Become a Volunteer
As a student-led program of the Center, PDF Document: Baltimore First is an opportunity for students at all stages of the active citizenship continuum (Break Away 2014) to engage with our Baltimore community. Baltimore First offers two volunteer opportunities for student engagement: as a General Volunteer or a Site Coordinator. Learn more about becoming a General Volunteer below or consider becoming a Site Coordinator.
Still have questions? Contact the Baltimore First staff advisor, Nairuti Shastry, or email the Baltimore First Student Executive Board at baltimorefirst17@gmail.com.
General Volunteer Overview
Become a General Volunteer
Why Should I Register?
Baltimore First volunteers will:
- gain hands-on, real life experience supporting community organizations and non-profit agencies in Baltimore City, thereby launching into a career of service at Hopkins;
- unpack the complex historical, political, and socio-cultural elements that make Baltimore City;
- explore their own intersecting identities and how they inextricably connect to larger systems and structures of power, privilege, and oppression; and
- synthesize their experiences by engaging in dynamic educational workshops and peer-led critical reflection.
Registration Process and Procedures
The 2019 General Volunteer registration is opening January 28, 2019. Due to community partner capacity, placement availability will be on a first come first serve basis.
View General Volunteer Expectations
Attendance Policy:
- Each volunteer is permitted 2 absences from a weekly site, 1 absence from a bi-weekly site, and 0 absences from a monthly site for the semester.
- Volunteers MUST notify their Site Coordinator at least 24 in advance by email if they are going to be absent, except in case of emergency. Site Coordinators MUST notify the Director of Volunteer Management.
Director of Volunteer Management: Kate Holzhauer
kholzha1@jhu.edu
- Each volunteer is permitted 1 absence from educational workshops for the semester. Review the “Important Dates” tab to see all education workshop dates/times.
- Volunteers MUST notify the Director of Education at least 24 hours in advance by email if they are going to be absent from a workshop, except in case of emergency.
Director of Education: Kiahna Revan
krevan1@jhu.edu
- Volunteers with more than the permitted number of absences must meet with the Director of Volunteer Management and/or the CSC staff advisor, and will be at risk of probation for the remainder of the academic semester and/or year.
Director of Volunteer Management: Kate Holzhauer
kholzha1@jhu.edu
CSC Staff Advisor: Nairuti Shastry
nshastry@jhu.edu
Training:
- As per CSC policy, all volunteers must complete the CSC Student Training Path through Hopkins Groups before volunteering. This training must be completed at the beginning of each school year, prior to engaging in any form of volunteerism.
- All volunteers must complete the PDF Document: Emergency Contact and Medical Information Form prior to engaging in any form of volunteerism.
- Volunteers must complete any additional application(s), training, background check, or fingerprinting required of their specific volunteer site.
Track it Forward:
- Volunteers must log their hours through the CSC’s Track it Forward platform and are encouraged to participate in the HopServe50 service challenge program.
General Policies:
- All volunteers are expected to adhere to all Johns Hopkins University Policies and Procedures as stipulated in the Student Conduct Code as well as all CSC Policies and Procedures.
- Volunteers must attend any additional requirements of each community partner site as outlined in the Community Partners & Volunteer Times descriptions below.
- In line with our value of intentionality, Baltimore First volunteers should practice full engagement–living in line with community and program values–during service. While at service sites, volunteers should be fully present (e.g. not texting, having side conversations, etc.) and respectful to community partners and other volunteers. Baltimore First also has a zero tolerance policy and should a violation occur, immediate termination will occur. Students who are alleged to have violated the Student Conduct Code will be reported to the Associate Dean of Student Conduct in the Dean of Student Life Office for resolution.
