DC Tutoring & Mentoring

Claude kinda cooked here (but it takes an ability to analyze text and spot potential misinformation to come to that conclusion). Want to make sure youth can think critically and use AI wisely? Consider being a volunteer tutor or mentor to help students build a positive relationship with learning!Learn more at our Ward 8 Info Session this Saturday, March 8th at the Anacostia Neighborhood Library from 11:15am-12:30pm. We’ll share ways you can get involved with 1-2 hours a week, during the day, evening, weekends or online! RSVP through the 🔗 in bio! https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ward-8-tutoring-mentoring-info-session-tickets-1983976077856?aff=ebdsoporgprofile No college degree or teaching experience is required to be a caring adult in a young person’s life. Our youth are growing up in a very different world. What will you do to make sure they get support they need? . . . #ArtificialIntelligence #GetInvolved #ClaudeAI #Education #MentorshipMatters

A week at Citikidz can change a lifetime! From archery and martial arts to mountain biking and canoeing, the Christian sports camp gives underserved urban youth the best week of their summer on a beautiful campus nestled in Laurel Mountain, PA. But the transformation isn't just for students! Citikidz is looking for DC-area adults to join them as Kaleos. As a Kaleo, you’ll be part of a unique week-long retreat to refresh, reflect, and grow your leadership skills to take back home! Unlike traditional camp counselors, you won’t work directly with the students day-to-day. Instead, you’ll bring a group of youth to camp*, and while they’re immersed in sports, you’ll connect with other urban leaders from across the country. Come discuss what it looks like to lead and love students in 2026! Picture a week of: •Leadership development and community development courses •Quiet times of reflection and daily Bible studies (being Christian is not a requirement to volunteer) •Participation in the camp’s active sports and mountain adventures – guiding you to build a healthy lifestyle to sustain your work in the community! If you prefer a more direct, hands-on role working with kids, coaching sports, and running camp, Citikidz is also hiring paid summer staff. If you are 20+ and active in your community (parent, volunteer, professional, or ministry leader), then sign up to be a Kaleo today! Their 7-day camp cycles run from June 13 to August 1. *It’s highly recommended you bring a group of youth from your organization/church/community with you so they can experience the "best week of summer" while you grow as a leader. However, you can sign up individually too, provided there’s space. Other ways to get involved with Citikidz: •Encourage a young person age 8-18 to be a camper! $120 covers a student to attend for the week, including lodging, food, and all activities. •Can’t make the summer dates? Citikidz hosts weekend leadership retreats for urban leaders at their Laurel, PA campus every spring and fall. •High school grads (18+) can join Citikidz U, a gap-year program to earn college credits, receive mentorship, and take on direct leadership roles.DM us to learn more! . . . #SummerSportsCamp #SummerCamp #LeadershipRetreat #Health #SummerSchool

We were asked to leave a location where we had hoped to share information to a gathering of neighbors looking to support local youth as tutors and mentors. It’s hard to not get disappointed when this happens. But, challenges are inevitable as we expand our outreach. Over nearly 10 years, we’ve been incredibly fortunate to partner with many local businesses that have opened their doors for our mission. Our info sessions usually last 60 to 90 minutes, and we delight in bringing new customers to local spots. If you are a local business with space to host a neighborly conversation, we’d love to connect. We can’t do this work alone. . . . #Volunteer #DC #SmallBusiness #Events #MentorshipMatters

Kids of all ages need to be seen and heard. We had the privilege of hosting Kil on a panel at the end of December to discuss his work with Horton's Kids in Southeast DC. What do YOU want the world to look like? . . . #BeTheChange #MentorshipMatters #Tutor #Afterschool #Community

Networking doesn't have to be painful. Join our FREE panel and mixer to connect with other Gen Zers who want more than just a 9-5 (RSVP 🔗 in bio)! 📅Thursday, Feb. 26th 5:30-7:30pm 📍Barrel House Cafe & Bar (1341 14th St. NW) In a world where 71% of Gen Z report feeling lonely, building a community outside of the office is more important than ever. We'll be discussing how service and volunteering can accelerate your professional development while creating lasting local impact. Come learn how you can volunteer to be a tutor, mentor, or coach for DC-area youth! DM us or @gz.times to learn more! . . . #HappyHour #YoungProfessionals #NetworkingEvents #Volunteer #ThingsToDo

How does someone structure their life around self-care and service? Follow me through my week to see how I integrate one hour of self-care every day and two hours of volunteer service every week into my life. If you’re familiar with the Civic Leadership Challenge, this is what it can look like in practice. I start each day with morning prayer and silent meditation. It gives me space to reflect on my life and mentally prepare for the day ahead. As a Muslim, I pray five times a day, and each prayer takes about 5 minutes. These moments create natural pauses throughout my busy schedule. Between daily prayer, meditation, and either a workout or an hour set aside for drawing or reading, I’m able to intentionally carve out at least one hour every day to sit with my thoughts. That time helps me process stress, think through challenges, and reflect on things that matter but could easily get lost during a busy week. When I spoke with Doris Johnson, owner of Total Relaxation, she shared a few self-care practices with me. One of her biggest recommendations was to schedule every hour of the day, including dedicated self-care time, instead of leaving it to chance. She also emphasized setting a consistent bedtime and wake-up time, and even taking a full hour before bed to simply lie down and prepare your mind for rest. Combined with nearly two hours of volunteering and spending time with community members in Anacostia, this created a week intentionally structured around both self-care and service. But the goal is to feel energized, refreshed, and ready to handle life’s ups and downs. It’s important to find your own balance if you decide to organize your week this way 😊 Make sure to like and follow to see next week’s video and to continue learning how to incorporate self-care and service into your everyday life. . . . #Volunteering #SelfCare #Service #BeKind #Vlog

