Westmoreland Volunteer Corps

Goal of Program

The Westmoreland Volunteer Corps (WVC) offers five young adults an opportunity for year-long meaningful service, simple living and spiritual growth in intentional community. Corps members tackle challenging societal issues through work in health care, social services, social justice, legal aid and immigrant rights agencies in eleven month internships in the Washington area. A dedicated community counselor encourages and supports individual spiritual growth and exploration of values.

Type of Placement

Immigrant Rights. Offender Aid. At-Risk Youth. Pregnant Women. Job Seekers. If you are a college senior with a passion for social justice and an interest in helping others, we encourage you to consider participating in our successful program. WVC has a history of changing lives -- of those who volunteer and those who benefit from their involvement. Partner agencies include Capital Area Immigrant Rights Coalition, an immigrant rights advocacy and legal aid organization; Sasha Bruce Youthwork, providing shelter, support and training for runaway, homeless and disconnected youth; Offender Aid and Restoration, supporting re-entry for offenders; Pregnancy Aid Center, a community-based health clinic serving low income women; Jubilee Jobs, working with unemployed job seekers to help them re-enter the workforce; Mobile Med, providing primary and preventive health services to homeless, uninsured and underinsured; and Samaritan Ministry, an interfaith social service group providing job readiness training. Check our

Service Area

Greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area (Washington, D.C., northern Virginia, Maryland).

Service Length

Eleven months beginning early August, 2018 through late June, 2019.

Program Size

Five volunteers per year.

Requirements

Interested applicants should have a commitment to simple living and openness to spiritual growth and exploration of values. College graduate or equivalent life experience. Spanish is a requirement for some placements, desirable for others. Drivers license required for some placements. U.S citizenship or permanent residency required.

Financial Arrangements

Commuting allowance, health insurance and $650 personal monthly stipend for food and personal expenses provided through agency placement. Housing, utilities provided by church for a modest monthly rent. Roundtrip travel to Washington, DC covered for candidate interviews with agency placements and WVC board members. One trip home financed during year of service. Annual/sick leave follows practice of agency where volunteer serves.

Living Arrangements

Volunteers live together in a furnished house on DC-MD border with easy access to bus and metro lines in the Washington, DC area. Private bedrooms, shared bathrooms. Volunteers share cooking and cleaning. Community meetings required one evening each week with community counselor who provides support for community living, exploration of values, and adaptation to new work environment. Three weekend retreats per year with WVC board and counselor.

Training

Training provided on-the-job by employing service agencies, who typically have a great deal of experience integrating several new volunteers/interns each year. Participation encouraged in annual DC-based Ecumenical Advocacy training and activities.

Application Deadline

Applications accepted starting January 2, 2018. Applications will be considered on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. After review, finalists are brought to DC for interviews until five volunteers are selected for placements at agencies.

Start Date

Contact:

Kaeley McEvoy

Address

1 Westmoreland Circle
Bethesda, 20816
Phone: 301 229-7766

Email:

[email protected]

Map

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Website:

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Blog:

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Additional Contacts

Social Media

Affiliation

Nonsectarian, sponsor is Westmoreland Congregational United Church of Christ. Affiliated with national UCC Young Adult Service Corps.

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