Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC)

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Lutheran Volunteer Corps (LVC)

Lutheran Volunteer Corps, a community of faith, unites people to work for peace with justice. Our mission is to unite people to work for peace with justice.

Visit us at www.lutheranvolunteercorps.org or at https://linktr.ee/lutheranvolunteercorps Lutheran Volunteer Corps is a faith-based, full-time service and leadership program operating in 5 cities across the United States. We do this by placing Volunteers in full-time positions at social justice organizations for one year. All our volunteers live together in community and practice simple and sustai

nable living. LVC partners with non-profit organizations in 5 cities where volunteers will live and serve: Baltimore, MD; Wilmington, DE; Washington, DC; Minneapolis, MN; St. Paul, MN. Volunteers live in intentional communities of 4-7 people. Members of Lutheran Volunteer Corps unite their time and talents with the time and talents of society's marginalized people. LVC Volunteers serve in such areas as AIDS/HIV, addiction and recovery, anti-racism, children and youth, community development, education, employment, the environment, food and hunger, LGBTQ rights, health care, housing and homelessness, immigration and refugees, international solidarity, legal assistance, peace, and more. LVC Volunteers receive a stipend which covers housing, food, transportation, health insurance, and personal expenses. A weeklong national & local orientation and ongoing LVC program days are also an integral part of the program. Volunteers are guaranteed two weeks of paid vacation. Volunteers receive support from a full-time Regional Director who assists the volunteer with concerns and questions regarding their placement and community. LVC is on a Journey to an Inclusive Community, forming and strengthening alliances among people of many cultures and communities, and intentionally dismantling racism within LVC, the church, and society. As a Reconciling in Christ organization, LVC welcomes and encourages the participation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people in all aspects of LVC. LVC volunteers come from a wide variety of faith backgrounds, and do not need to be Lutheran. Married and committed partners are welcome to apply. While there is no upper age limit, volunteers need to be at least 21 to participate. The program begins in mid-August of each year. The application deadlines are January 15 and April 1. Apply online now: http://www.lutheranvolunteercorps.org/index.cfm/apply-today. Contact us at 612-787-8844 or [email protected] for more information.

08/21/2026

Dear Friends of LVC,

I am honored and excited to introduce myself as the new President of Lutheran Volunteer Corps.

For me, this role is deeply personal. As an LVC Volunteer in 1993–94, my year of service was both transformative and formative, shaping a lifelong commitment to social justice, community, and service. Many of my closest friendships and most meaningful relationships began through the shared LVC experience, and the lessons I learned continue to guide me today.

Over the past three decades, my work has taken me through nonprofit, clinical, and academic settings—from direct service and clinical practice to teaching, mentoring, and organizational leadership. Along the way, I’ve carried with me values central to LVC: a commitment to equity and anti-racism, a strong sense of community, and a belief in walking alongside others in service and solidarity.

My experience as an LVC Volunteer laid the foundation for a leadership approach that has grown and deepened over time—shaped by humility, deep listening, and trust in the power of people coming together around a shared purpose.

As I begin this new chapter with LVC, I am excited to learn from and connect with our Fellows, alumni, partners, donors, Board, and staff. Together, we have an opportunity to build on LVC's strong foundation, expand opportunities for service, strengthen our partnerships, and share more broadly the impact of this remarkable community.
One of the enduring gifts of LVC is the way it creates connections that last long after a year of service ends. I am grateful to be returning to this community in a new role, and I look forward to meeting many of you and hearing your stories in the months ahead.

Thank you for welcoming me into this role. I look forward to all we will accomplish together as we continue advancing LVC's mission.
With gratitude,

Lisa Kiesel,
President, Lutheran Volunteer Corps

08/20/2026

Oh, no! Did I already spill some of the beans? 🫣🫗

Good thing we've got a lot more to share with you. 😅

Due to an exceptional interest in the D.C. area, we are moving Platz House from Alexandria, VA to Washington D.C.! 📍

We are SO excited to have two houses in D.C., expanding opportunities for our Fellows to form close bonds with other Fellowship Houses. 🤝

08/18/2026

LVC is proud to introduce Olga to our followers. Olga is a Legislative Associate at Government Accountability Project.

