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Washington Literacy Council

This is often called the season of giving. For many of us, that means opening up our wallets and slapping down some plastic to buy presents for loved ones. But for others "giving" means sharing time and energy with people they might not even know. To start the show today we offer some alternative ways to channel your holiday generosity.

We begin with a program that simply couldn’t pursue its mission without the efforts of volunteers. The Washington Literacy Council teaches District residents how to read. It matches approximately 180 volunteers with students for one-on-one tutoring sessions. Over the past year, the literacy program expanded its services with intensive group classes...but volunteers have their work cut out for them. The National Institute For Literacy estimates that 37 percent of DC adults are in the lowest literacy category and need training to be able to handle basic reading and writing skills used in everyday life. WAMU's Lisa Nurnberger prepared this report.

Alternative Gifts

And sticking with the theme of generosity, here's another gift-giving idea. While side-stepping the flying cashmere at the department store sales racks, we decided to ask a slightly DIFFERENT question this year: what do you get the person who has…NOTHING? Well, the organization Alternative Gifts of Greater Washington has some ideas - everything from buying bus tickets for the homeless, to providing money for safe taxi rides for women escaping domestic violence. Their alternative gift fairs provide a way to do a bit of good for the community, while still flexing those shopping muscles. WAMU's Stephanie Kaye spoke with J. McCay, volunteer organizer for Alternative Gifts of Greater Washington.

Commentary by Fred Fiske - High Hopes

WAMU Senior Commentator Fred Fiske searches for one thing he can really be great at...and finds chicken wings and a 93-pound Chinese competitor.

Lonnie Bunch and a new Smithsonian

The National Museum of African American History and Culture isn't a museum yet. The Smithsonian institution-to-be has no scheduled opening date, and it isn't known where it will actually be located. But Director Lonnie Bunch has plenty to keep him occupied until that day. Small tasks like building a staff, raising money and deciding on that pesky location. He's no stranger to the Smithsonian - he was a curator and an administrator with the National Museum of American History from 1989 to 2000. WAMU's Sam Litzinger spoke with Bunch about his first few months on the job.

Platinum Green

We all know its not easy being green. But if you’re a building, it’s even harder to be Platinum. That’s the top grade an environmentally friendly building can get under the US Green Building Council’s LEED system. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Though hundreds of buildings have been either Certified or awarded Silver or Gold status…so far, only 10 buildings in the entire country are Platinum. But the folks at Sidwell Friends School here in DC are hoping their new middle school will be next. WAMU’s Sidsel Overgaard toured the building site with Head of School Bruce Stuart and Assistant Head Mike Saxenian (sax-IN-ian). Saxenian explained what it takes to make a building so green, it turns platinum.

Mondo DC - The Awakening Giant

He's 70-feet long, half-buried in the ground and doesn't look very happy about it. You have to go out of your way to find him - all the way down to Haines Point, the southern tip of DC's East Potomac Park. He's the "Awakening Giant" - a 5-part cast aluminum sculpture, assembled to look like a man struggling to escape from the earth. As part of our continuing series of visits to the Washington region's most unusual tourist attractions, we met up with Jeff Bagato, author of the book Mondo DC. David Furst found him standing next to the giant's left hand.

Music Review by Mark Jenkins - Bliss!

Musically, Washington has been known at various times for such eminently American music styles as country, bluegrass, and funk. Yet DC has long been one of those U.S. cities with a special affinity for British pop. According to Critic Mark Jenkins, the latest example is a band called the Positions, whose style reflects music made in the U.K. two decades ago.

Mark Jenkins also reviews music for Blender and The Washington Post.