Join Our “Community Service Week” Activities. Think Globally, Serve Locally!

The Washington Center for International Education (WCIE), will hold its Spring 2023 Community Service Week, to bring us together for engaging programs serving our community, April 29-May 6, 2023.

WCIE has organized Community Service Weeks twice a year since 2018. Our goals for this effort are to connect the area’s international and local communities, inspire community engagement, and mobilize volunteers to support local organizations doing great work in the community. Community Service Week is a time to encourage us all to think globally and serve & engage locally, together! Then activities continue year-round.

Our Fall 2022 Community Service Week featured our biggest event yet - a Welcoming Refugees Community Service Fair at Caroline Freeland Urban Park in Bethesda on Saturday, September 17. Over 100 people joined us to meet 10 organizations active in welcoming refugees in our community - and for conversations with refugees and people who serve them. See here for information about that great event, and we invite you to get involved!

Spring 2023 Community Service Week Event.* Building on the success of our Fall 2022 Community Service Fair, the Washington Center for International Education is partnering with co-sponsors including American University’s Immigration Lab to convene a public workshop on The Health & Wellness of Afghan Newcomers. This workshop aims to identify community resources and prepare a plan of action to overcome obstacles to well-being for the Afghan community. JOIN US for this meaningful discussion this May.

Partners. WCIE is pleased to serve the community through partnerships with great local organizations including the Fulbright Association’s National Capital Area Chapter, American University’s Immigration Lab, the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Homes Not Borders, THIS for Diplomats, Shepherd’s Table, The Residences at Thomas Circle, Little Lights, Community Reach of Montgomery County, Identity, Inc., September House MAJ, the Connie Morella (Bethesda) Library, and more–as well as Montgomery County partners including MCAEL, Linkages to Learning/Shephard Pratt, and Montgomery Serves.

Getting involved. Interested? Want to learn more? Join one of our “Walk & Talk” outings or a Happy Hour event. These are informal gatherings–no obligation. We spend time together, talk about and plan for upcoming activities, and - sometimes - go for a walk at Norwood Local Park, 4700 Norwood Dr, Chevy Chase, MD 20815. To make plans to meet us, please email Community Service co-leaders Anna Hauache or Claudia Mansmann, or WCIE directly to be added to our mailing list for information about future activities. We hope you can join us! We really have fun together – see the photo to the left of some of our most active Community Service Week organizers.

Questions? For more information about WCIE, see here. To learn more about Community Service Week, contact us! We look forward to meeting you–and invite you to get involved as a participant or volunteer!

Community service week team