The past two presidential elections have been nothing short of messy—they go beyond the summary of one simple word. Yet a benefit of this mess has been the uptick in mobilization for social movements; with social media playing a large role in these elections, people have been exposed to more and thus have felt more willing to get engaged, ready to make a change. We Are DC Values’ website itself says that its website serves to provide a platform for DC residents who have “moved to become engaged, re-engaged, or more deeply engaged in civic life.” Their headline itself shows how getting DC residents involved in civic life in the DMV is a form of “resistance —showing up and fighting for the change that this area and this country as a whole needs. And their website provides the platform for residents to dive into volunteering. From criminal justice reform to reproductive rights, they have opportunities available for everyone in a range of organizations.
Arts For Social Justice
Under this tab, We Are DC Values spotlights two organizations: Miriam’s Kitchen and PEN America. Miriam’s Kitchen provides high quality and nutritious food to unhoused people, providing a community for the unhoused population of D.C. in which they feel safe and can find a home through the organization’s Permanent Supportive Housing. Moreover, this organization advocates for the local government to invest in housing programs that are actually proven to put an end to homelessness. You can get involved in the kitchen, help in the guest services aspect of the organization through distribution or helping with resumes, work with a writing group or the art therapist before studio times, or you can assist the organization’s advocacy campaign.
The other organization, PEN America, offers the Prison Writing Program; as a part of their mission of fighting for everyone’s freedom to write, PEN sponsors a contest, passes out a free handbook for prisoners, and even offers mentoring sessions to people in prison. Getting involved as a mentor means reading, editing, and providing feedback on submissions. You can also get involved by volunteering to be a judge in the annual prison writing contest.
Criminal Justice Reform
This tab features seven local organizations. One of these organizations is the Petey Greene Program, a program that is composed mainly of college students as volunteers. The Petey Greene Program was created to improve the education access of incarcerated people. In the organization’s own words, they work “to support the academic goals of incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people” through mentorship and tutoring. To get involved, volunteers must fill out an application form—you must be over 18—and once accepted, you will work either one-on-one or in small groups with people who are incarcerated.
Housing and Homelessness
An organization under this tab is the Homeless Children’s Playtime Project, whose mission—as stated on their website—is to“cultivate resilience in children experiencing family homelessness by providing and expanding access to transformative lay experiences.” As children often lack the support needed during the difficult times of being unhoused, this organization aims to reduce the effects of the trauma associated with homelessness. In 2020, they served 200 children by offering ongoing play opportunities, advocating for practices that aim to end chronic homelessness, and providing support services in the community. Homeless Children’s Playtime Project offers a variety of ways to get involved: being a play ranger that leads crafts, ball games, reading, and activities for children weekly; being a volunteer in motion, moving donations from the office to other locations; adopting a playroom and organizing, sanitizing, and preparing it for kids; and working with special events and birthday parties for the kids. To get involved, the organization requires a monthly training session and an application.
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