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A Catalog for Giving 2025
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Human Services
As unemployment and the cost of living increase – by over 15% since 2021 – and budgets for social services shrink, local nonprofits continue to fill critical gaps: feeding and housing more than 120,000 neighbors each year, caring for an aging population that now makes up nearly 13% of the region, keeping families together, providing legal advocacy to thousands of low-income residents, preparing youth and adults for living-wage jobs, and fostering safer, healthier communities. Unfortunately, the need outpaces the number of people served: for every three residents seeking critical support, only one currently receives it. When local nonprofits receive sustained support, they connect our neighbors to essential resources like stable shelter, healthy meals, compassionate healthcare, and pathways to family-sustaining jobs. Working together today, we can guarantee that our region not only meets immediate needs but also cultivates tomorrow’s leaders – creating better systems and opening opportunities for generations to come. Building a thriving region is, and must remain, a shared responsibility.
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Courtesy of DC Kincare
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Basic Needs, Food, & Housing
Peace For DC
Founded by survivors of gun violence, Peace For DC knows it takes much more than gun safety laws to make a community safe. It builds trusting relationships with those most at risk of experiencing or perpetrating gun violence so they can access the housing, food, education, health, and financial resources they need. Peace For DC’s HEAL DC wraparound program provides support to help them start healing, from case management to life coaching to cognitive behavioral interventions that address trauma. Its hands-on class for violence intervention professionals is the only one of its kind in DC, strengthening their work and teaching them first aid skills if they arrive on the scene before emergency medical services. Peace For DC uses long-term, proven, neighborhood-based strategies—now being replicated across the country—to break the cycle of violence.
WISH LIST: $100: meal for 10 participants; $500: Chromebook & computer classes for 2 HEAL DC participants; $1000: Career Coaching for 1 month for 5 participants
Chandra Dawson, Executive Director 853 New Jersey Ave SE, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20003 spurlocal.org/peacedc
Georgetown Ministry Center
Begun in 1987 with just one social worker and a mandate to provide service and shelter, GMC has grown into a year-round drop-in center, offering psychiatric and medical outreach, social and mental health services, case management, shelter and housing support, accessible bathrooms, and laundry facilities to one of the neediest populations: chronically homeless individuals struggling with mental illness, substance abuse, developmental disabilities, and physical injuries. Many are resistant to help, so GMC creates a welcoming environment that fosters trust. In 2024, it served 946 guests, provided 14,023 meals, 4,797 showers, and 1,220 psychiatric assessments. Its Street Outreach team had 2,866 interactions with people living without shelter. Moving to housing is profoundly challenging for this population, but for those who achieve it, GMC supports them every step of the way.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 sleeping kit (tarp, sleeping bag, blanket, sleeping mat) for 1 guest; $500: warm dinners for 40 guests; $600: 1 day of Street Outreach
Teddy Sullivan, Director of Development 1041 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20007 Tel 240 252 0105 spurlocal.org/gmc
OSG
The shortage of affordable and accessible housing in Northern Virginia disproportionately impacts individuals with developmental disabilities (DD) who want to live and thrive independently. OSG partners with affordable housing developers to help close this gap. When an adult with DD begins attending its community events, they are welcomed by Community Builders who help them foster peer connections and work with them to determine their housing goals. After joining the OSG network, they are notified as soon as an apartment becomes available. OSG assists with moving in, connects them to essential services, and creates spaces where they can engage with neighbors in book clubs, walking groups, and more. To drive policy change, OSG partners with other organizations to advocate for more affordable and inclusive housing. In an OSG community, individuality is celebrated and interdependence embraced.
WISH LIST: $100: movie night snacks for 25 neighbors; $500: art & sensory supplies for 2 months of weekly studio sessions; $1000: 1 month of housing site Community Builder support
Margot Greenlee, Executive Director 4250 North Fairfax, Suite 600 PMB 2259 Arlington, VA 22203 Tel 202 253 7946 spurlocal.org/osg
Courtesy of Peace For DC
Anne's Place
The number of older adults experiencing homelessness is estimated to triple by 2030. At Anne’s Place, where the average resident is 67, adults with chronic mental illness or other disabilities can age in place through supportive housing programs. Using privately raised funds, Anne’s Place pays for furnished single occupancy apartments that house eleven residents, half of whom have lived at Anne’s Place for a decade or more. Residents work with case managers to access medical and other support services, and build relationships with volunteer liaisons who visit them and deliver holiday meals. Participants in a new partnership with DC’s permanent supportive housing program collaborate with case managers and volunteer resident liaisons, re-certifying their housing voucher every year. For Anne’s Place, housing is a means to stability, friendship, and independence.
WISH LIST: $100: meal for all residents; $500: 2 months of case management for an existing resident; $1500: 1 month of supportive housing for an existing resident
Pam Mendelson, Executive Director PO Box 73275 Washington, DC 20056 Tel 202 743 1225 spurlocal.org/annes
Western Fairfax Christian Ministries
A family of four at 200% of the federal poverty income guidelines lives on $64,300 or less, and this is the situation for 89% of WFCM clients. They may be experiencing a one-time crisis, have a job-preventing disability, or work part-time jobs with no benefits. As the anchor human services nonprofit in western Fairfax County, WFCM provides both food and financial support. Two Client Choice Food Markets offer free produce, meat, dairy, shelf-stable foods, toiletries, diapers (in partnership with the Greater DC Diaper Bank), baby food, and formula. WFCM also assists with rent and utility bills, including rental assistance. Seasonal and year-round supplemental programs include nutrition workshops, a laundry ministry, student backpack support, and food during school and holiday breaks. The goal is to meet basic needs and keep clients safely housed during financial crises.
WISH LIST: $100: 17 fresh food weekend meal packs for students; $500: 85 weekend meal packs for students; $1000: rent or utility bill assistance for 1 family during the fiscal year
Harmonie Taddeo, Executive Director 4511 Daly Drive, Suite J Chantilly, VA 20151 Tel 703 988 9656 spurlocal.org/wfcm
Mary House
Many have immigrated from Latin America; others have journeyed from wartorn countries to seek asylum. Nearly all Mary House participants are survivors of poverty, war, violence, or loss. The transitional housing program comes first, supplemented by a food, clothing, and essential supplies pantry, and access to health, legal, financial, and employment resources. After school and over the summer, youngsters work on social-emotional literacy, arts, and academic skills, and a mother-to-mother program builds community and creates a vital support network. Families attend workshops on money management, homeownership, employment, and other topics. In-house advocates and a web of partnerships ensure that everyone has access to the services and resources they need to heal from trauma and build thriving futures.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 week of nutritious food for a family of 4; $500: art supplies for the after-school program; $1000: refrigerator for a new apartment
William Murphy, Executive Director 4303 13th Street NE Washington, DC 20017 Tel 202 780 5137 spurlocal.org/mary
Photographer Pam Mendelson, Courtesy of Anne’s Place
Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park/Silver Spring
For over 50 years, Meals on Wheels TPSS has been meeting the needs of homebound residents experiencing food insecurity. Today, it serves nearly three times the number of clients compared to before the pandemic, delivering more than 55,000 meals annually. Every day, volunteers prepare and deliver a deli lunch and a hot meal, tailored for various allergies and dietary restrictions. For many vulnerable elders and residents with disabilities who live in isolation, these daily in-home visits provide crucial social interaction. Meals on Wheels also leverages partnerships to offer vaccinations, address safety hazards, make home repairs, and liaise with clients’ families and care providers. Acting as a critical safety net service in a region where food insecurity is growing rapidly, Meals on Wheels sustains and connects residents so they can live with dignity.
