Service Opportunities for Majors in
ARCHITECTURE

Community service involves applying your energy, enthusiasm, skills, and desire to make a difference to social issues that concern you. It is an excellent way to gain hands-on experience, enhance job-related skills, explore career options, and meet real community needs. The following are just a few examples of how you can get involved in service projects related to architecture.

Volunteer to help restore a historic building; work on local campaigns to preserve historic districts; help government organizations plan neighborhoods and housing projects with livability, the needs of the community, and cost-effectiveness in mind; visit local schools and encourage girls and children of color to pursue careers in architecture; volunteer with urban and rural housing campaigns, such as Habitat for Humanity and help build homes with people who need them; travel to areas devastated by natural disasters and help with renovation and clean-up efforts; volunteer to teach art classes with community centers; give tours of historic and architecturally outstanding buildings; help the campus maintain and preserve its architecture library collection and acquisitions; help design buildings and residences accessible to people with disabilities; help schools or non-profit organizations design buildings; find emergency and permanent housing for community members in need.

Christmas in April – Prince George’s County
Clinton, MD (301) 868-0937
Contact: cinAPG@aol.com
http://www.christmasinaprilpg.com
Dedicated to serving elderly, low-income and disabled homeowners to live in warmth, safety, independence, and dignity through home repair and rehabilitation.

Community Lodgings, Inc.
Alexandria, VA (703) 549-4407
Contact: Carina Silva, CLI@communitylodgings.org
http://www.communitylodgings.org
A non-profit housing and social service agency that buys and renovates affordable housing and runs a transitional housing program for homeless families. Also offers a family learning center that offers computer training and summer youth programs.

Habitat for Humanity - DC
Washington, DC (202) 882-4600
Contact: Adam Arends, adam.arends@dchabitat.org
http://www.dchabitat.org
Builds decent, affordable housing in partnership with low-income residents of the nation's capital.

Habitat for Humanity - University of Maryland
Contact: Emilie Clingerman, habitatpresident@
http://www.studentorg.umd.edu/hfh
Serves as the campus chapter of the national organization that assists people to build affordable housing.

Manna, Inc: Corporate Development
Washington, DC (202) 832-1845, ext. 224
Contact: Anne-Claire Hervy
http://www.mannadc.org
Works for home ownership and neighborhood revitalization in D.C. Transforms abandoned and deteriorated properties into affordable housing for sale to low-income families.

National Building Museum
Washington, DC (202) 272-2448 ext 3302
Contact: Vanessa Jones, vjones@nbm.org
http://www.nbm.org
Celebrates American achievements in building, and encourages excellence in the building arts and the built environment.

New Hope Housing
Alexandria, VA (703) 799-2293 x 22
Contact: Chris Bonifant, cbonifant@newhopehousing.org
http://www.newhopehousing.org
Provides homeless families and individuals with shelter and opportunities to seek a better life.

Our House, Inc.: Youth Home
Brookeville, MD (301) 519-1019
Contact: Susan Woods, info@our-house.org
http://www.our-house.org
A vocational and educational residential school. Teaches carpentry, drywall, electric, and plumbing, as well as provides GED tutorial for at-risk adolescents.

Rebuilding Together - DC
Washington, DC (202) 965 – 2824
Contact: cinadc@aol.com
http://www.rebuildingtogetherdc.org
Repairs and rehabilitates homes of elderly, disabled, and low-income individuals on Saturdays in April. Also offers Sukkot in April with Jewish organizations that do repairs on Sundays. Work emphasizes handicap-accessibility for disabled persons. Also offers a food bank and emergency repairs all year.

Rebuilding Together – Montgomery County
Kensington, MD (301) 933-2700
Contact: Susan Hawfield, info@rebuildingtogethermc.org
http://www.rebuildingtogethermc.org
Rebuilding Together*Montgomery County works in partnership with the community to rehabilitate the houses of low-income homeowners, primarily those who are elderly and disabled.

Community Service-Learning
1120 Stamp Student Union, University of Maryland, College Park 20742
301-314-CARE—http://www.csl.umd.edu—terpservice@umd.edu

Please Note: Inclusion in Community Service-Learning (CSL) resources is not to be interpreted as an endorsement for any agency or organization listed here. As with any off-campus opportunity, the University is not responsible for any personal injury or loss that might result from your participation. Participants are strongly encouraged to read and implement the Good Questions to Ask and PARE handouts available through CSL. Lastly, be aware of any special requirements or skills necessary to perform the service requested (i.e. construction, carpentry, landscaping) and do not feel compelled to execute tasks which are beyond your capabilities.

8/05