Metro Teen Aids

At Try Change T Shirts we like to share information on organizations that are making a difference . Tonight we bring you Metro Teen AIDS. With so many news stories cluttering our airways it can become easy to forget about the how AIDS has affected not only the Washington DC community but the entire country. Here's some sobering information for you:

• Approximately one half of all new HIV infections in the United States occur among people under 25 years of age.



• Washington, DC has the highest rate of AIDS of any major metropolitan area in the country.



• Local STI rates for DC’s youth are almost twice the national average.
  

One local organization that is doing something about it is Metro TeenAIDS.

Their Mission Statement as listed on their website is:

Metro TeenAIDS is a community health organization dedicated to supporting young people in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Through education, support, and advocacy, MTA works to prevent the spread of HIV, promote responsible decision making, and improve the quality of life for young people infected with, or affected by, HIV/AIDS.

What do they do?

Metro TeenAIDS provides resources to help young people fight AIDS and support each other. MTA is the only organization in the Washington DC-metro area focusing all of its efforts on the unique prevention, education, and treatment needs of young people.

• Advancing the overall health of at-risk and HIV-infected adolescents is within our community’s power. Metro TeenAIDS advances community prevention efforts by:
  Mobilizing young people in support of their peers battling stigma and indifference by raising community awareness about the threat HIV/AIDS poses to young people.


• Providing HIV information and innovative prevention strategies to young people and the adults in contact with them, uniting with other organizations to ensure that teenagers receive adolescent-appropriate and easily accessible prevention, health care, and counseling services as well as safe recreational opportunities.


• Developing comprehensive programs which address the many co-factors of adolescent HIV infection — including low self-esteem, drug and alcohol abuse, dangerously unproductive free time, and exposure to peer groups which encourage unhealthy and risky behavior.
  

How can you help?

There are several ways you can support Metro TeenAIDS in the fight against HIV/AIDS among young people in Washington D.C. Please click on one of the following options.
Volunteer
Contribute
Come to an event
Join our email list

Learn more at http://www.metroteenaids.org/

Or contact them at 202-543-8246

At Try Change we feel we can all make a difference. For us, we donate 10& of all our profits to Volunteers of America which serves the homeless in the DC,VA & MD areas. We also adopt a homeless family during the holiday season, donate clothes as well as hold an annual Charity yard sale for VOA.You can find our shirts at:

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

Millennium in Georgetown

Sport Zone- Selected locations

D-Block-Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg MD

First Thangs First- Park Waldorf, Waldorf MD

Next Level Clothing- Ellicott City MD

Turning Point- Laurel Centre Mall, Laurel MD

Turning Point- Eastpoint Mall, Baltimore MD

Turning Point- St. Charles Town Center, Waldorf MD

Turning Point- Security Square Mall, Baltimore MD

Turning Point- Centre at Forestville, Forestville MD

New York Fashions- Charlottesville VA

Fashion Kings- Brudgeport WV

Hot Stepper -Martinsburg WV

Urban Flavor- Old Town, Manassas, VA

Dazzle Inc- Iverson Mall, Hillcrest Heights MD

Kurley's- Greenbelt, MD

Echo for Men- Iverson Mall, Hillcrest Heights MD

Heartbeat- Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg MD

Fashion World- Hurlock MD

City Wear- Farmville, VA

Aashik- The Boulevard, Largo MD

M & G- Featherstone Square, Woodbridge VA

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

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DailyGood: 15-year-old Social Entrepreneur-Inventor

We signed up with Daily Good a while back and they continually highlight inspirational stories. Today we are highlighting a story that is on Change.org that tells a story of a young man that has an idea that could change the future for the world's poor by providing for basic needs, using of all things, algae.

Check on the link below to read the story:

