Brenda Siler

This year, AARP Foundation is again providing free tax assistance and preparation for Washington, DC taxpayers with low to moderate income through the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide, in its 48th year, is the nation’s largest free tax assistance and preparation service, giving special attention the older population. You do not need to be a member of AARP or a retiree to use this service.

Carter G. Woodson, Ph.D., was born to former slaves in 1875. His parents, Anne Eliza (Riddle) and James Henry Woodson, could neither read nor write. Instead of going to school, he stayed home and worked the family farm in New Canton, Va. Having largely taught himself, he didn’t attend high school until he was 20 years old.

Washington, DC — To coincide with Tax Identity Theft Awareness Week (January 26-30, 2015), the AARP Fraud Watch Network is launching an education effort to help people protect themselves from tax scams, releasing a new video, a tip sheet and encouraging people to take advantage of AARP’s free tax preparation services.

Do you know what your retirement will look like?

Share your time and expertise volunteering on behalf of the District's older residents. You are invited to spend time with AARP DC volunteering as team leaders for AARP DC projects, onsite at our events, as an office helper, as workshop presenters, writing feature stories for the AARP DC blog, or monitoring legislative issues that come before the City Council. Bilingual (English-Spanish or English-Chinese) volunteers are especially needed, but all are welcomed. Sign up today to be an AARP DC volunteer by going to: http://bit.ly/1ALO05C or by calling Jacqueline Jordan at (202) 434-7703.

A chilly, damp night in early December didn’t keep people away from Takoma Station Tavern in northwest Washington, DC where AARP members, prospective members and friends gathered to celebrate the holiday season with an evening of "Networking with All That Jazz". The AARP DC experience featured jazz musician, entrepreneur, and Washington, DC native Marcus Johnson and his ensemble. The jazz group provided the entertainment with original music from Johnson's vast repertoire plus some unique stylings of familiar holiday tunes.

Where are you now in life and where do you want to go?

With the start of each new year, we think about what we want to do differently. AARP's Life Reimagined is all about possibilities – envisioning them, evaluating them and making them reality. Attend one of the January workshops (January 22 or 27, 2015) to receive guidance and resources for your life, along with support from your peers pursuing similar goals for work, relationships, health and finance. Sign up for one of these two-hour Life Reimagined Checkups that are offered by AARP DC and explore your "What's Next?"

Low-to-moderate-income taxpayers, especially those 60 and over, are served by the AARP Foundation Tax-Aide volunteers at approximately 11 locations throughout Washington, DC. Sites with free tax assistance include libraries and senior centers. Last year, volunteers helped more than 3,110 citizens file their local and federal tax returns. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is offered in conjunction with the IRS.

AARP DC is back with another networking and Life Reimagined for Work gathering with Marcus Johnson!