Academy for Educational Development

AED in DC: Making a Difference in the District of Columbia

AED establishes partnerships with non-profit organizations through its  AED in DC Partnerships. Through these partnerships, AED staff volunteer their time and talents to non profit organizations that provide services to   D.C.’s vulnerable children, youth, and families. 

Examples of how AED is making a difference in the D.C. community:

AED staff tutor children in reading and math at CentroNía.  CentroNía offers quality education and family support programs to hundreds of families. Evolving from a childcare center to a comprehensive family support organization, CentroNía serves infants, toddlers, preschoolers, youth, families, and manages the D.C. Bilingual Public Charter School. CentroNía is located in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of northwest D.C.

AED volunteers tutor homeless women and mentor children at Community of Hope. Community of Hope works to improve the health and quality of life of low-income, homeless, and underserved families and individuals in D.C. by providing health care, housing with supportive services, educational opportunities, and spiritual support. Community of Hope  can be found in the Columbia Heights neighborhood of northwest  D.C.

AED staff read to and mentor students for  Everybody Wins! D.C. Everybody Wins! D.C. is the largest grassroots children’s literacy and mentoring program in the Washington Metropolitan area and. is devoted to promoting children’s literacy through shared reading experiences with caring individuals. AED is a Power Lunch Partner at Adams Elementary School in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of northwest D.C.

AED volunteers improve the conditions in  public schools and funds scholarships  for Hands on D.C. As a sponsor for Hands on DC, AED raises money for college scholarships as well as volunteers each spring on the one-day work-a-thons. Hands on DC is an all-volunteer project that creates better schools and brighter futures for students in the D.C. public school system.

AED  mentors help young people achieve academic success th rough the Higher Achievement Program. Higher Achievement helps students from underserved neighborhoods develop critical academic behaviors, habits, and attitudes that help them gain acceptance and scholarships to private, parochial, and public magnet high schools. With five convenient locations in the D.C./Virginia area, Higher Achievement has helped over 10,000 scholars in their 32-year history gain acceptance into the top high school programs in this city.

AED staff serve as ESL teachers and tutors to  improve the quality of life of immigrant students at Language ETC. The Language, Education, and Technology Center (Language ETC), situated just across the street from AED’s headquarters, offers English and literacy training to low-income adult immigrants in the greater Washington area using volunteer teachers and tutors.

AED staff volunteer in the after-school and ESL programs at the SEDCenter. The Spanish Education Development (SED) Center provides educational programs for children, their families, and adults in the Washington area and helps them develop the skills necessary to lead productive lives in the U.S. The SED Center is a short walk from AED in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood.

AED volunteers bring their international knowledge to teachers and students in D.C public and charter schools through Global Classrooms‑—Washington, D.C.A program of the United Nations Association of the United States, Global Classrooms provides quality global education to students through innovative, dynamic, and informative education materials. Volunteers help students realize where they live: the nation’s capital and place of origin of U.S. foreign policy.

AED staff  fundraise  and participate in the Whitman-Walker Clinic’s annual AIDS Walk in D.C.  The Whitman-Walker Clinic is a nonprofit, community-based provider of health care and social services in the Washington, D.C.-area. Whitman-Walker Clinic is committed to meeting the life needs of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender community and people living with HIV/AIDS.

National charitable efforts that AED supports:

AED staff participate in the Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure in the fight against breast cancer in the world. Komen for the Cure is the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists fighting to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all and energize science to find the cures.

AED participates in Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day each year to expose our daughters and sons to AED’s mission in the U.S.and overseas. Take Our Daughters And Sons To Work^® Day is designed to expand opportunities for girls and boys, show them the value of their education, and give them an opportunity to share how they envision their future.