Community Partners

Student Volunteer Project Description:

The student volunteer will play a crucial role in supporting mentor recruitment efforts for AMP's various programs, including but not limited to our Engaged Summer Program and Civic Fellows Program. The primary focus will be on attracting mentors who are committed to positively impacting the lives of youth in Alexandria through mentorship.

Responsibilities and Deliverables:

• Developing and Implementing Recruitment Strategies: The student volunteer will work closely with AMP's team to design and execute creative mentor recruitment strategies. This includes leveraging social media platforms, creating engaging content, and exploring innovative ways to reach potential mentors.
• Community Outreach and Partnerships: Engaging with local communities, schools, and organizations to raise awareness about the importance of mentoring. Building partnerships with educational institutions and community centers to expand our reach and attract diverse mentors.
• Event Coordination: Assisting in the planning and execution of mentor recruitment events. This could involve organizing information sessions, webinars, or community outreach events to share the impact of mentoring and encourage individuals to become mentors.
• Content Creation: Developing compelling and informative content for promotional materials, social media posts, and recruitment campaigns. This includes showcasing success stories, testimonials, and the positive outcomes of mentorship.
• Data Analysis and Reporting: Regularly tracking and analyzing the effectiveness of recruitment strategies. Providing insights and recommendations based on data to continuously improve and optimize our mentor recruitment efforts.

Website: https://www.alexandriava.gov/mentoring

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site. The Majority of hours will be completed in person. 

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: Some experience in design editing tools are particularly valuable

Background Check Required? Yes

Student Fellow Project Description:

The student will assist with event and fundraiser planning, awareness project creation, and social media management. Student Fellows will also assist in answering hotline calls and directing services to the appropriate department. 

Website: https://www.bhnv.org/

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm; some weekend hours are available. 

Is the site accessible to public transportation? Yes

Volunteer Requirements: No felony convictions, No CPS convictions, Bilingual a plus, Driver's License is also a plus

Background Check Required? Yes

Client Management Project Description:

We have several opportunities but all center around case management for newly arrived families. The students would be able to see first hand some of the challenges to relocating to the United States and be a part of helping those to become successful in the US. We have many programs to offer. We are always in need of people to help newly arrived families transition from Medicaid to another healthcare system. We also offer the opportunity to help people become health literate so that they can become self-sufficient.

We have a youth services program where we help families with children get into schools and become successful. This program works with the families to get their immunizations, and testing done and enroll in schools. There are also tutoring and educational options in this program. We can provide services for up to 5 years after arrival.

Website: www.ccda.net

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm

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.

Volunteer 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. State Courses for Adult and Child Protective Services and a background check within our application process.

Client Intake Project Description:

Food for Others is seeking students to join us as Client Intake student volunteers. Client Intake volunteers manage all check-in procedures for individuals looking to receive services through our My Market choice pantry. Duties include entering household information, explaining FFO food assistance programs, and resolving client issues—all with a commitment to treating our neighbors in need with dignity and respect.

To be successful in this role, students should be friendly, professional, and comfortable working with diverse and/or vulnerable populations. Because all intake information is processed through the Salesforce database, students must also have basic computer and data entry skills. Experience working with individuals in need or bilingual language skills (Spanish, Arabic, Farsi) are greatly appreciated, but not required.

Website: www.foodforothers.org 

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: 9:30am - 5:30pm

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes. 

Requirements: Client Intake volunteers must undergo a 3-step training process:

• PowerPoint presentation covering an overview of FFO and our programs
• Training with a Salesforce Trainer (1 hour)
• Shadowing experienced intake volunteers (~2 shifts)
• Bilingual skills (Spanish, Farsi, Arabic) appreciated, but not required.

Background Check Required? No

Client Support Project Description:

Just Neighbors depends on volunteers and interns to do case work and complete the daily operations of the office. Volunteers must commit to at least 10 hours a week during the open office hours (Tuesday-Friday 9:00-5:00). Spanish speakers encouraged! Volunteers: answer phones and complete client phone intakes in English and Spanish, work with clients and staff in preparing documents for immigration applications, perform basic office administrative duties and when applicable help with oral and written translations.

