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FOR THE MONTH OF JULY 2008, GREATER DC CARES WILL FOCUS OUR "ISSUE AREA OF THE MONTH" INITIATIVE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.  

About Our Issue of the Month Focus:

In 2008, Greater DC Cares launched its issue of the month initiative with the goal of increasing the impact of our programs and services and further engaging and educating our volunteers about the most crucial issues within the DC region.  By providing basic facts and additional resources to our volunteers, we are able to increase their level of understanding about these issues. Furthermore, by highlighting different volunteer opportunities, nonprofits, and advocacy initiatives focused on these issues we are able to engage our volunteers in a coordinated and multifaceted movement for change.  Our goal is for this initiative to result in an increase in informed and engaged issue champions. The programmatic components presented below work together to highlight each month’s issue area. 

Citizen Academy:

Citizen academy is a monthly forum which brings together volunteers and community leaders to inform and discuss a specific social issue.  For example, in the month of July, Citizen Academy will convene a panel to discuss the issue of environmental health.  Speakers will address air and water quality, lead in paint and water, and more.

Citizen Academy E-Newsletter:

As part of our effort to engage citizen advocates on an ongoing basis, Greater DC Cares sends a weekly newsletter highlighting upcoming local civic engagement opportunities. 

Weekly e-Newsletter to Greater DC Cares Volunteers:

Our weekly e-newsletter serves as Greater DC Cares’ primary communication with our more than 4000 volunteers.  This newsletter serves as a mechanism to focus Greater DC Cares programs and services around the issue of the month.  The newsletter provides our volunteers with basic information about our monthly issue, highlights nonprofits whose mission focuses on that issue, and provides information on volunteer projects related to that issue area.   

Volunteer Projects:

As part of our monthly volunteer calendar, GDCC collects over 70 high-impact volunteer projects per month at nonprofits across the region. As part of the issue area of the month, volunteer projects at organizations that address these needs in the community will be highlighted in the weekly e-newsletter.

Action Items:

For each monthly issue, Greater DC Cares highlights specific activities for volunteers who are interested in advocating on behalf of that issue.  These action items will be highlighted during the Citizen Academy as well as in the Citizen Academy E-Newsletter.

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES ARE AVAILABLE FOR OUR JULY ISSUE OF THE MONTH INITIATIVE ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. Contact Lauren Conte at lconte@greaterdccares.org or 202-777-4451 to learn more about how you can support this programming.