Secret powers among our team include making the world’s best chocolate chip cookies! . . . #Teamwork #POV #ValentinesDay

Last month at the MLK Day Prayer Breakfast, we had the chance to speak with Andy Shallal, founder and CEO of Busboys and Poets. In this clip from our interview, Andy shares how he tries to mentor as many young people as possible. Despite his busy schedule as a leader and businessman, he understands the value of mentorship and the importance of being a role model for others. He jokes about getting older and having a lot of wisdom to offer, but there’s a lot of truth behind it. Many of us have experiences, mistakes, lessons, and victories we can share with young people to help guide them as they grow into who they want to be. Make sure to like and follow to see more from our interview with Andy coming soon. . . . #MentorYouth #DCTutorMentor #Mentorship #BusboysandPoets

Thank you for joining me over these last 31 days. Today’s act of service is to encourage my friends and neighbors to take part in 31 Days of Service. It also marks the end of this series. Over the past month, I’ve tried to complete at least one act of service in my community every day for 31 days. Some days were definitely more difficult than others, but overall, I can honestly say this experience has changed the way I see my community and the way I interact with it. In just a few short weeks, I’ve become more outgoing. I say hi to my neighbors more often, ask people if they need help when I see them carrying groceries, a trash bag, and have more short conversations with strangers when I’m out in public. These are things I’ve done before, but now they feel like a natural part of my everyday life. I don’t even notice how often I’m doing them anymore. My hope is that this challenge inspires some of you to start your own version of 31 Days of Service. It doesn’t have to be as structured as mine. Just look for one small way to be helpful, to contribute, or to serve others each day. As always, thank you for watching, and I’ll see you next week for our new series. 😉 . . . #ActsOfKindness #BeKind #31DaysofService #communityservice

Jokes aside, while volunteering has its challenges, knowing that you’ve made an impact is a feeling like no other! We hope it moves you as much as Benito is moved here☺️. DM us to get started! . . . #BadBunny #Volunteer #Superbowl

Dreaming of summer? Join our FREE virtual volunteer info session this Thursday, Feb. 12th from 6-7pm ET on Zoom to learn about being a tutor, mentor, or coach as part of your summer plans! RSVP on Eventbrite (🔗 in bio)! DC-area youth need more caring adults in their lives! Whether you’re interested in overnight trips that develop youth leadership, fighting the summer slide as a tutor, or becoming a trusted mentor, there are many ways to get involved starting with just 1-2 hours a week. Join us on Zoom to discover how you want to make a difference in a young person’s life. Despite the ice on the ground, it’s not too early to start thinking about the summer! Can’t join us on Thursday? DM us your email so we can learn about your interests and connect with you! . . . #SummerVolunteering #SummerCamp #Tutoring

“Volunteers do not have to be perfect. They just need to be present, as cheesy as that is.” We spoke with Kelsie, director of programs at DC127, about how it can be difficult to feel like you’re “ready” to help others. What she shared reminded us that small acts of care and kindness always matter. There is something we can all do help build a more loving community. DM us to learn more about how you can make an impact in the lives of families impacted by the foster care system. . . . #Family #Love #GetInvolved

What does three years of mentoring teach you? Camille, a mentor at Minds Matter DC shares how working with her student Favour has opened her eyes to beautiful world outside her 9-5. From being reminded of youth's excitement for the future to learning to trust the journey, Camille and Favour's relationship really shows how mentorship is a two-way lane. #MentorshipMatters #CollegeAccess #DC

Life always gives us the opportunity to be the best version of ourselves. For today’s act of service, the challenge was to pay it forward by offering to buy someone a coffee or breakfast. I headed to a local coffee shop and ordered my drink, then waited for someone to come in so I could offer to pay for their order. After a minute or two, an older gentleman walked in. I offered to cover his order, but he kindly declined. He told me he was about to make a large purchase and didn’t want to put that on me, and instead suggested I pay for someone else’s meal. I thought that was a really thoughtful gesture on his part. At one point, the employee behind the counter seemed to assume I was asking the man for food. Her comment caught me off guard, but the gentleman was gracious about it. I quickly moved past the moment, ordered a few bagels, and headed out. As I was leaving, I reflected on the purpose of this series and the kind of positivity I’m trying to bring into my community. I saw this moment as an opportunity to be the best version of myself. Rather than letting one comment upset me or shape the rest of my day, I chose to respond with understanding and perspective about what might have led her to say that. Instead of becoming discouraged, I decided to be even kinder to everyone I crossed paths with, making sure no one else felt the way I did in that moment. What started as a simple act of service turned into a reminder that life constantly gives us chances to be patient, grounded, and kind, no matter what we face. I didn’t end up buying anyone a coffee or breakfast today, but I do plan to revisit the shop and hopefully have a more positive interaction next time. As always, thank you for watching, and I’ll see you at our next act of service. . . . #ActsOfKindness #BeKind #31DaysofService

Share volunteer opportunities online! For today’s act of service, the challenge was to share volunteer opportunities on social media. These could be opportunities through your local church or anywhere in your community that’s looking for extra support and could use volunteers. I decided to check out @Idealist and show how easy it is to find a volunteer opportunity and get started. And like I mentioned in the video, we’re also always looking for volunteers. If you’re interested in working with youth in any way and live in the DC area, be sure to check us out and see if there’s an opportunity that fits you. If you know of any volunteer opportunities you’d like to share, drop them in the comments so someone else might see them and get involved. As always, thanks for watching, and I’ll see you tomorrow. . . . #ActsOfKindness #BeKind #31DaysofService #FYP #Idealist