Important Dates
Important Spring 2019 Dates
| Event | Date/Time |
| General Volunteer Registration Opens | Monday, January 28 |
| General Volunteer Registration Closes | Friday, February 15 |
| Baltimore First Community Partner Site Expo | Saturday, February 16 |
| Full Program Begins | Monday, February 18 |
| Mandatory Educational Workshop 1 (Site Coordinators and General Volunteers) | Sunday, March 3 (5-6 p.m., Levering Hall Glass Pavilion) |
| Mandatory Educational Workshop 2 (Site Coordinators and General Volunteers) | Sunday, March 31 (5-6 p.m., Charles Commons Banquet Hall) |
| Mandatory Educational Workshop 3 (Site Coordinators and General Volunteers) | Monday, April 8 (5-6 p.m., Charles Commons Banquet Hall) |
| Mandatory Educational Workshop 4 (Site Coordinators and General Volunteers) | Sunday, April 21 (5-6 p.m., Charles Commons Banquet Hall) |
| End of Semester Celebration (Last Day of Classes/Programming Ends) | Friday, May 3 (4-6 p.m., Levering Hall Glass Pavilion) |
Community Partners & Volunteer Times
During spring 2019, Baltimore First will be partnering with 14 local nonprofits and community organizations. Learn more about each organization and commitment times below.
*All times include travel.
Baltimore City Community College Refugee Youth Project at Moravia Park Primary School: (Tuesday OR Thursday, *3:00 p.m.- 6:15 p.m.)
Description 
The Baltimore City Community College Refugee Youth Project seeks to improve the lives of Baltimore’s youngest refugees by supporting their academic needs and making their integration simple and meaningful. RYP is committed to its mission of creating a safe environment for refugee children to improve their literacy skills, enhance their knowledge of American culture, engage in enriching extracurricular activities, and grow to be confident, caring individuals. Volunteers will work one-on-one or with small groups of refugee students at Moravia Park Elementary School to increase their vocabulary, reading and basic math skills.
Blue Jay’s Perch: (Friday, *3:30 p.m.- 6:30 p.m.)
Description
The Blue Jay’s Perch is a Hopkins community garden dedicated to growing organic produce for both the educational enrichment of the Hopkins community, as well as to build relationships between Hopkins students and community members. The Blue Jay’s Perch has individual community member plots, as well as two large communal plots where a majority of the produce is donated to either a local soup kitchen or community group. We also have multiple fruit trees, a pollinator garden, and a bug farm! Volunteers at the Blue Jay’s Perch will be tasked with helping to upkeep our communal plots, including but not limited to planting, weeding, watering, turning the compost, and tending to our bug home.
Additional Requirements
All volunteers will be asked to sign a waiver form after orientation.
Bulldog Basketball School at the Barclay School: (Tuesday OR Thursday, *3:00 p.m.-5:45 p.m.)
Description 
Tutoring:
- help with homework (elementary or middle school subjects, math, language arts, science, social studies)
- help write high school application essays
- help fill out high school applications
- do self-adapting math and language arts lessons on a computer website called iReady
Basketball Practice:
- assist with basketball practice
- rebound for the shooters
- act as the passer for the shooters
- act as “dummy” defenders
- monitor skills and maintain quality control
Basketball Games:
- keep the scoreboard during a game
- collect entrance fees at games
- sell concessions at games
- help clean gym after games.
Carmine Garden: (first and third Sunday of every month, *9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
Description
Carmine Gardens is a community garden in the westernmost part of Baltimore City. Obtained through the city’s adopt-a-lot program, Carmine Gardens functions with the support of the Franklintown community association, community members, and two volunteer garden coordinators. At Carmine, volunteers assist with developing garden infrastructure, assisting community members with maintaining and beautifying their plots, general maintenance of the garden, and the planting and harvesting of fresh produce, which is shared throughout the surrounding community.
Civic Works: (Thursday, *3:30 p.m.- 7:30 p.m.)
Description
Civic Works strengthens Baltimore’s communities through education, skills development, and community service. One of their programs, Real Food Farm, seeks to make a sustainable, economically viable, environmentally responsible agriculture sector in Baltimore. Civic Works also works to combat the growing problem of food insecurity in the Baltimore Community. Volunteers at Civic Works will work on existing urban farms to cultivate various crops for the community. Volunteers are requested to wear close-toe shoes and weather appropriate clothing that can get dirty.
JHU Sharing Languages at Hampden Elementary/Middle School: (Tuesday, *2:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m.)
Description
JHU Sharing Languages is an after-school foreign language program at Hampden for elementary school students. Each week, we teach basic language courses to children grades 3-5 to introduce them to language fundamentals in an engaging manner, with interactive games and cultural activities. We hope to inspire a love of language and appreciation of different cultures at a young age, so students can grow up with a greater cultural understanding in today’s increasingly interconnected world.
