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The big picture
Who, what and where
A vision for our future
Answers to your questions
John Gardner's idea
Collaborators in education, research, aging and community service
Meet the Experience Corps board
Meet the Experience Corps staff
MEMBER PROFILE
Still Forming
Bonds
Raul Castaneda, classroom aide turned Experience Corps member (and award winner), San Francisco

I joined Experience Corps because: When I retired years ago, I was looking for something to do. I saw an Experience Corps flyer at the library, and I called the organization. It's been a great experience working in the schools because I'm a bilingual tutor.

The best part of being an Experience Corps member is : The immediate result I see every day when I work with the children one-on-one.

I like to tell the story about: I have a student this year from Mexico. This last year I've been working with her one-on-one for 45 minutes every day, and she's more open and has friends. Also, last year, I worked with a third-grade boy. He had to go back to Mexico, and I visited him, bringing him letters from his old classmates. I want to visit him every year.

I'm sticking with Experience Corps because: I've learned the last three years that a strong base in elementary school is important for moving from elementary to middle school -- you have to have a strong curriculum.

Read about Raul's recent award!

"It's like a job. You have goals. You see results" -Yuriy, Experience Corps Member

Experience Corps National Staff

Eric Boven, Director of Finance and Administration
Michele Deadwyler, Grants Accountant
Elizabeth Fox, Senior Advisor
Patrice Gerideau, Training Manager
Gail Kutner, Evaluation and Research Manager
Lindsay Moore, Communications Manager
Christina New-Watling, Senior Program Manager
Susanna Rosenbaum, Operations Manager
Lester Strong, CEO
Joanna Wald, Program Officer
Amy Zandarski-Pica, Director of Programs

Alex Harris, Photographer and Duke University Professor of the Practice of Public Policy and Documentary Studies

Eric Boven

is Director of Finance and Administration for Experience Corps. Prior to joining the national office, Eric directed the fundraising efforts for Generations Incorporated, Boston's host to Experience Corps, from 2001-2006. In that position he played a key role in developing systems to support the program's growth from 40 members to 300 members. Most recently, Eric was Development Manager for The Child and Family Network Centers, an award winning early childhood education program in Alexandria, VA. Eric is a former AmeriCorps*VISTA member, and he holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science from Calvin College.
E-mail: eboven [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6165

Michele Deadwyler

is Grants Accountant at Experience Corps, where she is responsible for financial management of subgrant awards. Prior to joining the Experience Corps team, Michele worked as a Grants Technician for the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Division of Discretionary Grants. During her three year tenure with DHHS, she managed and was responsible for properly closing out 250-plus migrant, tribal, and education grants. Prior to her employment with Health and Human Services, Michele worked as the Principal Cashier for the United States Peace Corps where she was responsible for preparing and funding new volunteers for departure to their designated locations. Michele holds a BS in Accounting from Strayer University and is currently pursuing a Master's in Human Resources at Strayer University.
E-mail: mdeadwyler [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6196

Elizabeth S. Fox

has worked as a human services entrepreneur and administrator the past 25 years to improve services and opportunities for older adults. Since 2001, Fox has been Experience Corps's Director of Policy Development and Senior Advisor. In that capacity, she develops federal policy initiatives, manages Congressional relations, and promotes the Experience Corps mission nationally through networking and speaking. In 1999, she founded Experience Corps Washington DC, raised local funds to support it, then directed its operations for two years. From 1982 to 1998, Fox was executive director of IONA Senior Services, working to make IONA a model of community-based service and advocacy for seniors. Fox was responsible for program development and management, a $2.4 million budget, a staff of 50 professionals and 700 volunteers, and many public and private partnerships. She led a five-year community planning effort and secured $9.5 million in property and gifts to create a new state-of-the-art center. From 1979-82, Fox was founder and executive director of Christian Communities Group Homes, a model housing program for poverty-level seniors. She currently serves as chair of the group's council. Fox has a B.A. in philosophy from Wellesley College and an M.A. in social work from Catholic University of America.
E-mail: efox [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6182

Patrice Gerideau

is the Experience Corps Training Manager. Most recently, she served as Training and Special Projects Manager for Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City. Over the course of her career, she has designed and facilitated workshops for numerous organizations including the American Red Cross, the Leadership Program, Today's Students Tomorrow's Teachers, Grand Street Settlement, the Careers in Culinary Arts Program, Harlem Children's Zone, and the Chosen Vessel Rites of Passage Program. Some of the topic areas she has covered in the past are communication, volunteer management, conflict management, diversity, group dynamics, teambuilding, leadership, and various youth-specific topics. With over 10 years of training and development experience, Patrice has served over 4000 clients. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Magazine Journalism from the University of Georgia.
E-mail: pgerideau [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6195

