, English-language instruction, other adult education programs, workforce development training, naturalization assistance, bilingual community education, and refugee resettlement and assistance services.

Address: 
8247 Shoppers Square

Modality:
Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site.

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes. We have 4 Sites - Arlington, Woodbridge, Manassas, and Fredericksburg. We are open to finding placement at the site closest to the student. There are many forms of transportation to all sites. However, the sites further out will be more challenging.

Requirements:
All volunteers must submit to a background check and onboard and take some trainings to be compliant with the Diocese, the State, and the Federal Government.

Background Check Required? Yes

The Transformational Education Adventure Center

Project Description:  

Teaching young children between ages 2- 12 age appropriate- math, writing, reading, art, science, mindfulness, yoga.

Website: www.theteacenter.org

Mission Statement: 
Building the mindful leaders of tomorrow

Address: 1493 Chain Bridge Road

Modality:
In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements: 
Must be able to pass a background check and have a recent TB test

Background Check Required? Yes

Just Neighbors

Project Description:  

Just Neighbors depends on volunteers and interns to do case work and complete the daily operations of the office. Interns must commit to working 2-3 days a week during the open office hours (Tuesday-Friday 9:00-5:00). For this position, your major duties will include administrative tasks such as answering phones and conducting English and Spanish client intakes and referrals, filing, and scanning of client closed files, translating and interpreting (when applicable) for attorneys and other projects to be assigned.

Website: https://www.justneighbors.org/

Mission Statement: 
The mission of Just Neighbors is to provide high-quality immigration legal services to low-income immigrants, asylees and refugees in Washington, DC, Maryland, and Virginia; and, to build community among clients, staff, volunteers and the larger society through education, advocacy, and volunteerism.

Address: 
7630 Little River Turnpike Suite 900 Annandale, VA 22003

Modality:
In-person only. Students will be required to be on-site to complete their hours.

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes. 

Requirements:
Preferable bilingual Spanish/English

Background Check Required? Yes. Reference checks can be made in leiu of a SSN

Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area

Project Description:  

Mentoring/Tutoring of refugee youth: Many refugee youth and young adults arrive to the United States after protracted periods of displacement. Access to formal education prior to arrival may be limited or non-existent. Limited English proficiency and lack of social connections are often cited as the main reasons Refugee young adults drop out of school, exacerbated by the nature of their experiences and traumas which can hinder integration into local communities. Being paired with a tutors/mentor provide personalized interaction and guidance. Connecting refugee youth to caring and supportive mentors can provide invaluable support and nurturing that will ultimately facilitate social integration and economic self-sufficiency.

Website: https://lssnca.org/ 

Mission Statement: 
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area (LSSNCA) accompanies those in need to foster resiliency, self-sufficiency, and access to opportunities by creating, connecting with, and engaging welcoming communities. 

Address: 
1730 Rhode Island Ave, District of Columbia

Modality:
Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site..

Accessible via Public Transportation? 
Yes. Transportation options are site specific. We would be able to place students who don't have access to transportation either fully remote or in an office that is near public transportation.

Requirements:
Able to clear background check. Ability to use zoom/teams for mentoring sessions (if done remotely). Additional languages are a plus, but not mandatory (specifically spanish, dari, pashtu, french creole).

Background Check Required? Yes.