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

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes. 

Requirements: We prefer high level of Spanish/English as a good portion of callers are Spanish speakers

Background Check Required? Yes. Background checks are conducted but reference checks can be made in leiu of a SSN

Student Intern Project Descriptions:

The student will assist with increasing our online volunteer network, connecting with nonprofits and organizations, and social media marketing. The student will also assist in event planning and gaining sponsorships. 

Website: loudouncares.org

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm

Accessible via Public Transportation: No

Requirements: marketing/digital/social media skills a huge plus, self directed, self-starter, flexible, willing to jump in on any task necessary

Background Check Required? No 

Project Descriptions:

The student will assist with our Economic and Social Justice Program, develop our social media and outreach program for our Public Policy Scholarships, and develop our website. 

Responsibilities and Deliverables:

• Support data collection on public corporations to assist our team in analyzing and developing insights, intuitive visualization and writing thoughtful assessment of public policy implication of our analysis.

Website: myllife.org

Modality: Fully remote. Students can complete all of their hours remotely. 

Weekday Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm

Accessible via Public Transportation? N/A

Requirements: We are looking for students with background/major in computer science, information systems, economics, statistics, public policy, conflict resolution, and lawRelevant experience for each project would be preferred - we can provide more details to interested students. We are more interested in students' capability and interests over specific experience.

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

The NVFS Civic Fellow Development Intern will support the agency’s community engagement, volunteer management, fundraising events and drives, and donor relations efforts to help NVFS raise unrestricted revenue and actively involve the community in advancing NVFS's mission.

Duties will include:

• Assist with coordination and provide support in the execution of the Fall Food Drive and Gifting for Families, 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 such as the Strides for Stronger Families and Roads to Independence 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 continue building the CAVES Sharepoint site and pages, including adding and updating information, ensuring accuracy of site content, developing visual content to celebrate volunteers and the staff engaging volunteers, create brief videos, etc.
• Collaborate with volunteer engagement staff to strategize, identify volunteer roles, recruit volunteers, update position descriptions, and improve functioning of volunteer database system.
• Support maintenance of constituent, donor and donation records in The Raiser’s Edge fundraising database.
• Maintain files in accordance with department requirements and NVFS guidelines.

Qualifications:

• Solid Microsoft Office Suite skills.
• Interest in nonprofit management, community engagement, fundraising and events.
• Experience with or adaptability to learn Canva, Sharepoint, WordPress skills.
• Comfortable taking initiative, ability to work independently and within teams, flexible, adaptable.

Benefits:

• Develop knowledge in the nonprofit management field and skills to be successful in the field.
• Build workplace skills in remote/hybrid work environment.
• Gain understanding of community issues and root causes of inequity.

Website:www.nvfs.org

Modality: Fully remote. Students can complete all of their hours remotely. 

Weekday Hours of Operation: 9am - 5pm

Accessible via Public Transportation? N/A

Requirements: 

• Solid Microsoft Office Suite skills.
• Interest in nonprofit management, community engagement, fundraising and events.
• Experience with or adaptability to learn Canva, Sharepoint, WordPress skills.
• Comfortable taking initiative, ability to work independently and within teams, flexible, adaptable
• Complete volunteer orientation at the site and any role-specific training provided by supervisor.

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

Assist Northern Virginia Food Rescue in leveraging the Food Rescue Hero technology, developed by 412 Food Rescue, to mobilize volunteers who can transport donated foods to distribution sites. This position will work closely with all functions of the account to strengthen data inputs and bring difficulty and discipline to the sales function in order to optimize company growth. Other responsibilities include receiving and processing incoming stock/product, performing inventory and quality controls in the warehouse, and possible oversight or delegation of responsibilities within the warehouse operation. 

