By Katrina Avila
At Serve Your City/Ward 6 Mutual Aid (SYC/W6MA), we are dedicated to supporting Black and Brown youth and families across Washington, DC, by ensuring they have the resources they need to thrive. Our work is grounded in a deep commitment to the safety, dignity, and well-being of our community. Through after-school programs, academic support, and essential services, we strive to create lasting impact.
Since our founding, we’ve prioritized meeting urgent needs—distributing food, cleaning supplies, school materials, digital devices, clothing, and household goods to those most impacted by systemic injustice.
Our ongoing collaboration with Christ United Methodist Church (CUMC) in Southwest DC, alongside other grassroots partners, has been vital to this mission. With the continued support of our volunteers and donors, we lead supply drives, coordinate food distribution with CUMC, and develop new initiatives rooted in collective care. Together, we show what solidarity in action looks like.
Get Involved – Here’s How You Can Support SYC/W6MA:
• Get ready for the 2025-2026 school year with SYC/W6MA! Every child in DC deserves equitable resources for success, joy, and support. As we approach the new school year, SYC/W6MA is dedicated to ensuring that Black and Brown K-12 students thrive with new backpacks, digital devices, school supplies, and surprises for an amazing back-to-school experience! Support our sixth annual #WeKeepUsSafe Back to School Bash and help uplift these students with essential tools for a successful academic journey. Visit serveyourcitydc.org/b2sb to learn more and donate!
• Volunteer as a Virtual Tutor: Join SYC/W6MA’s Free School for Unlimited Youth program, offering FREE virtual tutoring for Black and Brown K-12 students across DC. We’re seeking dedicated college students, graduate students, and professionals to tutor in various subjects. Interested? Sign up at bit.ly/sycvolunteertutor or email us at youthenrichment@serveyourcitydc.org to learn more.
• Strengthen Our Impact with a Donation: Your financial support is crucial to sustaining our work. Donations made at bit.ly/sycw6ma-donate directly contribute to our programs and outreach efforts, including our support of CUMC’s 5000 Food Ministry, which helps combat food insecurity in Southwest DC. Every contribution enables us to purchase food in bulk, maximizing our ability to serve those in need.
• Stay Connected: Keep up with our latest programs and initiatives by visiting serveyourcitydc.org. Together, we keep us safe!