Laurel Advocacy & Referral Services
Serving nearly 1,500 households each year, LARS is a source of hope and relief for residents of South Central Maryland who struggle to meet their basic needs. Many community members are service-sector and hourly-wage workers facing stagnating wages, disparities in access to resources, ongoing inflation, and a lack of affordable housing in the region. Through LARS, individuals and families receive groceries, financial assistance, and referrals for direct services. Case managers assist clients with budgeting, personal finance, education, employment, workforce development, and mental and physical well-being. Residents who are chronically disabled and experiencing homelessness receive support to transition into stable housing. A senior support program provides care coordination and case management services to a low-income senior community. Everyone deserves to have their basic needs met; at LARS, they are also empowered to achieve stability.
Homestretch
In Fairfax County, one of the wealthiest areas nationwide, over 1,200 children and adults experience homelessness. Many live with chronic illness, experience domestic violence, and have limited access to education. They need more than shelter, so Homestretch provides 60 families each year with safe housing and comprehensive support tailored to their needs. Once housed, parents participate in skill-building classes, receive scholarships to further their education, and have access to therapy, childcare assistance, healthcare, and employment support. Children enroll in a licensed preschool and teens join after-school programs. After two years, 95% of families graduate into permanent housing, increasing their income by 150% and credit score by over 100 points. Parents become nurses, accountants, teachers, plumbers, chefs, and entrepreneurs. Many of their children go to college. Homestretch families do more than survive – they thrive.
WISH LIST: $100: gasoline for a client to travel to work & bring children to childcare & school; $500: groceries for 1 family; $1000: mattresses & pillows for a new family
Barfonce Baldwin, Executive Director 303 South Maple Avenue, Suite 400 Falls Church, VA 22046 Tel 703 237 2035 ext 118 spurlocal.org/homestretch
Photographer Ruth Masterson, Courtesy of Meals on Wheels of Takoma Park/Silver Spring
Nourishing Bethesda
Founded at the height of the pandemic to fight food insecurity, NB now provides nutritious food and wraparound resources to nearly 5,000 individuals every month. Despite being an area with above-average household incomes, Bethesda has seen double-digit increases in residents of color living below the poverty line, including some 1,100 hungry children, who lack robust support systems. Each week, NB distributes food out of the BCC Rescue Squad and delivers to other community sites where residents pick up food, clothing, and children’s books, as well as participate in conversational English classes. Trained volunteers help identify them for dental and medical assistance, food stamps, cash assistance, and other social services. Coordinating 600 volunteers to distribute over 460,000 pounds of food annually, NB addresses food insecurity in Bethesda while making other intersectional issues visible.
WISH LIST: $100: weekend food bag for 17 low-income children; $500: 1 dozen eggs for 175 recipients; $1000: 210 packages of fresh produce
John F Ross, Executive Director 5816 Wyngate Drive Bethesda, MD 20814 Tel 301 664 4630 spurlocal.org/nourishbethesda
Food Recovery Network
FRN was born when several University of Maryland students noticed that campus dining halls were wasting nutritious food while community members were going hungry. It has since grown into one of the country’s largest student-led movements fighting food waste and hunger, mobilizing participants on 200 college campuses to recover surplus food at universities, businesses, and large events. The surplus is donated to local nonprofit food providers and simultaneously ensures that food waste is diverted from landfills (a sizable contributor to greenhouse gas emissions). To date, FRN has recovered more than 16.3 million pounds of food, donated 13.6 million meals, and prevented 19,900 metric tons of emissions. By working with existing infrastructure at institutions, FRN’s community-led model builds invaluable awareness of sustainable practices and transforms our food supply chain one area at a time.
Rebuilding Together DC Alexandria
RTDCA improves the homes of residents facing economic challenges, ensuring they can live in safe and healthy environments. Many of the neighbors it serves – elderly residents, individuals with disabilities, and households with lower incomes – lack the resources to address critical home repairs, turning emergency needs like fixing plumbing leaks and installing handrails into much larger problems. RTDCA provides these repairs and renovations at no cost, tailoring accessibility modifications to each household’s unique requirements. Known for its rapid response, it activates skilled volunteers and resources to fix safety hazards as quickly as possible, completing over 1,000 home repairs a year. RTDCA also strengthens community infrastructure by renovating shared spaces in under-served neighborhoods like schools and parks. Its impact is both swift and lasting – building a thriving region that everyone can call home.
WISH LIST: $100: essential hand railings for 1 home; $500: plumbing or electrical repairs for 1 home; $1000: roof repair for 1 home
Katharine Dixon, CEO & President 101 Xenia Street SW, Suite 102 Washington, DC 20032 Tel 202 800 6032 ext 500 spurlocal.org/rebuildingdcalexandria
Children, Youth, & Families
Only Make Believe
The children served by OMB face diverse challenges—some are chronically ill or struggling with psychiatric disorders; others have physical or developmental disabilities; most spend much of their childhood isolated from their communities. But all can benefit from the therapeutic power of theatre. OMB creates and performs interactive theatre for children in hospitals, care facilities, and special education programs. With the help of local professional actors, kids take part in original plays, dressing up and becoming the stars of the show. Each performance is tailored to the children’s needs – including sensory modifications for kids with disabilities, virtual programming for those who can’t leave their hospital beds, and social-emotional learning benchmarks for children in special education. OMB brings the power of play into kids’ lives.
WISH LIST: $100: costume-making supplies for in-person performances; $500: transportation for actors to & from an in-person performance; $1200: 1 in-person performance
Tamela Aldridge, Executive Director 6856 Eastern Ave NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20012 Tel 202 299 0855 spurlocal.org/omb
The TraRon Center
Most of the young people in Wards 7 and 8 who have been exposed to gun violence experience profound psychological damage from trauma they continue to endure. The TraRon Center allows those ages 4-14 to grieve, cope, and heal through the arts. Every day after school and across seven weeks in the summer, art therapists lead children through developmentally appropriate and culturally responsive activities. Children express their emotions through affirmation sessions, drawing, group therapy, and individual counseling. Additional mentorship and tutoring assist children in catching up academically, while books, museum visits, and guest speakers introduce them to African American artists. By beginning gun violence prevention work earlier than most, the TraRon Center reduces PTSD among youth, equips them with conflict resolution skills, and opens a safe space for dialogue.
WISH LIST: $100: safe passage for students to the program from home or school; $500: week of homework assistance for 6 children or youth; $1000: 10 sessions of art therapy
Ryane B Nickens, Executive Director 700 Pennsylvania Ave SE, 2nd Fl Washington, DC 20003 Tel 202 290 9855 spurlocal.org/traron
Open Goal Project
Many talented young athletes face financial barriers to high-level sports opportunities. So, Open Goal Project created a 100% free-to-play soccer club where every child can succeed on and off the field. Youth ages 7–18 join the District of Columbia Football Club (DCFC) and compete against top pay-to-play teams, which would otherwise cost families over $3,000 annually. Students receive soccer training and participate in youth development workshops, covering topics from financial literacy to college preparation. A free summer camp and in-house soccer league for younger children expand these offerings. An empowerment program offers mentorship, coaching certifications, and paid positions to help youth build valuable workforce experience. Since its founding in 2015, 15 alumni have graduated to play collegiate soccer, and 30 have been hired as youth coaches. At Open Goal Project, soccer opens doors for all young people.
