I Serve DC August Newsletter

Save the Date: Serve DC Announces 2012 National Preparedness Month Events

Are you ready? September marks the 9th annual National Preparedness Month (NPM) and, as the designated Citizen Corps coordinator for the District of Columbia, Serve DC is proud to announce the following NPM events:

9/11: September 11th National Day of Service & Remembrance

On Tuesday, September 11th, Serve DC and HandsOn Greater DC Cares will commemorate the September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance and National Preparedness Month with an afternoon of service dedicated to supporting veterans and first responders. The event features hands-on service projects, emergency preparedness demonstrations and trainings and a volunteer recruitment fair. For more information, please contact Carly Skidmore.

9/14: Commander Ready Kickoff

On Friday, September 14th, Serve DC joins local emergency-management and first-responder agencies, students, teachers and parents to kick off the 2012-13 season of Commander Ready, Serve DC's specialized program designed to educate and engage youth ages 5-13 in emergency preparedness. Please note this is a closed event. For more information, please contact Alexandra King.

9/24: Planning for Access & Functional Needs Populations in Emergencies

On Monday, September 24th, Serve DC hosts its 2nd annual Access & Functional Needs Emergency Preparedness Forum. This free event convenes access-and-functional-needs experts and advocates and emergency-management professionals for a discussion on how to ensure all District residents' needs are understood and accommodated in times of crisis. Register online or contact Jason Williamson for more information.

Held each September and sponsored by the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) Ready Campaign and Citizen Corps, NPM seeks to transform awareness into action by encouraging all Americans to take the necessary steps to ensure that their homes, workplaces and communities are prepared for disasters and emergencies. Learn more at Ready.gov or visit Serve DC online.

Register Today for 7th Annual DCPS Beautification Day: Saturday, August 25th

Registration is now open for the 7th annual DC Public Schools Beautification Day on Saturday, August 25, 2012. Established in 2005, DCPS Beautification Day is the official citywide "spruce up" of DC Public Schools and grounds. Last year, more than 4,100 volunteers participated at 105 schools across the city. Learn more about DCPS Beautification Day or register online before August 17th.

Each year, Serve DC supports DCPS Beautification Day by partnering with the DCPS Office of Community Partnerships and local partners to adopt several schools as "signature sites." Serve DC's 2012 signature-site partners include long-time supporter and partner, the Washington Capitals, and new partner, Living Social.

Need Volunteers? Register for Serve DC's September 11th Volunteer Outreach Fair

Does your organization need volunteers? Serve DC needs you! As part of its September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance and National Preparedness Month commemorative events, Serve DC currently seeks community-based and volunteer service organizations, especially those that serve and advocate for veterans, to participate in the volunteer outreach fair on Tuesday, September 11 from 11:30am to 2:00pm on Freedom Plaza. Register online or contact Carly Skidmore via email or at (202) 724-2229 for further information.

Mayor Gray Announces One City Action Plan

On Wednesday, July 25, Mayor Vincent C. Gray unveiled the One City Action Plan, a comprehensive strategy that specifically describes how the Mayor's One City vision will be achieved. Organized by goals, strategies and actions, the plan provides District residents with a concrete roadmap to understand and measure progress and hold city officials accountable in the areas that matter most.

Read the press release or learn more about the Mayor's One City Action Plan.

Rowhouses

Mayor Gray Proclaims September 29th "Day of Service" with a Focus on Food Insecurity

Mayor Vincent C. Gray has declared September 29th a "Day of Service" in the District and is encouraging District residents to volunteer with organizations fighting hunger and food insecurity that day. The day, encouraged by a group of interfaith leaders, is also being observed across the region by the governments of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

"Food insecurity should be unheard of in the wealthiest nation in the history of the world," said Mayor Gray. "I encourage District residents to spend September 29th volunteering their time with organizations fighting to make hunger history."

Canned Food

Want to Serve DC? Connect with Us Online!

Don't wait all month for ways to get involved! Serve DC is on Facebook, Flickr, Twitter and Tumblr! Visit us on social media for up-to-the-minute volunteer and service opportunities, events, information and inspiration!