Get Involved
Opportunities for lived theology experiences
Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries: Tutors needed! Be part of a one-to-one mentoring relationship with Abundant Life’s tutoring programs. No prior experience required. Training, materials, activities, staff, & lesson plans provided. Serve one (or two) afternoons/week for school year. Please contact Abundant Life at (434) 970-2077 or Main@CharlottesvilleAbundantLife.org.
Charlottesville Grows: This summer Charlottesville Grows has begun a long-term project to build community gardens in low-income areas around the city. Our hope is that we can ultimately encourage residents to become better stewards of the land in their neighborhoods. The pilot garden is located in the Prospect Ave./Blue Ridge Commons neighborhood, on 1.73 acres owned by Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries. Furnished by donations from local businesses, fertilized by a community composting program, and tended by neighborhood volunteers, this garden offers Prospect an opportunity to "plant vineyards and eat their fruit". To volunteer as a co-laborer in this vineyard, contact Brett Ferrell at Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries at (434) 970-2016 or by email (bwf6q@yahoo.com). Skilled gardeners with a desire to mentor children would be particularly helpful.
Interfaith Movement Promoting Action by Congregations Together (IMPACT): IMPACT is a grassroots initiative bringing a diverse group of congregations together to live out our religious traditions’ call for justice. 25 IMPACT congregations have come together to work on the root causes of community problems. IMPACT congregations range in size from 20 to 1,500 people and include predominantly black and predominantly white congregations as well as Protestant, Catholic, Unitarian, Jewish, and Muslim congregations. IMPACT will address and achieve solutions to community problems through the basic organizing processes of listening/networking, research, and direct action meetings. Through coming together we build our power and ability to successfully live out God’s call. IMPACT congregations have been planning since 2003 to launch this congregation based community organizing effort. IMPACT is part of the DART (Direct Action and Research Training) Network and is modeled on similar organizations in other cities. Contact impact@thedartcenter.org for more information.
International Justice Mission: In the current economic climate, many
law firms are deferring acceptances of new hires and offering a year off for associates. Moreover, many of these firms are offering to pay a portion of the salary for those deferring their acceptances or taking a leave of absence. In light of this situtation, IJM is searching for lawyers interested in using this time to serve as Legal Fellows. These unpaid positions are offered to individuals to serve for 9-12 months in one of our field offices overseas. Contact
Ann Healing, the Director of Intern and Fellows programs
at
volunteer@ijm.org or visit the webpage to learn more.
Little Flower Catholic Worker Farm: The Little Flower community invites folks to come experience a rural, resistance c.w. Living space is evolving. We are looking for folks to help construct living spaces, work in the garden, care for children, create big puppets for rallies and live simply while actively resisting "the empire". Please contact Sue Frankel-Streit at (540) 967-5574 or littleflowercw@wildmail.com with any questions. Come for a visit, stay for the growing season.
Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville: The Charlottesville chapter of Habitat for Humanity seeks people for the following volunteer positions: various construction projects, family advocates, office volunteers, grant writing volunteers, house dedications coordinator, database entry and maintenance, landscaping coordinator, and communications and PR committe members. Contact Habitat at (434) 293-9066 for more information.
The Habitat Store is also in need of volunteers to help with customer service and processing donations. The Store sells new and used building materials donated by the local community. Proceeds go towards the construction of Habitat for Humanity homes in the Charlottesville area. Contact Carla at (434) 293-6331 or carla@cvillehabitatstore.org for more information.
Virginia Organizing Project: Whether it's ending racial profiling, pushing for fairer taxes or non-discrimination policies, or ensuring that everyone has access to quality, affordable health care, VOP needs high school and college-age interns to strengthen the grassroots voice for change in the state. Interns learn valuable skills, experience a wide range of activities related to organizing, and get to play a hands-on role in building statewide power in Virginia. Former interns have gone on to become organizers and activists across the country. If you're interested in interning with VOP, or you know someone who might be, check out our website: http://www.virginia-organizing.org. There you'll find more information about what the internship entails, as well as an application form. For more information, contact Kevin Simowitz at kevin@virginia-organizing.org, (434) 984-4655 x 230 (office), (434) 964-7483 (cell).