WISH LIST: $100: game-day uniform for 1 student athlete; $500: healthy snacks for 100 participants for 1 week of programming; $1000: tournament entry for 1 DCFC team
Amir Lowery, Executive Director 1640 Columbia Road NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel 771 215 7604 spurlocal.org/opengoal
The Center for Alexandria's Children
The Center was founded as a partnership between the City of Alexandria and the local community foundation to create responsive systems of care for child victims of abuse. Today, it remains the only organization in Alexandria providing comprehensive services to children. Using a trauma-informed, cross-agency approach, it provides a safe space for children who have experienced trauma and abuse to begin healing. Its focus on prevention includes inviting parents and caregivers of at-risk children ages 0-5 to participate in weekly and monthly play-based learning experiences. Additional outreach and education programs train community members and professionals to recognize, respond to, and report child sexual abuse. As a public-private partnership, the Center activates the whole community to end child abuse.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 month of Learn&PlayGroup for 1 family; $500: child abuse prevention training for 25 professionals; $1000: comprehensive services for 1 child impacted by abuse
Terri Cheshire, Executive Director 4850 Mark Center Drive, 5th Floor Alexandria, VA 22311 Tel 703 746 6008 spurlocal.org/tcac
Photographer Matt Borowick, matthewborowick.com, Courtesy of Only Make Believe
Court Appointed Special Advocate/Prince George’s County
Nearly 400 young people live in foster care in Prince George’s County, where it often takes four years (twice the national average) to find a stable home. In those years, CASA/Prince George’s may well be the only source of comfort and safety they have. It screens, trains, and supervises volunteers to provide long-term advocacy for children in these complex, challenging situations so they are placed in safe and permanent homes. As older youth prepare to age out, they work with CASA/Prince George’s to develop career and life skills. Those who emancipate receive ongoing support as they work towards their employment and education goals. Since 2001, Court Appointed Special Advocate/Prince George’s has been uniquely connecting foster youth with the full circle of support they need and the advocacy they deserve.
WISH LIST: $100: hygiene products for the Transitioning Age Youth resource closet; $500: a laptop for a youth starting college; $1000: training for one class of volunteers
Yolanda Johnson, Executive Director 6811 Kenilworth Ave, Suite 402 Riverdale, MD 20737 Tel 301 209 0491 spurlocal.org/casapg
SafeSpot Children's Advocacy Center of Fairfax
Children’s Advocacy Centers provide a family-friendly place for investigating the unthinkable: child sexual abuse and severe physical abuse. They bring together law enforcement, child protective services, and other professionals to minimize how often children must describe their traumatic experiences. At SafeSpot, trained bilingual forensic interviewers structure questions to avoid re-traumatizing children or compromising the investigation. A multidisciplinary team—medical professionals, therapists, criminal justice personnel, social workers, and victim advocates—decides how best to help the child, and a Family Advocate meets with non-offending caregivers to listen and offer support. Counseling is tailored to the unique challenges of youth with post-traumatic stress or mood disorders resulting from abuse, violence, or grief. One in four girls and one in 20 boys will be abused by age 18. SafeSpot is committed to being there for them.
WISH LIST: $100: court accompaniment for 1 child & family; $500: advocacy, case management, & crisis counseling for 1 family; $1000: 1 multidisciplinary team training
Heather O’Malley, CEO PO Box 148 Fairfax, VA 22038 Tel 703 385 5437 spurlocal.org/safespot
DC Fiscal Policy Institute
The majority of DC residents are people of color, but many live in stark contrast to their white and often wealthier neighbors. Operating with the belief that policy is personal, DCFPI provides research, analysis, and strategy to inform local policies and reform inequitable systems. Budget and tax policy can be opaque, so DCFPI offers community-rooted organizations and community members advocacy training that strengthens their understanding of how local budget priorities affect their daily lives and how their voices play a role in shaping these priorities. Its policy recommendations and rapid-response analysis have become a trusted source of information for policymakers, advocates, and community-rooted partners. This deep engagement across social issues weaves a community-driven agenda, and it pays off: DCFPI has boosted incomes for 40,000 families, secured healthcare and higher pay for 4,000 childcare workers, and more.
WISH LIST: $100: DC budget & advocacy training for community members & grassroots organizations; $500: 1 focus group; $1000: roundtable with local leaders & partners
Erica Williams, Executive Director 712 H Street NE, Suite 2191 Washington, DC 20002 Tel 202 886 5180 spurlocal.org/dcfiscal
The T.R.I.G.G.E.R. Project
To create a world free from gun violence, TTP focuses on prevention by mentoring, educating, and protecting young people. Too often, youth in DC are forced to survive instead of thrive. Reframing case management as care management, TTP meets over 600 young people where they are, connecting them with transportation, resources, and opportunities. Every summer, it provides paid jobs for young people to learn de-escalation, process trauma, engage with gun violence survivors, and build their social and emotional skills. Culminating in its annual Youth Day, youth graduate as Prevention Strategists, leading discussions and training to educate their peers on solutions to gun violence. Year-round, students in paid internships advocate for their needs with local leaders and policymakers while building community over dinners and outings. TTP centers youth voices to create safe spaces where they can heal and grow.
WISH LIST: $100: Uber safe ride/UberEats vouchers; $500: economic opportunity stipends for 20 youth; $1000: 40 safe ride/UberEats vouchers for youth & families
Tia Bell, Founder & CEO 252 37th Street SE Washington, DC 20019 Tel 202 741 4614 spurlocal.org/trigger
Photographer National CASA/GAL, nationalcasagal.org, Courtesy of Court Appointed Special Advocate/Prince George’s County
DC127
Since 2012, DC127 has partnered with local churches to empower families impacted by the foster care system. Its upstream prevention work supports families at risk of separation, working with them over six months to meet parenting goals, build meaningful community relationships, and access essentials like food, housing, and counseling. DC127 also creates a safe space for kinship and foster families, invites potential foster parents to learn more, and trains parents and caregivers through workshops like natural hair care and trauma-informed mealtimes. Community events give children a fun day out, while a supply hub ensures families have what they need to welcome children into their homes. DC127 helps families stabilize by mobilizing a team of volunteers around them - because parents and their children belong together.