DailyGood: 15-year-old Social Entrepreneur-Inventor

Shared via AddThis




At Try Change we feel we can all make a difference. For us, we donate 10& of all our profits to Volunteers of America which serves the homeless in the DC,VA & MD areas. We also adopt a homeless family during the holiday season, donate clothes as well as hold an annual Charity yard sale for VOA.
You can find our shirts at:
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
Millennium in Georgetown
Sport Zone- Selected locations
D-Block-Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg MD
First Thangs First- Park Waldorf, Waldorf MD
Next Level Clothing- Ellicott City MD
Turning Point- Laurel Centre Mall, Laurel MD
Turning Point- Eastpoint Mall, Baltimore MD
Turning Point- St. Charles Town Center, Waldorf MD
Turning Point- Security Square Mall, Baltimore MD
Turning Point- Centre at Forestville, Forestville MD
New York Fashions- Charlottesville VA
Fashion Kings- Brudgeport WV
Hot Stepper -Martinsburg WV
Urban Flavor- Old Town, Manassas, VA
Dazzle Inc- Iverson Mall, Hillcrest Heights MD
Kurley's- Greenbelt, MD
Echo for Men- Iverson Mall, Hillcrest Heights MD
Heartbeat- Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg MD
Fashion World- Hurlock MD
City Wear- Farmville, VA
Aashik- The Boulevard, Largo MD
M & G- Featherstone Square, Woodbridge VA

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
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Twitter

Ceasefire

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Well, it's been a very busy couple of weeks for us at Try Change. We expanded into 5 more stores bringing the total of stores that carry the Try Change line to over 30 stores!

Tonight we would like to introduce you to Ceasefire. We learned about Ceasefire from segment on the NBC Nightly News

"CeaseFire is the first initiative of the Chicago Project for Violence Prevention. It works with community-based organizations to develop and implement strategies to reduce and prevent violence, particularly shootings and killings. CeaseFire relies on outreach workers, faith leaders, and other community leaders to intervene in conflicts, or potential conflicts, and promote alternatives to violence. CeaseFire also involves cooperation with police and it depends heavily on a strong public education campaign to instill in people the message that shootings and violence are not acceptable. Finally, it calls for the strengthening of communities so they have the capacity to exercise informal social control and respond to issues that affect them. "

You can learn more about Ceasefire by watching one of their videos:
http://www.ceasefirechicago.org/video.shtml

or visit their website

http://www.ceasefirechicago.org/video.shtml

At Try Change we feel we can all make a difference. For us, we donate 10& of all our profits to Volunteers of America which serves the homeless in the DC,VA & MD areas. We also adopt a homeless family during the holiday season, donate clothes as well as hold an annual Charity yard sale for VOA.You can find our shirts at:

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
Millennium in Georgetown
Sport Zone- Selected locations
D-Block-Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg MD
First Thangs First- Park Waldorf, Waldorf MD
Next Level Clothing- Ellicott City MD
Turning Point- Laurel Centre Mall, Laurel MD
Turning Point- Eastpoint Mall, Baltimore MD
Turning Point- St. Charles Town Center, Waldorf MD
Turning Point- Security Square Mall, Baltimore MD
Turning Point- Centre at Forestville, Forestville MD
New York Fashions- Charlottesville VA
Fashion Kings- Brudgeport WV
Hot Stepper -Martinsburg WV
Urban Flavor- Old Town, Manassas, VA
Dazzle Inc- Iverson Mall, Hillcrest Heights MD
Kurley's- Greenbelt, MD
Echo for Men- Iverson Mall, Hillcrest Heights MD
Heartbeat- Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg MD
Fashion World- Hurlock MD
City Wear- Farmville, VA
Aashik- The Boulevard, Largo MD
M & G- Featherstone Square, Woodbridge VA

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
Twitter

Reston Interfaith

During these economic times many families are having to make the choice between paying the electric bill on time or buying a weeks worth of groceries. One organization that is assisting families in not having to choose between the two is Reston Interfaith.

As stated on their website:

"Reston Interfaith is a leading service provider offering comprehensive programs for 13,000 people in Reston, Herndon and northwest Fairfax County."

"Our Mission: We promote self-sufficiency through direct support and advocacy for our neighbors in need of food, immediate shelter, affordable housing, quality child care, and other human services."

Each year, over 2,000 volunteers generously give their time and efforts by participating with Reston Interfaith and our clients. We depend on each of these dedicated community members and the many ways that they are involved!

How Can You Get Involved?

Visit our Volunteer Calendar for the dates and times of upcoming activities.
Attend a Volunteer Orientation, where you will learn about the wide variety of programs we offer in our community and opportunities to participate in each program that require an on-going commitment (weekly, bi-weekly or monthly).
Youth Opportunities Click here to read about volunteer projects and opportunities specifically designed for children and teens throughout the year.

