the Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility
The Edlavitch DCJCC’s Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility (MCCSR) offers both hands-on volunteer opportunities as well as learning about systemic inequality in our communities. At the core of our work is Judaism’s sacred mandate to create justice and repair the world.
Our volunteer opportunities are designed to be family-friendly, flexible, and accessible whether you can commit one hour a month or a few hours a week. We offer our volunteers the opportunity to build lasting relationships with agencies and clients over the span of years, or volunteer once and try a different project the next time. Come by yourself, with a friend, or bring a group of colleagues!
In order to affect true change, we must also correct the systemic injustices prevalent in many sectors of our society, so come learn with us about the root causes of inequality and how to bring about change on a systemic level. We focus on topics including racial equity, affordable housing, food security, climate change, immigration and refugees, and many other topics.
While we are neither a social service agency nor an advocacy organization, we hope to empower you and provide you with the tools to go out and make our city a more just, inclusive, and livable place for all.
Resources, projects, and learning to keep social responsibility a part of your routine while staying at home
To respond to the immediate needs of our social service partners, we’ve developed several different opportunities for you and our community to address their direct requests. If you’re looking to help others from home and learn more about systemic social justice issues facing our neighbors, we hope you’ll find these resources useful. Both in-person volunteer opportunities as well as virtual learning events are listed below.
At-home mitzvot (good deeds):
Welcome messages for newly arrived refugees
Toiletry kits for those experiencing homelessness
Food packages for Charlie’s Place
Face coverings for Catholic Charities
Trail mix for So Others Might Eat
Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities and Events
Join fellow knitters and crocheters over Zoom to make handmade goodies for a great cause! Our goal is to contribute as many warm winter items as possible to distribute to individuals experiencing homelessness in the DC area.
All levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Don’t know how to knit or crochet? We’ll teach you!
Please email Chana at chanaengel@gmail.com to register and receive the link to this event.
What should I have with me at home?
Please have your own needles/crochet hooks. If you are not already working on a warm winter item and are looking for a great project or just starting out, please have:
- #8 or #10 knitting needles (circular or straight) or a size H crochet hook
- Patterns you’re working on or want to start
What do you supply?
We provide lots of beautiful yarn, several patterns including hat patterns using #17 needles or a size N crochet hook, and experienced knitters and crocheters to teach anyone who would like to learn how to knit or crochet.
If you can’t join us over Zoom, join us in spirit by knitting or crocheting:
- Hats
- Scarves
- Gloves and Mittens
- Socks or slippers
- Other items to keep people warm during the cold winter months
Please hold onto finished items at this time. If you do not have the space to store finished items, please contact Sonya at sonyaw@edcjcc.org to make arrangements for a pick-up. Thank you!
Want to know more or join our virtual community? Like us on Facebook!
If you have any questions about this event contact Chana at chanaengel@gmail.com.
WHAT: Join the Edlavitch DCJCC for an exciting new partnership with the Latin American Youth Center (LAYC) and Urban Beet to bring fresh herbs and vegetables to youth at the LAYC Drop-in Center throughout the summer. Urban Beet has put in a brand-new urban garden at the LAYC Drop-in Center and we need volunteers to help maintain it on a weekly basis.
You don’t have to have any gardening experience – just the desire to get your hands in the dirt and help grow some plants! Come down at the end of a long day to relax, unwind, and get closer to Mother Nature. Children of all ages are welcome but must be supervised closely by an adult.
WHEN: We are looking for volunteers on a weekly basis so you can sign up to volunteer once or as many times in a month/over the summer as you would like. We plan to volunteer through the month of October.
Volunteer days will occur every Wednesday from 6:00 – 7:00 PM starting with Wednesday, May 5. After you register, you will receive a google spreadsheet to choose which Wednesdays throughout the month/over the summer you would like to come garden with us.
WHERE: The LAYC Drop-in Center is located in Columbia Heights. The exact address will be provided upon registration.
Questions? Email Sonya at sonyaw@edcjcc.org
Housing Up, a new partner of the EDCJCC, builds thriving communities in Washington, DC by developing affordable housing and offering comprehensive support services to homeless and low-income families.
What: Spend an evening playing games, doing arts & crafts, and leading programs for children and parents living at a Housing Up apartment complex. Volunteers will work with Housing Up staff to run activities and build relationships with the apartment residents. Program supplies will be provided by Housing Up.