WISH LIST: $100: grocery store gift card for 1 family; $500: rent and/or utility stipend for 1 family; $1000: 1 month of supplies (books, clothes, bedding, diapers) for Tabitha’s Closet
Chrissy Weeks, Executive Director 1225 Otis Street NE Washington, DC 20017 Tel 202 926 6136 spurlocal.org/dc127
The Heart Leaf Center
THLC was founded in 2021 when younger children were struggling with rising mental health issues due to the COVID-19 crisis, and many children from multicultural families could not access or afford counseling. THLC provides high-quality, low-cost, and culturally competent play therapy to hundreds of families each year. At its outpatient clinic in Fairfax, therapists offer individual and family counseling, promote healthy attachments, and build strong partnerships with parents, caregivers, and schools to tailor comprehensive support for each child. Public preschool and elementary school students receive similar care on site, where therapists collaborate with educators to support students in the classroom. THLC also trains mental health therapists and student interns in its play therapy practices, expanding both the number and skills of the local mental health workforce. THLC intervenes early to ensure every child can thrive.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 hour parent or family counseling session; $500: 1 month of Play Therapy for a child; $1000: year of supervision & advanced training for a therapist
Sheri Mitschelen, Executive Director 11166 Fairfax Boulevard, Suite 207 Fairfax, VA 22030 Tel 703 397 8163 spurlocal.org/heartleaf
Photographer Kelsie Johnson, Courtesy of DC127
The Clothesline for Arlington Kids
Clothing is a critical need for school-aged children, especially to build their confidence as they grow their sense of identity and explore social dynamics. Yet, many families in Arlington struggle to afford essentials like clothing. The Clothesline collects and distributes clothing donations in excellent condition so that low-income children can receive the clothing they deserve. Families can shop twice a year for spring/summer and fall/winter wardrobes, selecting clothes and shoes at no cost. Rigorous donation and processing standards ensure quality clothing, and community partnerships help expand its inventory to include items like new bras and socks. Staff and a dedicated team of volunteers curate the store thoughtfully and invite families to shop by appointment, ensuring a personalized and dignified experience. Distributing over 50,000 clothing items annually, The Clothesline empowers students to feel comfortable and confident in the classroom.
WISH LIST: $100: coats, hats, & gloves for 4 kids; $500:clothes for 3 kids for an entire season; $1000: restock shoes for 1 week of giving
Ellen Moy, President & Co-Founder 3330 Washington Boulevard, Suite 200 Arlington, VA 22201 Tel 703 243 2615 spurlocal.org/clothesline
Edu-Futuro
Pursuing your dream college is challenging for anyone. Imagine being the first in your family to do so while grappling with financial and language barriers. Edu-Futuro empowers students from immigrant, Latino, and low-income families across Northern Virginia by offering free bilingual programs for students and their parents. Each year, more than 700 students work toward graduation through its multi-stage, after-school Emerging Leaders Program (ELP): middle schoolers build STEM skills through hands-on robotics; high schoolers engage in leadership development and mentorships; and rising seniors navigate college applications and enrollment with year-round support. Meanwhile, parents receive assistance with basic needs and participate in professional development training to secure employment, improve financial security, and strengthen their families. Through this comprehensive, culturally competent, and two-generation model, Edu-Futuro inspires a new generation of leaders.
WISH LIST: $100: night of childcare expenses; $500: participation in regional Robotics competition for 10; $1000: scholarships for 10 students in ELP-I public speaking competition
Jorge E Figueredo, Executive Director 2110 Washington Boulevard, Suite 349 Arlington, VA 22204 Tel 703 228 2560 spurlocal.org/edufuturo
Girls & Women
New Endeavors by Women
NEW annually gives over 130 women and children in six housing programs a safe place to stay. Homeless for many reasons, the women – single or with families – come to NEW when they’re ready to make changes in their lives. Independent living skills, academic retooling, job counseling, strategies for finding and keeping affordable housing, support groups, and therapy – all help them regain control. Drug recovery assistance is critical, since most residents have a history of substance abuse. Just as importantly, they learn how to afford places of their own: many put a portion of their income into an escrow account and work closely with staff to find potential housing. NEW women who become self-sufficient remain so: more than 80% of the 3,900 who have completed the program are no longer homeless – an impressive feat.
WISH LIST: $100: household supplies for 1 client for 1 month; $500: 4 counseling sessions for 1 client; $1000: supportive case management services for 1 client for 1 year
Wanda Steptoe, Executive Director 611 N Street NW Washington, DC 20001 Tel 202 682 5825 spurlocal.org/new
Photographer Patricia Lake, pmlakephoto.com, Courtesy of Girls on the Run of Montgomery County, MD
BRAWS-Bringing Resources to Aid Women’s Shelters
Two out of every five women struggle to afford menstrual necessities. BRAWS works to make them accessible to all, providing bras, underwear, and menstrual supplies to 100+ regional partners. These community organizations address hunger, assist refugees, support individuals recovering from substance use disorder, and assist formerly incarcerated women — all collaborating with BRAWS to distribute essential products. Girls in local schools receive pads and tampons every month. Children in foster care receive supplies as they transition in and out of the system. Unhoused women and girls residing in shelters and transitional housing receive regular deliveries and “shop” for items during BRAWS distribution days, where volunteers help them to find the bras and underwear they need. Providing more than 6 million products since 2015, BRAWS addresses period poverty, one essential item at a time.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 month of menstrual supplies for 10 women; $500: sports bras for 30 girls; $1000: 100 boxes of pads or tampons for a PTA-sponsored school pantry
Lauren Sterling, Interim Executive Director 2102 Gallows Road, Suite C Vienna, VA 22182 Tel 703 943 7938 spurlocal.org/braws
District of Columbia Forensic Nurse Examiners
DCFNE is the city’s sole provider and authority for performing medical forensic exams for adult survivors. Individuals who’ve experienced sexual assault, intimate partner violence, or family violence are referred to its nurses to document injuries, collect evidence, access critical medication, and receive essential care. Since 2013, DCFNE has responded to over 8,000 calls for service, using a trauma-informed and consent-based approach to care for survivors at District hospitals, its private Forensic Nursing Clinic, and through telehealth consultations. It also trains providers from other programs in forensic nursing best practices. DCFNE’s expertise has led to a formal government partnership to provide technical assistance to medical units globally. DCFNE ensures that every resident can walk away from a traumatic experience feeling empowered to take control of their health.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 year of self-care & mental health support for 1 employee; $500: 1 training session for a forensic nurse; $1000: transportation to forensic exams for 20 patients
Erin Pollitt, Executive Director 101 Q Street NE, Suite T02 Washington, DC 20002 Tel 202 742 1736 spurlocal.org/dcforensic
The Safe Sisters Circle
TSSC was founded by a Black woman who saw a cultural disconnect between those providing and those receiving services for domestic violence and sexual abuse. The only organization that focuses on the needs of Black women survivors in Wards 7 and 8, it provides culturally-specific, trauma-informed mental health support and legal representation in civil protection, family law, and criminal court cases. It also explores non-carceral alternatives for survivors who want safety but favor help and accountability, not jail, for their loved ones. Embedded in the community, TSSC educates young girls on the importance of healthy relationships and the meaning of consent, and arranges referrals for survivors to receive educational/career assistance and meet their clothing and food needs. Its long-term vision: to change the culture of intimate violence in Wards 7 and 8.
WISH LIST: $100: appointment transportation for 4; $500: group therapy cohort for 8-10 survivors; $1000: Survivor Advocacy Board meeting compensation for 10 survivors
Nel-Sylvia Guzman, Executive Director PO Box 15126 Washington, DC 20003 Tel 202 924 2027 spurlocal.org/safesisters
Health, Wellness, & Senior Services
Nueva Vida
Imagine being diagnosed with cancer and having no health insurance, no primary care provider, and making under $15,000 a year. For the immigrant Latina community that Nueva Vida (“new life”) serves, this is their reality. Founded in 1999 by Latina breast cancer survivors and health professionals, Nueva Vida is the region’s only Spanish-speaking, community-based provider of culturally competent cancer support services. It conducts outreach to educate the community and provides preventive exams and free testing. When patients are diagnosed, navigators guide them through treatment, recovery, and (for some) end-of-life care—supporting medical appointments, referring to mental health services, addressing basic needs, and ensuring patients are not alone. In the last 13 years, Nueva Vida has facilitated more than 15,000 free cancer screenings and over 3,000 cancer diagnostic tests, and provided support to 2,700 Latinas suffering from cancer.