At Try Change we feel we can all make a difference. For us, we donate 10& of all our profits to Volunteers of America which serves the homeless in the DC,VA & MD areas. We also adopt a homeless family during the holiday season, donate clothes as well as hold an annual Charity yard sale for VOA.You can find our shirts at:

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

Millennium in Georgetown

Sport Zone- Selected locations

D-Block-Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg MD

First Thangs First- Waldorf MD

Next Level Clothing- Ellicott City MD

Turning Point- Laurel Centre Mall, Laurel MD

New York Fashions- Charlottesville VA

Fashion Kings- Brudgeport WV

Hot Stepper -Martinsburg WV

Urban Flavor- Old Town, Manassas, VA

Heartbeat- Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg MD

Fashion World- Hurlock MD

City Wear- Farmville, VA

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

Twitter

Computer C.O.R.E

At Try Change we not only donate 10% of our profits to Volunteers of America Chesapeake, hold annual Charity Yard sales, donate hundreds of items to the Hilda Barg Shelter in Woodbridge and Adopt a Family during the Holiday Season; we also introduce local and national charities to our Blog community members.

Today we bring you "Computer C.O.R.E"

Based in Alexandria VA Computer C.O.R.E free training in computer basics to low income individuals in the Northern Virginia area. As stated on their website "Computer C.O.R.E.'s training program addresses these needs by providing training in computer skills, personal development, and job search strategies. In addition, Computer C.O.R.E. gives free computers to its graduates so that they may continue learning and share computing access with their families."

How can you help Computer C.O.R.E?

Ways you can support Computer C.O.R.E. VOLUNTEERComputer C.O.R.E. relies on a committed cadre of volunteers to meet its mission. There are many exciting opportunities to take on a leadership role and share your knowledge with others. PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORTWe depend on contributions from the community to run our program. Please consider making a tax deductible contribution or choose #8289 on the United Way Campaign or #60280 on the Combined Federal Campaign. DONATE COMPUTERSComputer C.O.R.E. relies on computer donations from the professional community so that we can give a refurbished computer to each graduate. JOB EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES Would you like to employ our dedicated graduates in an entry-level position within your organization? Please send us job openings so we can post them on our bulletin board and get them out to our students. TRAINING FOR YOUR EMPLOYEESDo you have staff that could benefit from C.O.R.E.'s program? Think about the added skill value of sending an employee to C.O.R.E.'s training. DONATE OFFICE SUPPLIESWe are always in need of paper and other office supplies.

You can contact Computer C.O.R.E at:

Computer C.O.R.E.

3846 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22302

Telephone: 703-931-7346

Fax: 703-931-6062.

Or visit thier website at

http://www.computercore.org/

By the way, Try Change is now on Twitter! Stop by and check us out or follow us as we continue our adventures in the t-shirt and fashion industries.

At Try Change we feel we can all make a difference. For us, we donate 10& of all our profits to Volunteers of America which serves the homeless in the DC,VA & MD areas. We also adopt a homeless family during the holiday season, donate clothes as well as hold an annual Charity yard sale for VOA.You can find our shirts at:

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

Millennium in Georgetown

Sport Zone- Selected locations

D-Block-Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg MD

First Thangs First- Waldorf MD

Next Level Clothing- Ellicott City MD

Turning Point- Laurel Centre Mall, Laurel MD

New York Fashions- Charlottesville VA

Fashion Kings- Brudgeport WV

Hot Stepper -Martinsburg WV

Urban Flavor- Old Town, Manassas, VA

Heartbeat- Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg MD

Fashion World- Hurlock MD

City Wear- Farmville, VA

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

Twitter

Doorways

Each we at Try Change like to highlight an organization or person who is making a difference in our community. Tonight we would like to introduce our readers to Doorways. With so many stories of battered and abused women reported each year it's encouraging to see a organization like Doorways here in the DC area. Doorways runs the one and only domestic violence safe house in Arlington VA.

Established 1978, Doorways for Women and Families has provided services for thousands of women and families experiencing domestic violence and/or homelessness.

As noted on their website "Doorways is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization that offers safe shelter to abused, homeless and at-risk women and families. The assistance Doorways provides helps clients develop the tools and resources essential to reclaiming self-sufficiency."

