Washington, D.C

‘The needs are really, really enormous’: High demand for volunteer tutors for DC-area students – WTOP News

Published

1 year ago

September 9, 2024

‘The needs are really, really enormous’: High demand for volunteer tutors for DC-area students – WTOP News

With classes back in session, a major drive is underway to recruit a legion of volunteer tutors needed for students throughout the D.C. area.

A booth for the D.C. Tutoring & Mentoring Initiative at Adams Morgan Day in D.C.(WTOP/Dick Uliano)

With classes back in session, a major drive is underway to recruit a legion of volunteer tutors needed for students throughout the D.C. area.

At the Adams Morgan Day festival on Sunday, the D.C. Tutoring and Mentoring Initiative spread word about the need for 60,000 volunteer tutors and mentors needed across the region. Only 4,000 were enlisted last year, according to Tom Pollak, the organization’s executive director.

“We’ve got two out of three kids reading below grade level, even more needing help with math,” Pollak told WTOP. “We support more than 50 different non-profit organizations and schools and we need folks who can help out just one to two hours a week.”

On Saturday, at a D.C. After-School Fair at the Deanwood Community Center in Northeast D.C., parents and students browsed dozens of tables of information on after-school programs. Many of the more than 60 offerings on display were devoted to tutoring.

“Our primary focus is STEM and STEAM: science, technology, engineering, math and changing the minds of the youth in Washington D.C. to move in a more positive direction,” said Amos Drummond, operational manager of Positive Focus Foundation, a nonprofit group that tutors D.C. students.

At the end of each school day, tutors from Drummond’s group fan out to D.C. schools where they sit with kids as they do their homework.

“Our main goal is when parents pick the young people up at the end of the day, the homework is already completed, and that builds confidence, and self esteem and cognitive skills in the youth…the kids do their homework and that takes pressure off the parents,” said Drummond.

The D.C. Teaching and Mentoring Initiative matches volunteers with 50 partner tutoring and mentoring programs in the District and the suburbs.

Some volunteers come in during the school day, while others work with students right after classes end or later in the evening.

“We have flexible programs and virtual programs where you could connect up with your mentee on the weekend at a local coffee shop or at a location that worked for you,” Pollak said. “A lot of our partners can also get free tickets to local sporting events, things like that. So you can take your mentee, could go to the local sporting event, or go for a hike, get a lot of different options. The needs are really, really enormous.”

Because the school year is young, Pollak said the ensuing days and weeks are good times to become involved.

“I can’t tell you how fulfilling it is, how satisfying it is … working with an elementary school kid in third grade, maybe who’s struggled to learn how to read … or your mentoring a high school student or middle school student.” said Pollak.

“You don’t have to have a college degree either,” Pollak added. “Just caring adults that’s what we say is the main criteria.”

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Washington, D.C

D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

Published

10 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

D.C. Police Chief manipulated crime data; new House Oversight report

TNND — A new report from the House Oversight Committee alleges former D.C. Police Chief Pamela Smith pressured officers to manipulate crime data. The committee released the report on Sunday, less than a week after Smith announced she was stepping down.

You’re lulling people into this false sense of security. They might go places they wouldn’t ordinarily go. They might do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do,” said Betsy Brantner Smith, spokesperson for the National Police Association.

Included in the report were transcribed interviews with the commanders of all seven D.C. patrol districts and the former commander currently on suspended leave. One was asked, “Over the last few years, has there been any internal pressure to simply bring down crime statistics?” Their response, “Yes, I mean extremethere’s always been pressure to keep crime down, but the focus on statistics… has come in with this current administration.”

Every single person who lives, works, or visits the District of Columbia deserves a safe city, yet it’s now clear the American people were deliberately kept in the dark about the true crime rates in our nation’s capital,” House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) said in a statement.

“They are going to have to regain the public trust. Again, this is a huge integrity issue,” Brantner Smith said.

Among the reports findings, Smith’s alleged pressured campaign against staff led to inaccurate crime data. Smith punished or removed officers for reporting accurate crime numbers. Smith fostered a toxic culture and President Trump’s federal law enforcement surge in D.C. is working.