WISH LIST: $250: one cancer support group session; $500: one mammogram screening; $1000: one cancer diagnostic test
Astrid Jimenez, Executive Director 801 North Pitt Street, Suite 113 Alexandria, VA 22314 Tel 202 223 9100 spurlocal.org/nuevavida
Courtesy of Nueva Vida
Community FarmShare
CFS works to build a robust local food system so that residents can access healthy and culturally relevant foods, and small-scale farmers can sustain their businesses while protecting the environment. Every week, it provides fresh produce to students in 15 Montgomery County public schools whose families need food assistance. Offering the same to uninsured residents, it partners with clinics and nutritionists to supplement produce with education and one-on-one counseling. By sourcing produce from socially disadvantaged farmers across the county, CFS forms a key income stream for them. It also started the county’s first farm produce aggregation hub, creating the infrastructure that small farms need to sell bulk produce to food banks and pantries. Investing over $330,000 (and counting) in local regenerative farms, CFS allows food-insecure neighbors to access healthy food.
WISH LIST: $200: a new market tent; $500: 5 weeks of fresh produce shopping; $1000: stipend for a college student intern to support market operations
Jennifer Freeman, Executive Director 14975 Sugarland Road Poolesville, MD 20837 Tel 301 377 4267 spurlocal.org/farmshare
Kingdom Care Senior Village
KCSV is an aging-in-community village that fosters companionship and connection among senior adults, empowering them to support each other as they age in their own homes. As the only village in Ward 8 serving predominantly Black residents, KCSV addresses critical gaps for seniors who face barriers such as limited transportation, access to healthy food, and other essential resources. Members rely on KCSV for rides to appointments, help with applications for safety-net services, and support during transitions between hospital stays. Throughout the year, KCSV offers a broad range of social and wellness activities, including concerts, exercise sessions, and arts and crafts. Staff and volunteers make house calls, deliver prepared meals, and celebrate members’ birthdays. Hundreds of older adults benefit from the weekly pantry, receiving food and household essentials. Recognized in 2023 as an outstanding village, KCSV helps seniors thrive.
WISH LIST: $100: 10 long-handled shoe horns; $500: freezer to store proteins for food distribution; $1000: shelving for organizing the food pantry
Kathy Pointer, Executive Director 814 Alabama Avenue SE Washington, DC 20032 Tel 202 561 5594 spurlocal.org/kingdomcare
Potomac Community Resources
PCR promotes the participation of teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in community life. For teenagers with I/DD, services begin in school and end when students “age out” at 21. That’s when PCR steps in, providing therapeutic programs that enable their full participation: participants foster a love of music, build technical photography skills, enjoy sports with others, and develop basic and advanced communication skills. Through holiday parties, barbecues, and other activities, adults from around the region socialize with each other. Additional respite care programs provide therapeutic and social activities and nursing support for medically fragile people with profound disabilities, giving their caregivers a much-needed break. Knowing the difference these programs have made, PCR engages in public policy advocacy and works with other communities to replicate this model.
WISH LIST: $100: musical instruments for 7 music programs; $500: 1 year of weekly exercise programs for 1; $1000: supplies for Respite Care Programs
Stephen F Riley, Executive Director 9200 Kentsdale Drive Potomac, MD 20854 Tel 240 461 4040 spurlocal.org/pcr
Legal Services & Justice Programs
Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
Founded in 1986 when homelessness emerged as a major social issue in DC, the Legal Clinic has become a vital part of the local landscape, providing legal services and engaging thousands of residents annually. Pro bono attorneys receive ongoing training and mentorship to assist neighbors in gaining or maintaining housing stability. Staff conduct extensive outreach across shelters, encampments, and more to ensure community members know their rights and how to access legal services. An on-call program ensures staff attorneys can respond to emergency legal needs. Operating without funding from the government, the Legal Clinic is a staunch advocate, working with community partners to improve local agencies, increase funding for housing programs to meet residents’ needs, and advance systemic reform. The Legal Clinic fights for a city where housing is a human right.
WISH LIST: $100: toiletry supplies & water for community members; $500: 10 outreach events (legal information & know-your-rights training); $1000: legal advocacy for 4 homeless families
Amber W Harding, Esq, Executive Director 1200 U Street NW, Third Floor Washington, DC 20009 Tel 202 328 5500 spurlocal.org/wlch
Courtesy of Washington Legal Clinic for the Homeless
Open City Advocates
When the DC Family Court commits a child to the custody of the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services, the child becomes a ward of the city. Open City Advocates is a zealous advocate for this community, all of whom are youth of color. Most have been in the child welfare system, many have lived in poverty, and all rarely receive the trauma-informed care and reentry services they deserve. Open City Advocates provides them with legal representation and mentoring, working with them to actualize a healthy adulthood instead of accepting a future of an early death or incarceration. Through weekly attorney visits, youth develop relationships of trust, set their own goals for reentry, and receive support throughout and after commitment. Many youth clients build leadership skills and go on to advocate for juvenile justice reform alongside Open City Advocates and its partners.
WISH LIST: $100: essentials for 1 youth in the first days of reentry; $250: 1 month of reentry advocacy for a client; $1,000: 1 month of legal defense for an unlawfully confined child
Penelope Spain, CEO 1328 Florida Avenue NW, 2nd Fl Washington, DC 20002 Tel 202 678 9001 spurlocal.org/opencity
OAR of Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church
Established in the 1970s when the restorative justice movement began, OAR walks alongside individuals returning to the community from incarceration. It offers pre-release workshops so individuals can learn about reentry issues, participate in group psychotherapy, and plan their transitions. After release, OAR assists them with immediate needs (securing identification and accessing cell phones) and provides longer-term coaching and employment support, including gender-responsive therapeutic services for female-identifying individuals. To help more people stay in the community, OAR works with local courts and the Commonwealth Attorney’s office to facilitate community service as an alternative sentencing option and diversion program. In addition, its Racial Justice and Liberation work guides community members through dismantling personal and systemic racism in the criminal legal system. At OAR, liberation means dignity and justice for all.
WISH LIST: $100: ID retrieval to secure housing & employment; $500: up to 3 months of coaching including wrap-around direct services; $1000: 1 month of rent
Elizabeth Jones Valderrama, Executive Director 1400 N Uhle Street, Suite 704 Arlington, VA 22201 Tel 703 228 7030 spurlocal.org/oar
Photographer Darcy Troutman, Courtesy of AsylumWorks
AsylumWorks
Since 2016, AsylumWorks has provided nearly 3,000 newcomers seeking humanitarian-based immigration protection with culturally and linguistically appropriate services. AsylumWorks helps newcomers ineligible for government assistance and unable to work for an extended period navigate a system ill-equipped to promote equity and justice. Bilingual, bicultural staff offer free Health & Wellness services so newcomers can address mental, physical, and social health challenges; employment & education services to guide newcomers in finding and retaining jobs; and legal navigation services that ensure newcomers understand their rights and connect with quality legal services. Together, these services empower newcomers across the Greater Washington region to protect and promote their health, access community opportunities, and participate in immigration proceedings. AsylumWorks builds a healthier, more just society for migrants.
