Ready to get involved?
Support MacFarland Middle School in Petworth and Malcolm X Elementary School in Benning Ridge!
Our Vision
Imagine a teacher in an understaffed, low-resource school struggling to keep up with the dynamic needs of his many students. He turns to his community for support, and 5 different volunteers decide to get involved, get trained, and commit to showing up every week for a couple hours to tutor his students in small groups. Now the teacher can focus on building lesson plans and advocating for better resources for his students, who are getting the extra support that could propel their academic progress forward.
Now, imagine this for the 39 or so high-need DCPS schools where at least 50% of the kids are considered at-risk. Just two hours of trained and reliable volunteer time each day could mean that virtually every student in most of these schools could have small group tutoring at least three times a week – critical for helping them catch up. (This is the “dosage” recommended by the High-Impact Tutoring research for consistently effective academic improvement.)
We believe that by building strong communities and nurturing neighborhoods around these schools, we can achieve this ambitious goal. Join us in making neighborhoods feel like neighborhoods again.
2025 Volunteer Opportunities
MacFarland Middle School (Petworth)
MacFarland Middle School is looking for a wide range of summer & fall volunteers to support their academic, mentorship, administrative, social and technical needs. This school is at 4400 Iowa Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20011 (Ward 4), with volunteer hours from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM in hour-long blocks. We aim to recruit between 200 and 400 volunteers that will volunteer at varying intervals. Click on the MacFarland icon to learn more.
Malcolm X Elementary School (Benning Ridge)
Malcolm X Elementary School is looking for volunteers this upcoming school year. This year the school is located at 4430 H Street SE (a temporary school building in Ward 7), and volunteers are needed from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM in hour-long blocks. We will need 90 volunteers to commit to volunteer on a once a week basis. Go to dctutormentor.org/mxes to learn more.
The Howard Project
Overview: With nearly 80,000 college students in the DC College Consortium alone and approximately 60,000 primary and secondary students in need of support, we recognized an opportunity to bridge this gap and make service a cornerstone of our community.
Our pilot initiative, starting with Howard University, has mobilized 400 students during our first semester in 2024, with consistent volunteers helping out at Malcolm X Elementary School each week.
As we look ahead, we aim to scale this initiative, making impactful community engagement a standard across DC and a model for universities nationwide.
Volunteering
Volunteers acted as teachers’ assistants, read to children, played soccer & other games during Malcom X’s afterschool program, assisted with school projects in the library, and supported music classes. Volunteers also gave 1-on-1 attention to students in special education classes.
Room for Growth
While we were able to fill 38% of the available time slots, our team is driven to expand this program further. We are actively seeking additional volunteers and partnerships to maximize our impact and provide even more support to the dedicated educators and bright young minds at Malcolm X Elementary and beyond.
given by Howard University students since January 2024.
Recruitment Process
We recruited over 400 Howard University students as of April 2025, over 100 of whom completed the DC Public Schools background check and onboarding process.
Number of Howard University students who volunteered since January 2024.
Testimonials
“Small groups is one of the area where I need a lot of hands in the classroom. So having them was really helpful, because I was able to focus on my small group while they were helping the other students manage themselves and their behaviors.”
– Danielle Goua, 1st grade teacher
“A lot of our kids need to see people like us in college […] so they can believe and see that it’s achievable for them to make it to higher education. That’s what we’re about.”
– Keith Parham, Restorative Justice Coordinator & After School Site Leader
“I’ve been with this program for 10 years. I LOVE it […]. It’s just a joy, and I tell them [volunteers] every time – come back. We need you guys.”
– Shirley “Grandma” Meecham, long-term volunteer and ex-Malcolm X staff member
How To Get Involved
For Administrators & teachers
Apply for Volunteer Support:
- Contact Us: Schools interested in receiving volunteer support should contact our coordinator at tull.osman@dctutormentor.org or call (202) 688-1261.
- Application: Reach out detailing your school’s specific needs, number of volunteers required, and any other relevant information.
- Needs Assessment: Schedule a needs assessment meeting with our team to discuss the specific areas where volunteers can provide the most benefit.
For volunteers
Volunteer at the Schools: Make a direct impact by volunteering at one of our partner schools! Follow these steps to get onboarded and start making a difference:
- Fill Out the Form: Complete our volunteer application form available here and optionally specify which school(s) you’d like to volunteer with.
- Initial Connection: Our staff will connect with you via email after your application has been received to discuss your interests and availability.
- Get Matched: We will try and match you with a volunteer opportunity that best compliments your schedule and interests.
- Complete Background Check: Our team members will show you how to get a DCPS background check to ensure the safety and security of students.
- Start Volunteering: Finally, you will be connected with the volunteer coordinator for your assigned school to get started!
For Community Members
Become a Volunteer Driver for Our University Buddies: Join our team as a volunteer driver to help transport university students to and from their volunteer assignments. We hope that you will form a deep connection and bond with these students. To become a volunteer driver, please contact us at info@dctutormentor.org or call (202) 688-1261.
Involve Your Workplace: Encourage your workplace to support our volunteer initiatives by organizing group volunteer days, offering corporate sponsorships, or providing in-kind donations. For more information on how to involve your workplace, please contact us at info@dctutormentor.org or call (202) 688-1261.
Be Part of Our Upcoming Events: keep an eye out on our social media platforms for upcoming events!
