Community Lodgings, Inc. (CLI)

CLI, located in Alexandria, opens "doors of opportunity" for homeless and disadvantaged families with affordable housing, training, and services. Educational programs are offered at CLI's Family Learning Center, serving CLI residents and Latino families in the Arlandria neighborhood.

Ministry Needs

Learning Center volunteers are needed afternoons during school or morning in the summer time to tutor and befriend third and fourth grade Latino children, help with games, crafts, summer gardening, and field trips. Evening volunteers teach English (ESL) to Latin adults (6:00 to 7:30 PM) or coach with computer study (7:00 to 9:00 PM). Parishioners are encouraged to visit any day at 607 Notabene Drive, observe, and informally participate. Afternoon volunteers need a love of children, pleasure in sharing interests in art, music, drama, story reading, and crafts. Evening volunteers need, mainly, a desire to help others. Spanish language, computer skills, or teaching experience is useful, but not required.

Training Provided

An initial one-hour orientation session, plus ongoing support from the teaching staff. ESL volunteers receive teacher training similar to the ESL program at Christ Church. Curriculum materials are user friendly and require little training.

Meetings and Time Required

The children attend Monday through Thursday afternoons from 3:15 to 5:30 PM during the school year; mornings in the summer from 9:30 AM to 1:30 PM. English classes meet from 6:00 to 7:30 PM, two nights per week. One computer class meets two nights weekly 7:00 to 9:00 PM, another meets Saturday mornings from 9:00AM to 12Noon. Times are flexible as is the length of commitment. Volunteers work with adults one and a half to two hours per class, with children one and a half hours per afternoon in the school year, or four hours on a summer morning. All ages are welcome, from older high school students to retirees.

Benefits

Fun, satisfaction, and multicultural friendships. The children are great fun and the satisfaction is immense. By volunteering, you help a struggling child succeed in school or help a working poor adult gain English or computer skills for a better life.

Who can I contact to find out more or to get involved?

Helen Lewis: 703-780-7859 or click here to send Helen an email