WISH LIST: $100: gift card for a family of 4 to purchase culturally appropriate food; $500: transportation to medical appointments; $1000: computers for 3 clients
Joan Hodges-Wu, Founder & Executive Director 1718 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 300 Washington, DC 20009 Tel 443 823 8715 spurlocal.org/asylumworks
Advocates for Justice and Education
In the District, though thousands of students with disabilities are entitled to receive a free and appropriate public education, too many face systemic barriers that deny them their educational rights. These children, often students of color, face unfair discipline, exclusion from school, and unacceptable delay or denial of services. A parent-led organization, AJE works to ensure that they receive what they need. The focus is on families who live in poverty, have limited English proficiency, experience homelessness, and have children with disabilities and special health care needs. Advice and counsel, as well as legal representation, address a family’s immediate issues. Meanwhile, training programs educate parents about their rights and empower them to advocate for their children and be peer advocates who can support other parents. AJE builds community power to advocate for children because every child deserves the chance to succeed.
WISH LIST: $100: hour of counseling for 1 family; $500: 2-hour Know Your Rights training for 15 parents & youth; $1000: extended legal assistance at a school meeting or hearing for 1 family
Rochanda Hiligh-Thomas, Executive Director 1200 G Street NW, Suite 650 Washington, DC 20005 Tel 202 678 8060 ext 205 spurlocal.org/aje
DC KinCare Alliance
In DC, one in five children of color live with a relative caregiver (usually a grandmother) when parents pass away, are detained or deported, experience mental health crises, or face other challenges. Most caregivers live at the poverty level and face an uphill battle in a system designed for traditional families, one that expects relatives to step in without aid. DC KinCare Alliance offers free legal representation and education so caregivers can obtain legal custody and apply for the food and childcare assistance they need to provide stable home environments. Caregivers also participate in support groups and join KinCare to advocate for policies that better support kinship families. The only DC legal services organization focused solely on serving these caregivers, KinCare empowers those who open their hearts and homes to children in need.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 meeting with a client intake manager; $500: legal advice to a relative caregiver; $1000: legal representation for filing court documents
Marla Spindel, Executive Director 1101 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 450 Washington, DC 20036 Tel 202 315 1551 spurlocal.org/kincare
Conflict Resolution Center of Montgomery County
Whether it’s a dispute with a police officer, neighbor, or classmate, CRCMC is there to broker agreements and avoid violence, lawsuits, and suspensions. Its Landlord-Tenant Mediation Program helps resolve conflict and builds understanding while providing a safe space for complaints and rebuilding community relations – particularly resonant in this year of pain, harm, and unrest. School programs focus on resolving conflict through teacher training, dialogue circles, and mediation; community programs include couples negotiating child custody, Spanish speakers in need of bilingual mediation, and others. Participants are more available for mediation online – an unexpected benefit of our virtual existence – and in more intense cases actually appreciate not facing each other in person. Restoring justice, mending relationships, supporting small businesses, creating safer schools and neighborhoods: this is the kind of healing we need.
WISH LIST: $100: 2 hours of family mediation; $500: 1 Youth Restorative Justice Dialog Circle for 10; $1000: Mediation Training for communities experiencing conflict
Christopher Page, Executive Director 4805 Edgemoor Lane, 2nd Floor Bethesda, MD 20814 Tel 301 652 0717 spurlocal.org/crcmc
Immigrant & Refugee Services
Restoration Immigration Legal Aid
Navigating the immigration system alone is nearly impossible for RILA’s clients: non-English-speaking asylum-seekers and immigrant children with few to no resources, many of whom fled their home countries carrying profound trauma. RILA offers them a safe environment and free, high-quality legal support to help them win asylum and obtain legal status. At its legal aid clinics held twice a month, volunteers work alongside staff members to lead meetings, take notes, provide interpretation, and offer childcare. Clinics begin with a shared meal, furthering cross-cultural dialogue and fostering empathy and shared understanding. Since its founding, RILA has won asylum for 107 individuals and obtained legal status for nearly 200 young people. Today, it compassionately represents more than 1,000 clients. RILA serves as a trusted community leader, providing sound counsel and a welcoming space for our most vulnerable immigrant neighbors.
WISH LIST: $100: consult for legal status eligibility; $425: Know Your Rights presentation staffing; $800: Special Juvenile Status petition for an abused or abandoned immigrant child
Johanna Montague, Director of Partnerships 1815 North Quincy Street Arlington, VA 22207 Tel 804 339 4688 spurlocal.org/restoration
Just Neighbors Ministry
Just Neighbors serves and supports the immigrant community of DC, Maryland, and Virginia. It provides high-quality immigration legal services to immigrants with low incomes, asylees, and refugees. It also builds community among clients, staff, volunteers, and the larger society through education, advocacy, and volunteerism. Last year, it served 1,541 clients and worked on 2,446 cases. Nearly 40% helped non-citizens escape violence; 17% reunited families. Experienced staff attorneys supervise all cases, prepare clients for interviews, and accompany them to meetings with immigration officials, ensuring that no one feels confused or alone. The goal is to help an increasing number of immigrants live with dignity as full members of the community, build their own capacity and resources, and achieve the goals they have set for themselves and their families.
WISH LIST: $100: legal consult for one family; $500: application for a work permit & authorization for legal employment; $1000: full legal representation to reunite a family in the US
Erin McKenney, Executive Director 7630 Little River Turnpike, Ste 900 Annandale, VA 22003 Tel 703 979 1240 spurlocal.org/neighbors
Tahirih Justice Center
Tahirih addresses an urgent need: serving survivors of gender-based violence, primarily immigrant women, girls, and members of the LGBTQ+ community. It provides holistic legal services, social service case management, advocacy, and education. Clients complete safety plans, set goals, develop budgets, and work with an advocate to find shelter, counseling, medical care, food, and clothing. The success rate is extraordinary: in immigration and family law cases, it’s an astonishing 96%. Tahirih gives a powerful voice to those who aren’t heard and whose needs often go unmet—training attorneys, police, judges, prosecutors, legislators, and social and medical service providers to understand the unique concerns facing their clients, and then advocating for policies that better protect them. Each year, Tahirih seeks justice and rekindles hope for 2,000 courageous women, 1,000 of whom are part of our local community.
