Volunteer
Become a year-long Mentor! Click here to learn more.
To learn more about volunteer opportunities, please contact Amanda Wilson, Director of Programs.
Thurgood Marshall Academy relies on a cadre of organizations and individuals for its out-of-school programming. Over 30 organizations and 200 individuals volunteer their time each year for the following programs:
Mentors are matched with current TMA students. There is a scheduled Mentor Day one Saturday a month and opportunities to connect with your student throughout the month. This is a year-long commitment; background checks, references, and interviews will be performed before participation.
Homework Help occurs Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:30 until 5:45 p.m. in the school library. We are looking for volunteers to work with Homework and Help participants with a variety of subjects and projects. Time Commitment: a minimum of one Homework Help Session per week. A tutor can decide which day works best for him/her.
Law Day brings 9th-grade students to law firms each month to participate in workshops on the American legal system. Students conduct mock trials, engage in round-table discussions, and explore interactive case studies. Thurgood Marshall Academy provides curriculum and training for law firms that volunteer to host law day activities.
Law Firm Tutoring brings 11th graders to law firms twice monthly to work individually with attorneys and paralegals who provide academic support and mentoring in their offices. Students develop positive relationships with role models, sharpen their academic and professional skills, and reinforce their college aspirations.
Brown Bag Lunch and Speaker Series introduces students to various facets of law. Over lunch, small groups of attorneys meet with students to discuss their experiences in the legal field. Brown Bag lunches provide an opportunity for students to learn more about how one becomes a lawyer and what a lawyer does on a day-to-day basis. Brown Bag lunches are a great way for new community partners to meet our students, tour our building, and learn more about Thurgood Marshall Academy’s law-related programs.
Career Panels are hosted annually for Thurgood Marshall Academy alumni and current 11th and 12th-grade students. Volunteers speak with students about their professions and career paths and offer advice for students wanting to pursue various careers. For more information, please contact Hamzat Saba, Director of College Counseling & Alumni Programs, at (202) 563-6862 ×121.
College Application Help Night is an evening when volunteers work with seniors for two hours to complete their college applications. Dinner is served for all volunteers and students. For more information, please contact Jasmine Sanders College Counselor at (202) 563-6862 ×198.
Portfolio is Thurgood Marshall Academy’s unique assessment process which requires students to examine their academic achievements before a panel of teachers, staff members, volunteers, and parents each year. Our volunteer panelists help our lead faculty panelists to grade students’ presentations. This biannual process helps students better understand their abilities while strengthening their public speaking and presentation skills. Find out more about Thurgood Marshall Academy’s portfolio program here.