DC Charity Spotlight: Jan's Tutoring House

WISH LIST $100: books and educational games for the House library; $500: books and fees for needy, college-bound students; $1000: nutritious snacks and evening meals for 25 students for 6 months

About sixty students a year - most from the Potomac Gardens and Hopkins public housing neighborhoods, some living without any parent, most living with only one, a quarter living without a working phone at home - come to Jan's Tutoring House, really two Southeast DC townhouses that serve as a permanent, alternative home for kids who otherwise rarely experience permanence. Most were not read to as young children, rarely witness adult family members reading, and have parents or guardians unable to assist with homework beyond the fourth grade. The heart of the program is the weekly, 60-90 minute, one-on-one dose of undivided attention that all students receive from adults who care about them. Serious tutoring begins after a hearty dinner, and sessions often continue over ice cream at the local Ben & Jerry’s. The homework and technology centers are open, staffed, and busy on a daily basis. The goal is increasing high school graduation rates, exposing students to worlds beyond the confines of their neighborhoods, and interesting them in higher education. It's a challenge: but the kids are worth it.

Tonya Porter Woods,

Executive Director 1529 Pennsylvania Avenue SE Washington, DC 20003 (202) 547-1345