Supporting Our Local Community

For over 15 years, The DC Center has served the LGBTQ+ communities of DC through direct support, diverse programming, and targeted advocacy. During that time, we have aided over 200 people pursuing personal freedom and asylum, and distributed over 250,000 condoms to our surrounding community. In the last 6 months, we have done over 140 intakes with new clients from communities of color that were seeking housing, education, sexual health screenings, employment, and mental health support. We have also educated over 2,300 people from marginalized communities within the LGBTQ+ umbrella through our new Early Intervention Services Program. Today, we have over 20 support groups that represent diverse domestic and international communities. Our programs focus on building community bonds to help ensure no one feels alone and all can access support in facing the barriers that impact marginalized communities of color, gender, and sexual orientation.

 

This year, the Center joined a Coalition of over 15 local, diverse LGBTQ organizations to collectively advocate for the support our community needs and deserves to thrive. Together, we submitted a $20+ million funding request to the Mayor’s Office with a collection of proposals that will support hate crimes reporting, housing, health education, and professional development for the most marginalized members of our community, including trans and non-binary youth and LGBTQ+ older adults. We’re extremely proud to be a part of the Coalition and believe it is the best way to advocate for the support our community needs.

The request includes $10 million to fund a larger LGBTQ+ community center. This space will facilitate expanded services and greater collaboration between DC LGBTQ organizations through colocation and partnership. With over 9% of the DC population identifying at LGBTQ+, this is long overdue. This money would be used to purchase a new, larger space that multiple organizations would use together to better serve our community. This is a model that has worked in many other cities around the world, and will greatly benefit the DC LGBTQ+ community.

Join us in advocating for the support our community needs! Sign up to attend one of the remaining two Mayor’s Budget Engagement Forums here.

The DC Center has always been committed to serving LGBTQ+ communities and our diverse team has fought to stand in unity with open doors, arms, and hearts as we renew our commitment to equality for our most vulnerable and oppressed community and family members. We will continue to serve our most vulnerable community members and lead the local fight for equity as we serve our community as a whole.

Join us here!

The DC Center is looking for Front Desk volunteers!

Front Desk Volunteer

Front Desk Volunteer

Are you looking for a volunteer opportunity?  Do you like talking with people and sharing information?

The DC Center is looking for volunteers to regularly staff the front desk, answer phone calls, and reply to e-mails on Mondays and Thursdays, during business hours from 12pm to 6pm every week or Saturdays from 11am-3pm. This is a great opportunity for those looking to build administrative skills. If you are interested in volunteering on one of these days, please contact the Operations Manager, Chris at [email protected]
Thank you!

DC AVP Call for Branding Volunteers

DC Anti Violence Project

DC Anti Violence Project

!VOLUNTEER ALERT!: Are you savvy with art, design tools and branding? Do you have a passion for all things intersectional social justice, anti-violence and the LGBTQ community?

If you answered yes to the above, we need your help! The DC Anti-Violence Project (AVP), a grassroots, volunteer-led organization dedicated to the eradication of violence against the LGBTQ+ community, is revamping its look and vision. We’re looking for artsy volunteers passionate about our mission to help us along on this journey.

You’ll work closely with a tight-knit group of volunteers to develop a branding kit, including:

  • A new logo
  • A color/font scheme for all of our materials and website
  • Templates for releases, fact sheets, papers and more
  • Event-specific branding, such as our quarterly Taking the Stage, Taking a Stand forum
  • …and more!

We want to hear your ideas. We believe strongly in community collaboration, so you should be willing to work closely with other designers if several people raise their hands for this project. If interested, please send a note to [email protected] with any past work samples and a brief blurb about yourself.

Please note: this is a volunteer position.

*DC AVP always welcomes new volunteers of all talents! If you don’t have design experience but want to hop on board for an exciting time of revisioning and re-energizing, sign up for our Google Group and join us on the fourth Thursday of every month at the DC Center to get involved in our ongoing projects.

The Smithsonian Institution NMAAHC Internship Application

National Museum of African American History
National Museum of African American History
National Museum of African American History

APPLICATION PROCESS

Eligibility

Students who are currently enrolled in an academic program, as well as individuals who have recently completed studies.

A cumulative GPA of 3.0 or its equivalent is generally expected (with withdrawals and incompletes explained).
Ability to work a minimum of twenty hours per week. These internships are unpaid.
Funding is available on a competitive basis from the Office of Fellowships and Internships.

Academic Credit

The Smithsonian Institution welcomes the opportunity to work cooperatively with schools seeking to grant academic credit for internships. Applicants are encouraged to initiate arrangements for credit with their college or university. The Smithsonian does not grant academic credit.

Internship Sessions

Internships occur during the summer, fall, and spring from 10 to 15 weeks, beginning June 1, September 15, and January 15. Start dates and duration are flexible and arranged in coordination with the supervisor.

Application Deadlines

Summer Internships: March 15

Fall Internships: July 15

Spring Internships: October 15

Applicants interested in combining an internship at the NMAAHC with a paid intern through the Minority Internship Program, Native American Internship Program, or James E. Webb Internship for Minority Undergraduate Juniors, Seniors, and Graduate Students in Business and Public Administration must submit an application by the deadline for these programs. For more information, see the Smithsonian Office of Fellowships and Internships.

Duration

Part-time, 3-6 month intern projects will take place throughout the year. Specific start and end dates and hours will be determined by the intern supervisor and the intern. This is an unpaid internship.

Location

Internships will take place at the National Museum of African American History and Culture office at Capital Gallery, 600 Maryland Avenue SW, accessible by Metro Yellow/Green & Blue/Orange/Silver Lines.

Background Investigation

An internship appointment is conditional, subject to your successful completion of a pre-appointment background investigation for a non-critical, sensitive position.

How to Apply

Please apply using the Smithsonian online application system. Paper applications will not be considered.

Please be aware that complete applications must include the following:

Internship program application form
Academic transcripts (unofficial transcripts are acceptable)
Personal essay (use this to tell us how the internship will advance your academic/career goals)
Two letters of reference

Essential Tips for the Online Application

Do NOT submit your application until all necessary components are uploaded (i.e., transcripts, personal essay, resume). Once submitted you cannot upload or change anything within the application.

An unofficial or official transcript can be uploaded by first scanning the document and saving it as a .pdf or .jpeg. Please do not mail the transcript separately.

Make sure that you click the “Send Email” button. This triggers the system to email your references with instructions for uploading the reference letter. Please advise your references of this in advance.