Olga Gatesi is a public policy professional committed to advancing justice, equity, and the public interest through advocacy, research, and community-centered work. She currently serves as a Legislative Associate at Government Accountability Project, where she supports efforts to strengthen government accountability, transparency, and protections for those who speak out against wrongdoing.

Prior to this role, Ms. Gatesi worked as a Policy Research Intern at Bread for the World Policy Research Institute, where she researched policies affecting immigrant families, food access, and economic justice. She also served as a Public Policy Intern at the National Academy of Public Administration, focusing on federal governance challenges and public administration. Additionally, she has experience providing direct legal support through Legal Action of Wisconsin and community advocacy work, assisting individuals navigating immigration matters, family law issues, domestic violence cases, and language access barriers.

Ms. Gatesi earned her Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from Lawrence University in 2026 and participated in the Washington Semester Program at American University, where she studied public policy and government in Washington, D.C. Born in Rwanda and raised in the United States, she is passionate about immigrant justice, human rights, and building more inclusive systems that serve communities. She is fluent in English and speaks Kinyarwanda, Kirundi, and Kinyamulenge.

08/17/2026

LVC is proud to introduce Autumn to our supporters! Autumn is an International Justice Program Assistant at The Advocates for Human Rights.

Autumn is a young advocate from Denver, Colorado. She has watched multiple programs bloom to help vulnerable populations around the United States, working with immigrant and migrant communities to create strategies that materialize justice and tenacious ideas. She knows that organizing is essential in the success of social movements and cannot wait to brainstorm ways to get to know the people of Minneapolis.

08/13/2026

See another side of you with LVC. ✨

LVC Fellows find themselves inside their communities... in direct service, in legal advocacy, in community development, and so, so much more! 💚

If you're seeking a meaningful experience in social justice, we'd love to help you find the right one. 🧩

New positions will be available this Fall for our '26/'27 Fellowship Year. We'd love to see your name in our application pile. 🙌

08/12/2026

If you've visited the LVC website recently, you might have noticed it's a little... slow. 🐢🐇

We're making some big changes at LVC this Fall, and one of our first projects is rebuilding the LVC website. 💻

(Are you also hearing the Hallelujah chorus, or is that just me? 🙌)

Please bear with us during these changes! It takes a lot of hands to move a mountain. ⛰️

We are SO excited to share our new vision with you. 🔮 Thank you for your constant support!

08/11/2026

What does simple, sustainable, intentional living mean? 🌍

Honestly, there's no "one-size-fits-all" answer. It's a process of examining your privilege and resource usage in the context of your environment. 🌱

It's knowing the value of a grocery. 😋

Not just what you paid for it, but what it costs the planet for you to have, during this season, where you are living. 🍉

It's valuing your impact against your convenience. ⚖️

Maybe, you'd save 20 minutes from getting an Uber, but maybe that's not worth the ecological trade-off. 🌳

Yeah, it's turning off lights you're not using. 💡 And, it's so much more than that.

It's a way of being that lasts a lifetime and stretches far beyond your actions. ☀️

How do you make efforts to live simply, sustainably, and intentionally?

08/10/2026

Alright... I'll say it. We're really going to miss this class of Fellows. 🥲

Yeah, yeah, we say that every year, but this class deserves their flowers. 💐

Our Fellows in D.C., Alexandria, and especially Minneapolis were called to serve during an exceptionally difficult chapter for their communities and neighbors. 🏘️

Their commitment to deliberate compassion, grit, and tenacity both humbles us and reinforces our mission. 💚

We are so proud of the Class of '25/'26. We can't wait to introduce you to our newest Class later this month. 💫

08/07/2026

We are always in need of donations of furniture, groceries, and hot meals for our DC and Minneapolis houses! 💚

As our 47th Class of Fellows begins their Service Year, we would LOVE to join your church's or faith community's mailing list or newsletter! ⛪

If you think your church might be interested in featuring LVC in their newsletter, reach out to Sarah at [email protected].

08/06/2026

A little throwback to a beautiful party for our 46th Class of Fellows, hosted by our Board Member Andrew and his husband, Brian.

Our Fellows got to speak with LVC Alum Mary Sorteberg and Senator Jeff Merkley about the future of our nation and the increasing need for Service Years.

Address

1226 Vermont Avenue NW
Washington D.C., DC
20005

Website

http://lutheranvolunteercorps.org/volunteer/

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