WISH LIST: $100: doctor’s visit for a survivor of violence; $500: emergency housing for an immigrant survivor & their children; $1000: 20 pay-as-you-go cell phones
Archi Pyati, CEO 6400 Arlington Boulevard, Suite 400 Falls Church, VA 22042 Tel 571 356 9493 spurlocal.org/tahirih
Photographer Susan De Biagi, susandebiagi.com, Courtesy of Restoration Immigration Legal Aid
Kitchen of Purpose
Founded to provide Latina immigrant women with family-sustaining jobs in the food industry, Kitchen of Purpose today creates employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for hundreds of underserved residents while working to end hunger. Community members between the ages of 18 and 60 enroll in its workforce development program and gain food service skills equivalent to a condensed year of culinary school, while also learning English and getting connected with social services to meet their basic needs. Students interested in owning their own businesses join its incubator, where they access bilingual entrepreneurship training, resources, mentorship, and free access to a shared commercial kitchen space. Many young people in the community go to after-school programming hungry, so Kitchen of Purpose also provides them with fresh and healthy meals. At Kitchen of Purpose, food changes lives.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 chef knife kit; $500: 1 shared kitchen space sponsorship; $1000: 1 week of after-school meals
Brian MacNair, CEO 918 South Lincoln Street Arlington, VA 22204 Tel 703 596 1557 spurlocal.org/kitchen
Washington English Center
An estimated 41% of DC workers with low wages are immigrants, and without a command of the English language, many earn up to 40% less than their English-proficient coworkers. Knowing that time and money for classes are scarce, Washington English Center provides them with excellent and affordable English instruction at convenient hours—four days a week, day and night, both virtually and in person. Each year, a team of nearly 900 volunteer teachers and tutors offer classes from beginner to advanced, focusing on both written and verbal communication and serving nearly 2,000 unique students. Citizenship preparation and a workforce readiness program further build skills and empower students. For many, WEC is a community as much as a classroom – the place where they learn, connect, and take the first steps toward achieving the American dream.
WISH LIST: $150: tutoring scholarship for 1 student; $500: group class scholarships for 2 students; $1000: textbooks for 25 students
John Odenwelder, Executive Director 1100 G Street NW, Suite 200 Washington, DC 20005 Tel 202 800 4684 spurlocal.org/englishcenter
Centreville Immigration Forum
The Centreville Labor Resource Center was CIF’s first program and remains at its heart. It provides a safe location where day laborers and employers can meet and negotiate fair terms—an alternative to street-side hiring that leaves workers vulnerable to lower wages and wage theft. Most of those served are Indigenous people from across the Americas who speak the Mayan language Ixil; many have limited formal education and lack access to personal transportation. CIF’s ESOL classes, skills training, leadership development, and resource-sharing empower members to collaborate, build community, increase self-sufficiency, and ultimately organize for systemic change. This means workers gain access to better-paying jobs and essential community resources—such as food, medical care, and education—while also prioritizing safety and protection. At CIF, members lead the fight for their rights.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 wage theft support case for 1 member; $500: 1 trade or skill building class; $1000: language interpretation services for 3 months
Samantha Zaboli, Executive Director PO Box 81 Centreville, VA 20122 Tel 703 543 6272 spurlocal.org/cif
Photographer, Francisca Fuentes-Vasquez, Courtesy of Kitchen of Purpose
Community & Civic Engagement
Young People for Progress
YPP cultivates the political power of young adults so they can fully participate in our democracy. Founded to address the policing and criminalization of young people in Montgomery County, it is led by young people under the age of 35, who comprise the majority of its members, board, and staff. Since winning seats on the county’s civilian Policing Advisory Commission, YPP has continued to influence countywide change through youth-led organizing: securing restorative justice coaches and funding for full-time social workers in every public high school, and limiting the police department’s use of consent searches that increase harm and racial profiling. Through canvassing, Know Your Rights training, and workshops, YPP engages and educates more young people, developing grassroots leadership among those most impacted by state violence. At YPP, youth have the power to shape our future.
WISH LIST: $100: space & refreshments for 1 General Body meeting; $500:canvassing t-shirts for 30 members; $1000: 1-day leadership development & organizing training
Danielle Blocker, Executive Director 8070 Georgia Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20910 Tel 240 242 5030 spurlocal.org/ypp
DC Girls' Coalition
At DCGC, young girls of color are leaders with solutions for the issues they face every day. The organization trains young people across the city to identify and prioritize the issues impacting their communities, develop and research solutions, and communicate and implement those solutions. Its annual Youth Town Hall, facilitated entirely by young people, draws city leaders from all areas of government. Over the last six months, youth lead campaign actions such as presenting their solutions at panel discussions, organizing rallies, and meeting with city officials. Throughout the year, DCGC provides youth and their families with mutual aid support and opens healing circles where they practice coping skills with allies. When DCGC brings city leaders to the table, that table is built by and for youth of color.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 youth stipend for 1 young person; $500: stipends for 20 youth participants; $1000: 16 coping skills baskets
Kristi Matthews-Jones, Director 2303 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel 202 612 0564 spurlocal.org/girlscoalition
Jews United for Justice
Justice is a Jewish value, rooted in a history of rising from oppression to freedom. JUFJ stands in solidarity with those who are fighting inequality and racism, ensuring that marginalized people have the rights and opportunities to which we are all entitled. Through community organizing, leadership training, political education, and advocacy, it annually mobilizes and educates some 2,000 volunteer leaders who, allied with local communities, engage in issue-focused local campaigns that lead to systemic change. In recent years, JUFJ has played key leadership roles in protecting critical safety net services, winning paid family leave in DC, fighting for immigrant rights, and winning paid sick days and the minimum wage increase in DC and Maryland. JUFJ will continue to advocate for affordable housing, eviction prevention, racial equity, and economic justice for all.
WISH LIST: $100: welcome packets for 30 volunteers; $500: text invites for 6,250 members to take action on a campaign; $1000: space rental & food for 2 community-building events
Jacob Feinspan, Executive Director PO Box 41485 Washington, DC 20018 Tel 202 788 5068 spurlocal.org/jufj
Heurich House Museum
The Heurich House Museum honors the legacies of the craftspeople who built it while supporting modern-day artists from historically underrepresented groups. A dynamic local history museum in Dupont Circle, it welcomes residents through public tours, exhibits, and programs about DC history, where visitors learn about the women, household staff, and immigrant brewery workers who contributed to the Heurich family’s successes. Its biergarten serves as a gathering place for thousands annually in a city with few “third spaces.” Each year, through its Urban Manufacturing Incubator Program, over 300 local artisans, craftspeople, and small-scale manufacturers gain access to on-site studio space, education, partnerships, and digital and physical retail platforms. Operating as a traditional house museum in service to its community, Heurich House preserves local history, engages residents with people-driven programming, and stimulates economic opportunities for local makers.
WISH LIST: $100: sign language interpretation for a 1-hour guided tour of the museum; $500: supplies for a Touch Cart; $1000: fees to support 4 teaching artists
Kimberly Bender, Executive Director & CEO 1307 New Hampshire Avenue NW Washington, DC 20036 Tel 202 429 1894 spurlocal.org/heurich
Photographer Scott Buga, Courtesy of Community Forklift
DC Justice Lab
Less than half of DC’s residents are Black, yet they represent over 90% of all the people who are arrested, incarcerated, and convicted. Local jails use solitary confinement three times more than the national average, and someone dies inside DC jails every month. For DC Justice Lab, safety means more than the absence of harm. Public safety requires systems that meet residents’ basic needs, so it uses research, training, and advocacy to transform our expensive punishment system into one that promotes community safety. Community members who are formerly incarcerated train to participate in policymaking alongside emerging lawyers and local organizations. They work with DC Justice Lab to publish research, develop proposals, and advocate for smarter safety policies. By centering Black Washingtonians, DC Justice Lab creates opportunities for every resident to participate meaningfully in policymaking.
