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Looking for some way to make a difference here in the DC and NorthernVA area?

The Higher Achievement Program is a local organization that is doing good works in our community and like all organization they could use our help. What's the mission of the program?

As stated on their website:

"The Higher Achievement Program Higher Achievement's mission is to develop academic skills, behaviors, and attitudes in academically motivated and underserved middle school children to improve their grades, test scores, attendance, and opportunities – resulting in acceptance to college preparatory high schools. We close the achievement gap by offering motivated middle school students from under-served areas an opportunity-rich, nationally recognized year-round educational and high school preparatory program. The program, held after school and during the summer, culminates in college preparatory high school placement. For over 33 years, Higher Achievement has helped over 10,000 students achieve academic excellence. Grades improve, test scores improve, and academic behaviors are fostered through a program that works."

How can you help?

You can help by being a tutoring a student one night a week between the hours of 6pm to 8pm. You can also make direct donations to the program . These donations go to the training of mentors as well as the students afterschool and summer enrichment programs.

Help us reach our goal of spreading positive change by purchasing one of our shirts from the retailers or by joining one of our Try Change communities below. As always if you or your organization has a story of how your making a difference please share it with us so we can share it with everyone.

The Try Change line of shirts can be purchased at the following locations:

Fashion Mechanics in the Springfield and Manassas Mall

Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall

Shadows in the Forestville Centre

SWANK in the Pentagon City Mall

Indigo in Georgetown

Sport Zone- Selected locations

Remember that we donate 10% to our official partners Volunteers of America Chesapeake. If you want to purchase a Try Change T-Shirts but cannot get to MD, VA or DC you can purchase them online at SWANK's online store.

Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space

Razoo

Idealist

Change.org

MyBlogLog

BlogCatalog

Try Change Newsletter

Thank you!

Vince and Chrissie at Try Change LLC

USAservice.org

Tomorrow begins a new chapter in the history of the United States of America for we will swear in this nations first African American President. I will tell you that I do feel a sense of pride with this historic event. I think about my mom and dad who did not live to see this day although I'm sure they are looking down smiling with that same sense of pride that I feel. However tonight I will not go on about the incoming president but more about what lies ahead of us and his call for us all black, white, Hispanic , Asian, straight , gay Republican or Democrat to serve this great nation of ours.

These are certainly some very challenging times. economic conditions are poor to say the least, we face two wars and every day there seems to be another company going out of business. It's at these very times that we must pull together and not only serve ourselves but also serve our communities. At http://www.usaservice.org/ you can find service activities in your communities that not only happened today but will happen throughout the year. As they state on their website:

"As a tribute to that legacy and the very real needs of our nation, the President-elect and Vice President-elect have launched a national organizing effort on the eve of their Inauguration to engage Americans in service. This national day of service will fall on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, January 19, 2009 and, unlike past calls to service, President-elect Obama is calling on all Americans to do more than just offer a single day of service to their cities, towns and neighborhoods. He is asking all of us to make an ongoing commitment to our communities. Never has it been more important to come together in shared purpose to tackle the common challenges we face."

At Try Change we are committed to our community. How are we committed?

• We donate 10% off all profits to Volunteer of America Chesapeake


• Each year we hold Charity Yard Sales where we donate 100% of the proceeds


• We donate hundreds of items every year to the Hilda Barg Homeless Shelter in Prince William County


• We mentor individuals at the homeless shelter


• We Adopt a Family from the shelter during the holiday season providing toys and clothing for one family
  

We do this because we feel it's the right thing to do. Try Change was founded back in 2007 before President Elect Obama announced his decision to run for the highest office in the land. During the campaign I had several people say I should capitalize on the "Change" theme in the Obama camp. That I should put his image on our shirts and join the bandwagon. Our message statement is as true today as it was when we started our company over two years ago.

"At TryChange.org we feel no matter what your political or religious beliefs there is evidence of change taking place throughout the world that reflects a desire to return of common decency in our society today. Its our mission at Try Change.org to inspire ourselves and others to seek positive change that will not only benefit ourselves but society as a whole"

I feel 2009 will be a year of great possibilities. Help us reach our goal of spreading positive change by purchasing one of our shirts from the retailers or by joining one of our Try Change communities below. As always if you or your organization has a story of how your making a difference please share it with us so we can share it with everyone.

The Try Change line of shirts can be purchased at the following locations:
Fashion Mechanics in the Springfield and Manassas Mall
Evado in the Fair Oaks Mall
Shadows in the Forestville Centre
SWANK in the Pentagon City Mall
Indigo in Georgetown
Sport Zone- Selected locations

Remember that we donate 10% to our official partners Volunteers of America Chesapeake. If you want to purchase a Try Change T-Shirts but cannot get to MD, VA or DC you can purchase them online at SWANK's online store.
Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.
My Space
RazooIdealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter

Thank you,

Vince and Chrissie at Try Change LLC

Embracing Each Day

Embracing each day...this is what Sherri Lewis has learned to do. In the 80's she was riding around in limo's and had a hit record. Things started falling apart. Her label folded, she lost her manager and she turned to drugs. Then she found out that she had contracted HIV. Now she is sober and instead of letting the disease get her down, she is helping others who have contracted HIV. Sherri is also pushing for prevention. She runs support groups on the streets and teaches HIV education to high school and college students.

Some people may forget that HIV/AIDS is still a major epidemic in the United States not just in other countries. Education for prevention and support for those who are infected is still very important. This is what Sherri Lewis is trying to accomplish.

Click here to find out what you can do to help both here in the US and globally.



Help us pass along the Try Change message by joining one of our blog communities and asking your blog community members to visit our blog.

My Space
Razoo
Idealist
Change.org
MyBlogLog
BlogCatalog
Try Change Newsletter