Website: https://nova-fr.org/

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site. Must be available Tuesdays for a 10:30am staff meeting

Weekday Hours of Operation: 8am - 4pm

Accessible via Public Transportation? No

Requirements: 2 years' experience with data mining/reporting/analysis, advanced skills in MS Excel and PowerPoint, strong problem-solving skills (both analytical and conceptual), and ability to translate raw data and analytical results into clear written and verbal communication to internal stakeholders.

Background Check Required? No

Project Descriptions:

Adult Literacy and Language Learners

The Civic Fellow will help streamline our English Language Programs, and work on programs that engage adult literacy, an example would be a book club. The overall project would be a resource kit that may be used by our English volunteer tutors. If time permits, another project would be for the student to create a Citizenship curriculum.The student would work with the assistant branch manager to create, promote, and assist in hosting events that promote literacy and encourage adults to use the library.

Juvenile Literacy Program

We would like a student to help with literacy during the school year. This will help to further our literacy efforts and to build community with the residents of Oakton. The volunteer will assist with story times and create a juvenile book club. They will also have the opportunity to work with library staff to create displays that celebrate culture and community. The student will primarily work on updating the Readers Advisory Resource book for the public, this is a selection of books for each grade level with separate sections for different genres.

Website: fairfaxcounty.gov/library

Modality: Hybrid. Students can complete their hours both remotely and on-site. Some programming does take place in the evening. 

Weekday Hours of Operation: 
Monday: 10 am – 9 pm
Tuesday: 10 am – 9 pm
Wednesday: 10 am – 6 pm
Thursday: 10 am – 6 pm
Friday: 10 am – 6 pm
Saturday: 10 am – 6 pm
Sunday: Closed

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements: Interns will be required to create a Volunteer Management Account and track their hours in that system. They must also be comfortable working with the public and speak and write in English. Students should feel comfortable with Microsoft Office Suite or Google Docs. Speaking another language (Spanish or Korean especially) and being able to create flyers using graphics is a plus.

Background Check Required? No

Project Descriptions:

University Sustainability at George Mason University uses the strengths of the institution to provide leadership in environmental, social, and economic stewardship on our campuses and throughout the local and global communities we’re a member of. We improve the operational sustainability of the university through specific programs, initiatives, and activities.

This Civic Fellowship opportunity is with our Greenhouse and Gardens program, which manages multiple sustainable, food-producing sites at the Fairfax Campus. Each year, the program host hundreds of volunteers and dozens of interns who complete thousands of hours of service all while growing food that is served by Mason Dining (Sodexo) on campus and donated to the community! One of the program’s goals is to work on addressing food insecurity by growing and donating fresh produce.

The opportunity:

• Join us for a hands-on, experiential learning opportunity throughout the fall and spring semesters with sustainable agriculture experts at the Potomac Heights Garden, Innovation Food Forest, and Presidents Park Hydroponic Greenhouse
• You’ll learn about sustainable food production, permaculture (permanent agriculture), composting, hydroponics, organic pest management, outreach and more!
• You’ll develop and implement a plan to distribute food produced by the program during the semesters to community members in need
• You’ll support the Greenhouse and Gardens Program’s staff by assisting with event planning and execution, as well as weekly maintenance and upkeep of the various Greenhouse and Gardens sites

Website: https://green.gmu.edu/campus-sustainability/campus-gardens/presidents-park-greenhouse/

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm 

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements: Students should be comfortable with working outside and with gardening techniques.

Background Check Required? No

Project Descriptions: 

Zero Waste Mason is a collaborative campus-wide initiative with twin goals: to reduce waste generation through reuse and reduction and improve waste diversion through composting, recycling, and donation.