This month’s activity will be Halloween themed!
Where: This opportunity is in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, DC. The exact address will be provided upon registration.
When: Thursday, October 21st from 6:30-7:30pm. This opportunity will occur monthly and volunteers must register for each event.
Safety: The EDCJCC is working with Housing Up to minimize risk for residents, staff, and volunteers. In accordance with Housing Up guidelines, all volunteers must submit proof of covid-19 vaccination to Mira Smith (mirasmith@edcjcc.org) prior to the program. All participants are required to wear masks that cover nose and mouth, and are encouraged to maintain social distancing guidelines. We cannot disclose the vaccination status of program participants. Given eligibility requirements, children under the age of 12 will not be vaccinated.
Please note that volunteers must be at least 18 years old to participate, no exceptions. Please reach out to Mira Smith if you have any questions!
Cultivate the City inspires healthy and sustainable living by empowering communities with tools and training for urban agriculture. Their education programs, community gardens, and CSA utilize unique and innovative farming techniques that support DC’s ecosystem.
What: Join us for a morning of farming at Cultivate the City’s Greenhouse Farm. We will help with a variety of tasks including planting, seeding, harvesting and more! Volunteers will also have the opportunity to learn about Cultivate the City’s work around Washington, DC. No farming experience is necessary!
We welcome children ages 7 and up. Children under the age of 14 must be supervised by an adult
When: Sunday October 24, 9:00am-11:30am.
Where: “The Greenhouse” is located in Northeast DC, adjacent to the Woodbridge neighborhood. The Greenhouse is accessible via the H6 bus line and has parking available. The exact address will be provided upon registration.
Please email Mira Smith at mirasmith@edcjcc.org with any questions!
BUY WITH CONFIDENCE: If your plans need to change due to COVID concerns or local ordinance changes, we will work with you to exchange or credit your ticket toward a comparable program or activity on a future date. We know life is unpredictable these days, and the EDCJCC is here for you!
MASK POLICY: We request that all participants wear masks outdoors when children under the age of 12, who cannot be vaccinated, are present.
For more information, visit edcjcc.org/covidsafety.
Housing Up, a new partner of the EDCJCC, builds thriving communities in Washington, DC by developing affordable housing and offering comprehensive support services to homeless and low-income families.
What: Spend an evening playing games, doing arts & crafts, and leading programs for children and parents living at a Housing Up apartment complex. Volunteers will work with Housing Up staff to run activities and build relationships with the apartment residents. Program supplies will be provided by Housing Up.
This month’s activity will be Thanksgiving themed!
Where: This opportunity is in the Petworth neighborhood of Washington, DC. The exact address will be provided upon registration.
When: Thursday, November 11th from 6:30-7:30pm. This opportunity will occur monthly and volunteers must register for each event.
Safety: The EDCJCC is working with Housing Up to minimize risk for residents, staff, and volunteers. In accordance with Housing Up guidelines, all volunteers must submit proof of covid-19 vaccination to Mira Smith (mirasmith@edcjcc.org) prior to the program. All participants are required to wear masks that cover nose and mouth, and are encouraged to maintain social distancing guidelines. We cannot disclose the vaccination status of program participants. Given eligibility requirements, children under the age of 12 will not be vaccinated.
Please note that volunteers must be at least 18 years old to participate, no exceptions. Please reach out to Mira Smith if you have any questions!
WHAT:
Join us and our neighbors, Foundry United Methodist Church, for their second annual Kirk Symposium lecture featuring Dr. Chris Myers Asch and Dr. George Derek Musgrove.
Drs. Asch and Musgrove will be discussing their book, Chocolate City: A History of Race and Democracy in the Nation’s Capital, followed by a book signing in the Community Commons.
A limited number of books will be available for purchase on site. If you would like to purchase a copy of the book in advance, we encourage you to secure it from Mahogany Books.
WHEN:
Thursday, November 11, 6:30 PM
WHERE:
The symposium will be held live in the Foundry’s Sanctuary on the corner of 16th and P Streets NW, as well as streamed on online.
REGISTRATION:
Participation is free but registration is required. Thank you in advance for your cooperation!
QUESTIONS? Email Sonya Weisburd at sonyaw@edcjcc.org
COVID-19 SAFETY POLICIES:
The Foundry mandates masking and facilitates social distancing at all indoor events. For more information on Foundry’s safety measures around COVID-19 please visit foundryumc.org/covid-faq
This program is brought to you in partnership with the Foundry United Methodist Church.