Services Doorway Provides:
Advocacy: In order to effectively advocate for the rights and needs of survivors and victims and ultimately eliminate the incidence of family violence and homelessness, we must advocate for those experiencing them on multiple levels; as individuals, as a community and institutionally through public policy.
Freddie Mac Foundation Family Home: A home and caring atmosphere providing basic life needs and individually-tailored support services that prepare clients to lead secure and self-sufficient lives.
Domestic Violence Program: A home free of abuse for women and their children where goals for safety, physical and mental health needs, finances, employment, housing, childcare and long-term stability are set and achieved.
HomeStart Supportive Housing Program: A new beginning for women and families ready to live independently.
Children's Services: Programs and services specifically designed to address the needs of children who have been displaced and/or victimized.
Financial Independence Track: A financial literacy program that helps homeless women and families understand how to better manage their finances and debt in order to help them escape poverty, domestic violence and homelessness.
Community Education: Doorways provides community education on the topics of homelessness and domestic violence to youth, teen and adult groups and through community wide events.

If you feel your in a dangerous relationship or just need to speak to someone you can call the Hotline, Safehouse, and Court Advocate Services (703) 237-0881 24-hour hotline.

What can you do to help Doorways?

Help at one of the Shelters by answering phones or supporting a family in need of assistance.

Donate money. $250 supplies perishable food for one shelter for a week; $1,000 pays for 60 hours of financial counseling for one women.

Donate items. Click here for a list of much needed items.

To learn more contact Email or call Kelly Blanchard, Volunteer Coordinator, 703-522-8858 x 33

*By the way, Try Change is now on Twitter! Stop by and check us out or follow us as we continue our adventures in the t-shirt and fashion industries.

At Try Change we feel we can all make a difference. For us, we donate 10& of all our profits to Volunteers of America which serves the homeless in the DC,VA & MD areas. We also adopt a homeless family during the holiday season, donate clothes as well as hold an annual Charity yard sale for VOA.

You can find our shirts at:
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
Millennium in Georgetown
Sport Zone- Selected locations
D-Block-Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg MD
First Thangs First- Waldorf MD
Next Level Clothing- Ellicott City MD
Turning Point- Laurel Centre Mall, Laurel MD
New York Fashions- Charlottesville VA
Fashion Kings- Brudgeport WV
Hot Stepper -Martinsburg WV
Urban Flavor- Old Town, Manassas, VA
Heartbeat- Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg MD
Fashion World- Hurlock MD
City Wear- Farmville, VA

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

Twitter

Hungry For Music

Hello everyone. Tonight we are pleased to one again highlight Hungry For Music. Our good friend Saul first introduced us to this wonderful organization last year and are pleased to help promote their 14th Annual Hungry for Crawfish Boil! The Boil will be held Saturday, May 9th Ft. Hunt Park, Alexandria, VA. There will be plenty of food and of course music!

Tickets are $35.00. Click here to purchase tickets

As stated on their website "Hungry For Music is a grassroots volunteer-driven 501 (c)(3) charity organization with a nationwide and international outreach. Hungry for Music's mission is to inspire underprivileged children (and others) by bringing positive musical and creative experiences into their lives. Since becoming a non-profit in 1994, Hungry for Music has brought the healing quality of music to thousands of people through its musical instrument donations, concerts, and workshops. We support our programs through memberships, benefit concerts and events, raffles, and the sale of Hungry for Music produced compact discs."

Hungry for Music's vision for the future is to firmly establish its programs and create a music education center. Once this becomes a reality, Hungry for Music will be primed to provide ongoing programs to enhance young people's creativity and self-esteem.

How you can Help Hungry for Music:
Become a HFM member
Volunteer
Donate an instrument
Donate sheet music
Donate books
Donate music related toys
Buy a HFM compact disc
Buy a HFM t-shirt

At Try Change we feel we can all make a difference. For us, we donate 10& of all our profits to Volunteers of America which serves the homeless in the DC,VA & MD areas. We also adopt a homeless family during the holiday season, donate clothes as well as hold an annual Charity yard sale for VOA.
You can find our shirts at:

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

Millennium in Georgetown

Sport Zone- Selected locations

D-Block-Lakeforest Mall, Gaithersburg MD

First Thangs First- Waldorf MD

Next Level Clothing- Ellicott City MD

Turning Point- Laurel Centre Mall, Laurel MD

New York Fashions- Charlottesville VA

Fashion Kings- Brudgeport WV

Hot Stepper -Martinsburg WV

Urban Flavor- Old Town, Manassas, VA

Heartbeat- Lake Forest Mall, Gaithersburg MD

Fashion World- Hurlock MD

City Wear- Farmville, VA

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 & Chrissie