Project 1. Zero Waste Mason Fellow: Waste Diversion [Filled for Fall 2024-Spring 2025]

Become a University Sustainability Civic Fellow! Ongoing efforts led by University Sustainability and Facilities Management offer an opportunity for this fellow to make improvements through waste diversion initiatives and to shape diversion systems on campus. A Civic Fellow focused on the waste diversion track will work with University Sustainability’s zero waste working group to:

• Support waste diversion initiatives like Patriot Packout
• Conduct building waste audits, report results, and communicate about new Zero Waste Standards and Guidelines to inform strategic zero waste goal setting
• Engage the Mason community about Facilities Management’s Glass Recycling Pilot and zero waste resources through kiosking, tabling, social media posts, etc.
• Support and advance composting initiatives at Mason

Website: https://green.gmu.edu/campus-sustainability/campus-gardens/presidents-park-greenhouse/

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm 

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements: Students should be comfortable with working outside and with gardening techniques.

Background Check Required? No

Project 2. Zero Waste Mason Fellow: Waste Reduction

Become a University Sustainability Civic Fellow! Ongoing environmental and fiscal resource responsibility efforts led by University Sustainability and University Auxillaries offer an opportunity to advance green purchasing (i.e., reusable, aluminum cans, etc.) and pursue best practice through innovative pilots. This is an impactful opportunity for you to promote positive social change that is fiscally and environmentally responsible (i.e., ongoing plastics elimination) while fostering a culture of sustainability at Mason. A Civic Fellow focused on the waste reduction track will work with University Sustainability's zero waste working group to: 

•  Promote a campus-wide shift to aluminum cans and certified compostables from single-use plastics through the Plastics Free Mason initiative
• Advocate for and foster change to move away from single-use plastics to durable reusable options, including support for reusable pilot projects at Mason
• Promote waste reduction for Mason events, including promoting ways to reduce the number of giveaways and adopt eco-giveaways/durable reusables as giveaway items
• Promote Mason Dining’s compostable and reusable initiatives, and track awareness, visible progress, and collect or offer feedback on how to improve programs

Website: https://green.gmu.edu/campus-sustainability/campus-gardens/presidents-park-greenhouse/

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm 

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements: Students should be comfortable with working outside and with gardening techniques.

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

Become a University Sustainability Civic Fellow! University Sustainability is launching a new
sustainability program called “Mason EcoReps” to provide a way for employees and residential
students to serve as the EcoRep for their department, college, or residence hall, connecting
them with green initiatives. This program will identify, support, and highlight EcoReps who
promote sustainable lifestyles, sustainable mindsets, and collective action around campus. A Civic Fellow focused on the EcoRep Liaison opportunity will work with the University
Sustainability office and its partners to:

• Communicate with the Mason community to recruit new Mason EcoReps in various departments and residence halls.
• Onboard new EcoReps, answers questions, and train them on how they can share packaged outreach materials.
•  Update packaged outreach and green guides/training materials including sustainability-related tips on how to green events, daily work/life, purchasing, etc. to foster a sustainable culture on our campuses.
• Maintain University Sustainability’s forthcoming “Mason EcoRep” webpage.
• Ensure communication and online EcoRep list is accurate and communicate with EcoReps to note recent action and highlight impacts

Website: https://green.gmu.edu/campus-sustainability/campus-gardens/presidents-park-greenhouse/

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

Weekday Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 9am - 6pm 

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements: Students should be comfortable with working outside and with gardening techniques.

Background Check Required? No

Project Description:

As a CAPAC Community Service/Outreach Committee Chair, you will:

• Report to CAPAC Board of Directors
• Collaborate with the Theater director to identify service opportunities that are thematically aligned with CAPAC productions. Also, collaborate with the CAPAC membership committee to recruit new Community Service Committee members and collaborate with community organizations to execute a community service project (CSP).
• Inspire a committee of three to four committee members to identify a community need that aligns with an upcoming CAPAC production. The committee motivates cast and community members to participate in a CSP that benefits our disadvantaged community.

Website: http://www.capacweb.org

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

Days of Operation: Monday through Friday and a few weekends on performance days 

Accessible via Public Transportation? Yes

Requirements: Bilingual/multilingual

Background Check Required? Yes, but only for those in direct contact with campers. Background checks take two days.