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Volunteering

Changing Worlds This nonprofit promotes writing, art, and oral cultural history through school partnership and community outreach programs, teacher workshops, and traveling exhibits. In addition to helping out in schools, volunteers’ contributions include photography, copyediting, Web site design, graphic design, and fund-raising.  329 W. 18th, suite 613, 312-421-8040 or changingworlds.org

Clarke and Glessner House Museums Volunteer docents receive training in architecture, decorative arts, and social history as they relate to each of these two historic houses and their Prairie Avenue neighborhood. Other volunteers do curatorial tasks such as sorting new materials and researching and writing about historical objects.  1800 S. Prairie, 312-326-1480 or glessnerhouse.org

Hostelling International The diverse options for volunteers at the Chicago location of this international nonprofit include working as a tour guide for hostel guests, manning the info desk, helping students cook, making art and coordinating exhibitions for the hostel, and media relations.  24 E. Congress, 312-360-0300 or hichicago.org

International Latino Cultural Center The center needs volunteers for its biggest event of the year, the Chicago Latino Film Festival, to help from April 4-17 with distributing promotional materials, ticket sales, event decorating, crowd control, and cleanup. Volunteers do similar work, as well as administrative tasks, year-round for other programs, including dance, theater, poetry, and visual arts.  33 E. Congress, suite 401, 312-431-1330 or latinoculturalcenter.org

National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum This nonprofit museum, the only one of its kind in the country (see Museums), relies heavily on volunteers, who staff the front desk, help arrange group visits, and work on fund-raisers.  1801 S. Indiana, 312-326-0270 or nvvam.org —Julia Thiel   

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