Keswick Multi-Care Center: (Sunday, *11:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m.)
Description 
Keswick is a facility that provides a multitude of services to the elderly such as rehabilitation, long-term care, and health services.
Volunteers at Keswick will:
- help transport residents downstairs to the dining facility.
- help serve the residents lunch and dessert.
- have the opportunity to socialize with the residents.
- coordinate transportation to and from the dining facility with nursing staff.
Paul’s Place: (Friday, *1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m.)
Description 
Paul’s Place is a community outreach center designed to help the homeless and those in need. Paul’s Place provides programs, services, and support that strengthen individuals and families, fostering hope, personal dignity, and growth. Volunteers at Paul’s Place will assist in the center’s Marketplace, a clothing bank designed to provide those in need with the experience of shopping for their own clothes.
Reading Partners: (Monday OR Wednesday, *1:10 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.)
Description
Reading Partners mobilizes communities to provide students in under-resourced schools with the proven, individualized reading support they need to read at grade level by fourth grade. In fourth grade, students are expected to transition from learning to read to reading to learn. From this point on, they’ll use these foundational reading skills to explore and master new subjects like science, history, and geography. At this age, it is even more essential to have proficient reading skills. Volunteers will work one-on-one with students for 45 minutes twice a week, delivering a simple, proven curriculum each week to help the child begin to gain lost ground.
St. Francis Neighborhood Center: (Tuesday OR Thursday, *3:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.)
Description 
St. Francis Neighborhood Center, in the Spring of 2009, established an after school youth development and family stability program called The Power Project. The Power Project consists of three major components: education, mentoring, the arts, and human services. This program provides disadvantaged youth and families living below poverty in the Reservoir Hill neighborhood, ages 5 to 18, with the opportunity to receive academic enrichment, one-on-one tutoring, attend educational seminars and workshops, participate in our dance, art and music groups, and establish valuable relationships with caring and responsible individuals who will serve as positive role models in their lives.The after school program is at no cost to youth and families and is held at the Center Monday through Thursday from 3:00 to 6:15 pm during the school year with snacks and dinner provided. The program can accommodate on average, 60 children at a time. Volunteers will support all facets of the The Power Project.
St. Mary’s Outreach Center: (Wednesday, *2:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m.)
Description
St. Mary’s Outreach Center helps older adults meet the challenge of living self-sufficiently with dignity and respect. Volunteers will provide regular social support to older adults to help them remain connected to our community. Sample activities include card and board games, crafts, reading, discussing current events, and recording oral histories. When possible, volunteers will be matched with program participants with shared interests and hobbies.
Additional Requirements
Volunteers will need to complete a volunteer form and an orientation, both of which will be provided during their first volunteer session. It is also standard agency practice to do a criminal and sex offender background check for volunteers with this level of contact.
Southeast Development Corporation at Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School: (Thursday, *7:30 a.m.- 9:15 a.m.)
Description 
Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle school is a pre-k -8th community school in East Baltimore. Our mission is to provide all students the opportunity to reach their individual potential as positive and productive members of society by providing high quality instruction and motivational supports to students and their families in a safe and mutually respectful environment. Volunteers will work in the classroom with small groups during our “Power Hour,” a new school-wide intervention system based on helping our students fulfill their full potential.
The Community School & Mentoring High School: (Tuesday, *11:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.)
Description
The Community School is an academic & mentoring high school, based in the Remington community, for young people who want to advance their education, improve their lives, and better their community. Students develop their skills, knowledge, creativity, confidence, intellectual curiosity and worldview in a safe, supportive, and comfortable yet rigorous environment.
The League for People with Disabilities (Club 1111): (second Saturday of each month, 4:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.)
Description 
Club 1111: is Maryland’s first and only nightclub for people with disabilities that includes DJs, dancing, spa, games, and much more! The Club provides a place for people within the Baltimore disability community that might not otherwise have such a social opportunity. On the second Saturday of each month, year-round, The League for People with Disabilities’ 50,000 sq foot facility is transformed into a nightclub with the capacity to serve 600+ guests. Volunteers assist with registering guests, staffing snack windows, helping out with the spa, and generally engaging participants and ensuring that each person has the best possible experience.