Get Involved

Help Plan Village Parents Events

• Plan one organization-wide, family-oriented activity each semester
• Plan quarterly potluck dinners for all Charles Village families
• Host a monthly playgroup
• Arrange for VP to adopt a family with special needs over the holidays

Identify and Plan Ways to Make Charles Village a Safer, More Attractive Living Space for Families

• Identify and plan community outreach activities, including diversity initiatives, charitable fundraising, volunteer activities
• Serve as the advocacy arm of Village Parents, devoted to family-oriented initiatives in the neighborhood
• Join our Open Space bench-building team (limited time only!)
• Advocate for safer streets, more and improved green spaces, more public transportation options, and family-friendly businesses
• Work with community leaders to develop multi-cultural workshops and events

Volunteer at Barclay and Margaret Brent Schools

• Be a Story Pal and read to a Barclay student once a week (contact Tatiana Truitt at volunteerbarclay@gmail.com)
• Water the Barclay garden once a week (contact Marc Francis at MFrancis@greaterhomewood.org)
• Visit http://www.kintera.org/site/c.ipIHKVOEJqG/b.5517855/k.9F5F/Great_Partners_Landing_Page.htm for more opportunities to volunteer in the Baltimore City Public Schools.

Join Our School Outreach Effort

• Participate in various family and community meetings about schools:
  • Barclay School-Family Council (meets on the 3^rd Wednesday of month at 3 p.m.)
  • Barclay Family and Community Engagement Team (meets on the 4^th Tuesday of month at 4 p.m.)
  • Margaret Brent School-Family Council (meets on the second Monday of the month at either 3 p.m. or 5 p.m.)
  • Margaret Brent Family and Community Engagement Team (meets on the third Tuesday of every other month at 4 p.m.)
  • Margaret Brent Parent-Teacher Organization (meets on the second Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m.)
  • Board of School Commissioners (meets on the 2^nd and 4^th Tuesdays of the month at 6 p.m. – see http://www.bcps.k12.md.us/School_Board/Meeting_Calendar.asp for calendar)
  • Greater Homewood Steering Committee, responsible for allocating grant funds won through the Goldseker Foundation Neighborhood-School Partnership campaign (meeting times vary – contact Karen DeCamp at kdecamp@greaterhomewood.org)
  • Market and promote the schools to families and community at large
  • Survey Village Parents members for school improvement ideas
  • Plan semi-annual Village Parents community service days at the schools
  • Help plan community events around urban education issues
  • Lend your writing, editing, graphic design, web design, IT or marketing skills to the Greater Homewood Steering Committee

• Share your knowledge of neighborhood history, art, architecture and civic activism to help Greater Homewood, Barclay and Margaret Brent build a rich community curriculum at the schools
• Lend your expertise in math, science, literature and other disciplines to help Greater Homewood, Barclay and Margaret Brent build a more rigorous curriculum
• Help Greater Homewood honor teachers by donating food and other items or your time for teacher appreciation activities

Join Our Marketing Team and Help Get the Word Out About Village Parents

• Help post flyers about events
• Recruit other families to join and be active in our initiatives
• Represent Village Parents at neighborhood festivals and other events
• Represent Village Parents at Charles Village Civic Association meetings (the 4^th Wednesday of every other month – see http://charlesvillage.net/calendar.php for calendar)

Contact: villageparents@gmail.com