While Smith has not yet publicly responded to the report, she’s previously denied allegations of manipulating crime data, saying the investigation did not play a factor into her decision to step down at the end of the year.

My decision was not factored into anything with respect to, other than the fact that it’s time. I’ve had 28 years in law enforcement. I’ve had some time to think with my family,” Smith said earlier this month.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser also released a statement Monday, writing in part that “the interim report betrays its bias from the outset, admitting that it was rushed to release.”

According to crime stats from the Metropolitan Police Department, since the federal law enforcement surge started in August, total violent crime is down 26%. Homicides are down 12% and carjackings 37%.

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Washington, D.C

National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

Published

22 hours ago

December 15, 2025

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National Menorah Lighting in DC dedicated to Bondi Beach victims

The first candle lit on the National Menorah near the White House in Washington, D.C., marked the first night of Hanukkah — and solemnly honored victims of the Bondi Beach shooting.

The National Menorah Lighting was held Sunday night, hours after gunmen opened fire on a crowd celebrating the beginning of Hanukkah at Australia’s iconic Bondi Beach. Fifteen people were killed, including a 10-year-old girl, a rabbi and a Holocaust survivor, and over three dozen others were being treated at hospitals.

Authorities in Australia said it was a terrorist attack targeting Jewish people.

Organizers behind the National Menorah Lighting said the news from Australia, along with the bitter cold, forced them to consider whether or not to hold the annual event.

After consulting with local law enforcement, National Menorah Lighting organizers decided to hold the event and honor the victims.

Several D.C.-area police departments issued statements confirming there are no known threats to local communities, but are monitoring just in case.

Montgomery County Executive Mark Elrich condemned the attack and said community safety is a priority.

“Acts of antisemitism, especially those meant to intimidate families and communities during moments of gathering and celebration, must be called out clearly and condemned without hesitation,” Elrich said. “I have heard directly from members of Montgomery County’s Jewish community who are shaken and concerned, and I want them to know that their safety is a priority.”

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Washington, D.C

READ: Report accuses DC Police Chief Pamela Smith of ‘fear, intimidation, threats’

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

READ: Report accuses DC Police Chief Pamela Smith of ‘fear, intimidation, threats’

WASHINGTON (7News) — Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Chief Pamela Smith is facing yet another scathing report accusing her of manipulating crime data in the city.

The 22-page document from the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform comes less than a week after a separate draft report from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and days after Chief Smith turned in her resignation.

The main difference between the Congressional report and the DOJ report is that this new one, released on December 14, contains transcribed interviews directly with commanders from all seven MPD patrol districts.

RELATED | DC Police settles with former employee over claims that crime numbers were manipulated

The testimony reveals how Chief Smith chastised and, in some cases, publicly humiliated staff in crime briefings.

“The Committee’s investigation heard consistent testimony about frustration and exhaustion among MPD commanders and the manifestation of a culture of fear, intimidation, threats, and retaliation by Chief Smith. Often, these manifestations were triggered whenever the Chief was presented with what she considers ‘bad news,’ particularly when that news pertained to any rise in public crime statistics. Chief Smith, according to testimonies, regularly took action against her subordinates who failed to aid in the preservation of her public image,” the report states on page two.

RELATED | Trump announces probe into DC police for inflating crime stats amid safety claims

The committee launched the investigation in August when whistleblowers came forward with concerns about data manipulation.

One line of questioning in the report states:

Question: Over the last few years, has there been any internal pressure to simply bring down crime statistics?

Answer: Yes, I mean extreme… there’s always been pressure to keep crime down, but the focus on statistics… has come in with this current administration or regime, and you know, that has manifested publicly.

7News reached out to Mayor Bowser’s Office for a comment in response to the report. A spokesperson provided the following statement:

The men and women of the Metropolitan Police Department run towards danger every day to reduce homicides, carjackings, armed robberies, sexual assaults, and more. The precipitous decline in crime in our city is attributable to their hard work and dedication and Chief Smith’s leadership.

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I thank Chief Smith for her commitment to the safety of D.C. residents and for holding the Metropolitan Police Department to an exacting standard, and I expect no less from our next Chief of Police.

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