Community Club

Thursdays from 7pm to 8pm

Community Club is the 45-year ministry of The New York Avenue Presbyterian Church, bringing together public high school students of Washington, D.C. and adult volunteers for one-with-one mentoring. The heart of Community Club is the Study Hall tutoring program. Every Thursday night at 6:45 p.m., Peter Marshall Hall comes alive with the energy of some 100 7th-12th grade students and their mentors (tutors), working on homework, longer-term school projects, and college applications. Each student learns that there is an adult in his or her life who cares enough to spend an hour each week helping him or her succeed. Consistent meeting week after week allows for a trusting relationship to grow. Additionally, doing homework in a room full of other teenagers who are also working hard provides positive peer pressure that may not exist in their neighborhood environments. At 8:00 p.m. work stops, and the assembled group hears Club announcements, including the latest scholarship and college acceptance letters. As the younger students thunderously applaud the fruits of the seniors’ hard work, their own desires for academic success are nurtured.

Additional programs of Community Club include:

Camp - Students and tutors spend a weekend at Prince William Forest State Park where they bond through hikes, arts and crafts, sports, skits, and camp chores, e.g. making meals and cleaning cabins.

Tutor Workshops - Tutors hone their tutoring skills with advice from outside speakers.

Graduation Ceremony - In May, the church sanctuary us filled by tutors, students and their families, as awards are presented and seniors are honored.

Scholarships - Students who maintain good grades and good attendance at Study Hall receive stipends. This allows students to concentrate on their studies rather than work part-time jobs. Qualifying graduates also receive college scholarships.

Community Club is led by a Core Council of long-time Club volunteers, both church members and non-members. Mark Jennings serves as the clergy representative, and Debbie Dimon represents the NYAPC Deacons. Setting the course for the future, last year the Core Council approved a charter outlining governance, leadership structure, and procedures. With the help of core volunteers, the Club also has streamlined some functions through use of computer databases and its Web site.

For more information about Community Club, including how you can volunteer, please visit www.communityclub.org.