WISH LIST: $100: support for 1 publication; $500: media training for justice-impacted community members; $1000: 1 stipend for the Policy Training Academy
Clinique Chapman, CEO 1200 U Street NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel 202 681 8783 spurlocal.org/justicelab
Tenants and Workers United - Inquilinos y Trabajadores Unidos
TWU first organized in the mid-1980s in response to the scheduled evictions of thousands of renters of color in the Arlandria/Chirilagua neighborhood of Alexandria. A nearly ten-year-long campaign succeeded: the limited-equity Arlandria-Chirilagua Housing Cooperative is owned and democratically controlled by residents, most with low incomes. Today, its organizing work is rooted in the same core principle – through collective action, communities can fight for their rights to secure the resources residents need. TWU engages thousands of households in their homes and through meetings to identify key organizing outcomes, including more deeply affordable and dignified housing, support for immigrant families, and educational investments in youth of color. Its services meet residents’ basic needs so they can participate in after-school programming and leadership development workshops that empower them as change agents. TWU builds true community power across Northern Virginia.
WISH LIST: $100: outreach materials for 500 households; $500: snacks for 1 semester of weekly Homework Help program; $1000: leadership workshop series for 10 women of color
Evelin Urrutia, Executive Director 3801 Mount Vernon Avenue, Suite 215 Alexandria, VA 22305 Tel 571 332 3251 spurlocal.org/twu
Courtesy of DC Justice Lab
Avodah
Each year, 13 post-college Avodah Corps Members (“avodah” means “work” or “service” in Hebrew) may well discover their life’s work. During their year of service, they work at local anti-poverty organizations and participate in intensive educational programs, from training in activist skills to workshops on urban poverty. Here in the District, where one-fifth of residents experience poverty, this couldn’t be more important: Corps Members expand the reach of the organizations they serve while strengthening their own resolve to work for social change throughout their lives. Since its inception in 2002, 400 young people have served over 400,000 DC residents struggling with poverty and systemic injustice and have added more than $7 million in staff capacity to 58 local nonprofits. 98% of alumni affirm that Avodah strengthened their commitment to social justice work.
WISH LIST: $180: meal for an issues meeting; $720: rent, utilities, & household supplies for a Corps Member for 1 month; $1800: monthly cohort Shabbat at the group home
Ellen Oshinsky, DC Director of Strategic Partnerships 2202 18th Street NW, Suite 175 Washington, DC 20009 Tel 202 450 6947 spurlocal.org/avodah
Hamkae Center
From its name (Hamkae means “together” in Korean) to its actions, Hamkae Center builds community to make Virginia a just place for all. Nearly one in four Northern Virginia residents are Asian American – many are immigrants and are linguistically isolated from their neighbors. Hamkae Center supports them in applying for naturalization, accessing public benefits, navigating hospital bills, and starting small businesses. After joining the Hamkae Center community, they participate in conversations, meetings, and committees to organize around policies that impact them. Together, they campaign for immigrant rights, reproductive justice, expanding access to healthcare, and making public services available in more languages. Hamkae Center pairs this work with voter registration, education, and protection to ensure Asian Americans are represented in our democracy.
WISH LIST: $100: 1 day of community outreach; $500: canvassing with multilingual materials for 100 households; $1000: 1 month of citizenship application assistance for 15
Sookyung Oh, Executive Director 11350 Random Hills Rd, Suite 230 Fairfax, VA 22030 Tel 703 256 2208 spurlocal.org/hamkae
Life Skills, Training, & Employment
A Farm Less Ordinary
At AFLO, people with intellectual, developmental, and cognitive disabilities (IDCD) are recognized for their abilities, not defined by their disabilities. On its fifteen-acre farm in Leesburg, adults with IDCD work as Growers: planting, harvesting, creating jams and pickles, and selling their products at farmers markets. In partnership with schools across Loudoun County, students with IDCD participate in work-based learning on the farm, gaining hands-on experience in a supportive environment. For many Growers, AFLO provides them with their first opportunity for meaningful, paid work and the chance to develop relationships with coworkers who become friends. Since its founding in 2016, AFLO has helped nearly 250 teens and adults with IDCD develop leadership skills and community ties, positioning them for long-term employment and fostering a sense of belonging.
WISH LIST: $100:1 month of lightbulbs for the sheds & greenhouses; $500: average bi-weekly paycheck to a Grower; $1000: gas for the farm truck for 1 year
Greg Masucci, Executive Director 17281 Simmons Road Purcellville, VA 20132 Tel spurlocal.org/farm
Photographer Maya Wechsler, Courtesy of A Farm Less Ordinary
Life Asset
Entrepreneurs with low incomes stand to benefit most from small loans, yet few qualify. Poor credit, minimal savings, and other financial challenges stand in the way. Life Asset provides microloans (under $10,000) to promising entrepreneurs who are often overlooked. Seventy-five percent are recent immigrants, and 80% are women with low incomes. Microloans let them start or grow businesses, earn income, and create jobs. Through additional training and support, they leverage the loan to establish long-term financial sustainability. Life Asset’s SBA-approved and CDFI Certified loan program also helps borrowers build or repair their credit scores – critical for securing employment or renting a home. Since 2011, Life Asset has provided over 5,600 loans to more than 3,000 entrepreneurs, with a repayment rate of 98%. For every dollar loaned, two are generated: a superb investment.
WISH LIST: $100: 6-week business training class for 1 entrepreneur; $500: loan capital to launch a startup; $1000: 1 year of coaching to start or expand a micro-business
Markus Larsson, Executive Director 1640 Columbia Road NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel 202 549 6118 spurlocal.org/life-asset
Urban Ed
Urban Ed is rooted in DC’s Anacostia neighborhood, where the unemployment rate is 34% and single mothers of color lead 70% of households. Through 12- to 16-week courses, young adults build competitive skills for high-demand occupations in information technology, cloud computing, software development, and digital transformation. Last year, 95% of graduates attributed their housing and income security to Urban Ed’s programs. To address root causes, its TechnoAcademy program reduces truancy for middle school and high school youth by requiring school attendance in exchange for lessons in popular subjects like software coding and gaming. These youth then help lead the Lil Bitties Techno-Camp, a STEM-oriented summer enrichment program for kids ages 4-7. Urban Ed moves adults from unemployment and homelessness into stability, and puts young people on the path to success.
WISH LIST: $100: educational software for 1 tablet; $500: textbooks & materials for 15 students; $1000: certification exam vouchers & exam prep licenses for 10 youth or adults
Roxanne J Williams, President 1231 Marion Barry Avenue SE Washington, DC 20020 Tel 202 610 2344 spurlocal.org/urbaned
Jubilee Jobs
Jubilee Jobs’ singular focus is helping people from low-income backgrounds find work. Some applicants have sizable gaps in employment history; some have no history at all. Jubilee Jobs provides a supportive community that guides applicants through the process of securing and keeping a job. This includes resume development, online application help, and mock interviews. Participants are also encouraged to move beyond entry-level positions by pursuing more training or education. Jubilee Jobs connects people to work as quickly as possible so they can achieve financial stability, which in turn helps them address other life challenges. For 44 years, it has helped over 28,000 people find employment, and last year alone, 231 individuals secured jobs – including people struggling with homelessness or returning from incarceration. Work means sustenance, dignity, and hope: it’s a journey worth pursuing.
WISH LIST: $50: work attire for 2; $1000: transportation stipend cards for 40 program participants; $1500: digital literacy training for 1 young adult
Mirin Phool, Executive Director 2712 Ontario Road NW Washington, DC 20009 Tel 202 667 8970 spurlocal.org/jubileejobs