Homelessness and Public Policy in D.C. $425.00

A Brief Overview...

Participants learn about and participate in direct service and advocacy work as they assist people who are homeless, hungry, and/or ill in the nation's capital. Participants will gain additional information from visits to organizations such as the National Coalition for the Homeless, congressional and federal offices, and through discussions with resource people. The central experience will be volunteering with N. Street Village and participating in a Homeless Challenge. The DC experience can be easily tied back to your Gettysburg experience, comparing rural and urban poverty through participation in programs such as DC Outfitters, Adams County Shelter for the Homeless and the Gettysburg College Campus Kitchen.

Facilitators

Ellen Speake '11 and Jen Davis '10 will be the facilitators.

Ellen Speake '11 will be a Program Coordinator for Wee Care Learning Center at the Center for Public Service for her second year. She has taken a course on Homelessness in America and has considerable academic and volunteer experience working with urban education and poverty issues. Her compassion, knowledge, organizational skills and fun-loving nature will bring excitment to this trip!

Jen Davis '10 will begin her third year as a Program Coordinator with the Center for Public Service, coordinating efforts for the after-school program at El Centro/The Center. She has studied in Latin America and will be and Eisenhower Fellow this year. She has much experience discussing social justice issues as well as working on community change efforts. Her laughter coupled with her leadership experience will be a great asset to this trip!

General Information

The group will stay in a hostel, sharing cooking and other responsibilities.  Transportation will largely be on foot or utilizing the DC Metro system.

What to Bring

• Pants / jeans for work sites (no shorts).
• Short sleeve t-shirts / shirts / blouses for work sites (no tank tops or midriffs).
• Two nice, casual outfits for restaurants and other events.
• Outerwear as you feel appropriate for August in Washington, DC
• Hat to wear at work site (or a hair net will be provided by the agency).
• Seakers or shoes with rubber tread for work sites.
• Comfortable walking shoes
• Nightwear/pajamas (will be mixed-gender company in the hostel).
• Toiletries.
• Washcloth / towel / shower shoes.
• Sleeping bag or sheets/blanket.
• Pillow.
• Prescriptions and/or over-the-counter medications for your use as appropriate.
• Flashlight and travel alarm (optional, but recommended).
• Small container of laundry detergent and quarters, should you wish to do laundry during the project.
• Project Packet (manual/journal), pens/pencils. readings/handouts (provided upon arrival to campus).

What Not to Bring

• DO NOT BRING OR WEAR any clothing or other items resembling military paraphernalia, including olive drab, camouflage, or any item having army-issue characteristics.  Clothing advertising alcohol, tobacco, or other inappropriate products/wording should be left at home.
• DO NOT BRING any illegal drugs or alcohol, nor carry/pack firearms, explosives, knives, or anything that could be interpreted as potential weapons.
• DO NOT BRING expensive equipment or jewelry that you cannot afford to lose.

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