Join fellow knitters and crocheters over Zoom to make handmade goodies for a great cause! Our goal is to contribute as many warm winter items as possible to distribute to individuals experiencing homelessness in the DC area.
All levels of knitters and crocheters are welcome. Don’t know how to knit or crochet? We’ll teach you!
Please email Chana at chanaengel@gmail.com to register and receive the link to this event.
What should I have with me at home?
Please have your own needles/crochet hooks. If you are not already working on a warm winter item and are looking for a great project or just starting out, please have:
- #8 or #10 knitting needles (circular or straight) or a size H crochet hook
- Patterns you’re working on or want to start
What do you supply?
We provide lots of beautiful yarn, several patterns including hat patterns using #17 needles or a size N crochet hook, and experienced knitters and crocheters to teach anyone who would like to learn how to knit or crochet.
If you can’t join us over Zoom, join us in spirit by knitting or crocheting:
- Hats
- Scarves
- Gloves and Mittens
- Socks or slippers
- Other items to keep people warm during the cold winter months
Please hold onto finished items at this time. If you do not have the space to store finished items, please contact Sonya at sonyaw@edcjcc.org to make arrangements for a pick-up. Thank you!
Want to know more or join our virtual community? Like us on Facebook!
If you have any questions about this event contact Chana at chanaengel@gmail.com.
A signature program of the Edlavitch DCJCC since 1996, Everything But The Turkey (EBTT) brings together hundreds of volunteers to chop, mix, grate, and prepare thousands of servings of festive Thanksgiving dishes for people experiencing food insecurity and homelessness in the DC area in partnership with DC Central Kitchen.
We are thrilled to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Everything But The Turkey! Help us ensure we can keep this program going for years to come by making a donation of $25, $125, $250, or whatever you are able to give at edcjcc.org/supportEBTT.
PLEASE NOTE THAT EBTT REGISTRATION OPENS ON OCTOBER 18.
This year’s EBTT is a two-day experience:
On November 21, we are preparing Thanksgiving-themed dishes in the EDCJCC parking lot in shifts throughout the day.
On November 22, we are presenting a panel of refugee chefs and restaurateurs in DC who support refugee chefs to discuss the power of food in bringing cross-cultural understanding and social change with particular focus on helping newly-arrived Afghan Allies in our community.
Click on the red “tickets” button and then scroll down to “EBTT 2021 Registration Options” to find the best option for you.
Raising Anti-Racist Children
2 Thursdays, February 3 and 10, 8:00 PM
Raising children to build a just world is a life-long process, as well as a difficult challenge for parents to navigate. Join us for a two-part series with expert educator Dr. Nabina Liebow, who will take us through the learning and practical steps necessary to raise anti-racist children and help us create a cohort of race conscious parents in our community.
This workshop is designed for anyone who wants to understand how white supremacy and white privilege affect all parts of our lives and how to bring these ideas into conversation and action in parenting. It is meant as a beginning to this work, rather than to be comprehensive or all-encompassing.
Although we understand that life is unpredictable, we request that you commit to both Part 1 and Part 2 of this workshop in order to honor the learning process and receive the full benefit of this workshop. Attendance will be capped in order to create an intimate cohort of parents.
Part 1 (February 3, 8:00-9:30 PM): Discussing race and racism with your children is a vital part of antiracist and race conscious parenting. But some people might feel a little rusty on the basics! In the first part of the workshop, Dr. Liebow will give a “Crash Course in Racial Literacy” to provide an important framework and context for race conscious parenting. This session will go over the basics of anti-racist thought and ideology, as well as challenge participants to explore their own biases and thought processes before they are able to address these ideas with their children. By the end of this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of race, white supremacy, white privilege, and antiracism.
Part 2 (February 10, 8:00-9:30 PM): In the second part of the workshop, parents will learn strategies for helping their child develop an antiracist consciousness and how to apply concepts learned in the first session to raising their children.
This program is brought to you by the Edlavitch DCJCC Parenting Center and Morris Cafritz Center for Social Responsibility
The Edlavitch DCJCC embraces inclusion in all its programs and activities. We welcome and encourage the participation of all people, regardless of their background, sexual orientation, abilities, or religion, including interfaith couples and families.