Category Archives: Mentoring

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (or anywhere)

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington ICON 11 Talent Showcase winners Question: What do District of Columbia Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Georgetown University Men’s Head Basketball Coach JohnThompson III and Roy Hibbert Jr. of the Indiana Pacers have … Continue reading

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Boys & Girls Clubs

The girls from the Dunbar Alexandria-Olympic site of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington rock their handmade napkin rings.   Good news! The Dunbar Alexandria-Olympic site of the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Washington (BGCGW) in Old … Continue reading

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Jubilee Jobs

If you’ve ever searched for a job, you know how important it is to own computer. Imagine how difficult it would be to find work if you didn’t have one. Now imagine trying to find a job if you didn’t … Continue reading

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Community Lodgings

Not long ago I wrote a story about kids who read to puppies. When Community Lodgings asked me to help with Read Aloud, their reading program created for toddlers whose parents attended evening life skills classes, I was ready for … Continue reading

Posted in Adults, Children, ESL, Homelessness, In the Neighborhood, Kids, Life Skills, Literacy, Mentoring, People | Leave a comment

Beacon House’s Great Leap

  The email from Stacey Erd, Beacon House’s executive director, read like an order of battle. With precise start and end times, I was to read to kindergarteners, discuss self-esteem, careers and confidence with preteen girls, serve lunch, then help … Continue reading

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A-SPAN: Homeless Soccermania and More

I took a soccer class in college nearly, well, never mind, but it was before soccer really caught on in the United states.  I was terrible then and I am terrible now.  And I know I’m terrible now because my … Continue reading

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Jailhouse Art

Three things I never knew about jails: 1. They need volunteers to do lots of interesting things 2. Jail is not the same as prison 3. Some inmates are incredibly artistic I discovered these factoids last week at the Alexandria … Continue reading

Posted in Adults, Arts & Culture, Computers, Education, Faith-based, Life Skills, Mentoring, People, Tutoring | Leave a comment

Girls on the Run – Running for Greatness

When I retired from the United States Air Force in September of 2009, I was most excited about never, ever having to run again.  Running is part of the mililtary culture, and even though the Air Force only requires one timed 1.5 mile … Continue reading

Posted in Children, Education, Humanity, In the Neighborhood, Kids, Life Skills, Mentoring, People, Women | 1 Comment

Friends of Guest House – Be the Cred

Friends of Guest House exec director Kari Galloway (right) hugs a house resident who shared her story at a fundraiser. Deborah H. lives at Friends of Guest House (FOGH), a 1920’s vinyl-sided house in the Del Ray part of Alexandria.  … Continue reading

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Discovery Riders – Horse Play

Love horses?  Therapeutic equestrian programs are all over the country and always need help.  These kids learn teamwork and cooperation by leading a horse through an obstacle course. Animals are so much more non-threatening that people.  I guess that’s why … Continue reading

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Read On!

By Laura Bain (guest columnist)       (Laura Bain is a reading specialist in a rural Ohio elementary school and is passionate about the importance of teaching kids to read.  She’s also one of my dearest friends. – Jane Hess Collins) … Continue reading

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Get Out and Give Back – Hoop Dreams Scholarship Fund

Get Out and Give Back – Hoop Dreams Scholarship FundBy Jane Hess This column is about to take on a new twist – a twist that will hopefully encourage more of you to “get out and give back.” Starting with … Continue reading

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