Colonial Inauguration 2008

Office of Community Service

The GW Office of Community Service (OCS) housed in Building D, Suite 101, 2129 G St. NW, coordinates and recognizes the community service and service-learning efforts of GW students, faculty, and staff. Through OCS, you can access one-time, on-going, volunteer, internship, and federal work study community service and service learning opportunities in over 40 different community agencies working around 8 different issues areas: Aging and Disability; Community Development and Environment; Family and Intervention Services; Government and Public Service; Health, HIV/AIDS; Hunger, Homelessness, and Poverty; Pre-K and Elementary Education; and Secondary and Continuing Education. OCS also sponsors educational events on campus and works with over 20 student service organizations at GW.

Adopt a Family
AIDS Awareness Week
AIDS Walk
Blood Drives
Community Building Community
Hands on DC
Help the Homeless Walk
Make a Difference Day
National Youth Service Day
Volunteer Week

OCS Programs include:

Student-led Alternative Spring Breaks: immerse GW participants in week-long service experiences in communities across the U.S. in order to connect students and community members while enhancing personal growth, mutual awareness, and lifelong learning. Past trips have worked in homeless and battered women’s shelters, helped build homes and educational centers, and worked on important social issues from New York to Mississippi.

The largest D.C. Reads program: dedicated to improving the literacy skills of the District of Columbia’s public school children, primarily in after-school programs by matching them with GW federal work study and volunteer student-tutors. This past year, over 400 GW students tutored through DC Reads.

Award-Winning Jumpstart GW program: pairs approximately 40 GW federal work study and volunteer students with Pre-school children struggling in Head Start programs in the District in order to prepare them to enter school at or above grade level. This program is part of a national organization and GW was the first site of its type in Washington, D.C.

Oldest GW Volunteer Program, the Neighbors Project: provides opportunities for GW students to engage in on-going volunteer community service in 30+ agencies in 8 issue areas. The program will be starting its twelfth year in Fall 05 and looks to surpass the 100,000+ hours of service provided to DC last year. Undergraduate student Service Coordinators work with students to find the community service opportunity that best meets their needs and interests, as well provide educational programs that raise awareness of social issues and the need for service.

Record-breaking Outreach and Volunteer Programs: provide opportunities for GW students to participate in one-time or short-term volunteer service programs including Community Building Community (for incoming first year students), the AIDS Walk, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service. This program also works with student organizations interested in community service.