Gail Kutner

is the Manager of Evaluation and Research with expertise in social science research and gerontology. Prior to coming to Experience Corps, Gail Kutner served as a senior research advisor at AARP for 21 years where she managed all aspects of research studies, from designing projects through the presentation of findings to AARP leadership. Kutner evaluated multiple volunteer programs during her time at AARP, including managing, "Time and Money: An In-Depth Look at 45+ Volunteers and Donors." This was one of the first studies to comprehensively examine volunteering and giving by adults 45 years of age and older. Kutner was educated at the University of Michigan from which she has a Master's in Social Work with a concentration in Program Evaluation and also a Specialist in Aging Certificate.
E-mail: gkutner [at] experiencecorps [dot] org

Lindsay Moore

is Communications Manager at Experience Corps. Prior to this position, Lindsay worked as Communications and Membership Manager at Generations United where she wrote, edited, and disseminated the organization’s magazine, e-newsletters, and other materials. She previously worked as a television news writer and production assistant in Seattle and as a middle- and high-school English and social studies teacher. She graduated from Emory University and was selected as a contributor at the Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference.
E-mail: lmoore [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6159

Christina New-Watling

is an Experience Corps Program Manager. Before joining the Experience Corps team, Christina was Project Coordinator for the Center for Survivor Agency and Justice, a national domestic violence advocacy organization in Washington D.C. Christina has also held the position of Senior Case Manager at Safe Horizon, a crime victim advocacy organization in New York. While there, she worked with survivors of domestic violence in the Queens Criminal and Supreme Court Program. Previously, she held internships providing direct services to the mentally ill, at The Bridge, Inc., a mental health organization, and to families at The New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children. Christina holds a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Delaware and an M.S.W. from Hunter College School of Social Work in New York.
E-mail: cnewwatling [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6193

Susanna Rosenbaum

is Experience Corps's Operations Manager, supporting the Director of Finance and Administration to ensure the smooth functioning of systems and day-to-day activities, and serving as a resource to all national office staff. Susanna has six years of non-profit administration experience. Previously, she was instrumental in developing Hope Corps, the international volunteer program of World Hope International. Most recently, Susanna served as Office Administrator and Membership Coordinator at the Arts Council of Fairfax County, supporting artists and arts organizations and advocating for the arts and sustainable funding in Fairfax County. Susanna has a BA in English from Houghton College.
E-mail: srosenbaum [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6190

Lester Strong

is the CEO of Experience Corps.  Over the past ten years he has been a leader in educational entrepreneurship and development. He was most recently the Chief Development Officer for the BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life) Foundation, which provides tutoring and mentoring services to 12,000 underserved children.  His efforts doubled the foundation's endowment and propelled expansion from three to five cities: Baltimore, Boston, Detroit, New York and Springfield, MA.  A long-time proponent and practitioner of meditation, Lester was also CEO of the SYDA Foundation, an educational organization that provides instruction in yoga and meditation in 46 countries. He spent 25-years in the television industry as an executive, producer, reporter and anchor in Charlotte (WBTV), Atlanta (WSB), New York (ABC Entertainment) and Boston (WHDH).  His work earned him a host of national and regional awards, including five regional Emmy Awards and a White House commendation from President Ronald Reagan.  Lester served as a member of the board of directors of Civic Ventures and on the Board of Visitors at Davidson College.  Lester holds a bachelor's degree from Davidson College and is a graduate of the Columbia Business School's Institute for Non-Profit Management.
E-mail: lstrong [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6164

Joanna Wald

is the Program Officer at Experience Corps, providing support to the Senior Program Manager in the areas of grant compliance, program quality control, and technical assistance. Previously, Joanna was an AmeriCorps*VISTA with the Experience Corps affiliate office in the District of Columbia. Here, she worked on recruitment strategy and implementation, communications, and volunteer relations. Most recently, she was a member of the Fair Housing Project at the Washington Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs, a non-profit, civil rights law firm, where she coordinated the project's intakes and provided general litigation support to project attorneys. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Environmental Studies from Washington College, MD.
E-mail: jwald [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6198

Amy Zandarski-Pica

is the Director of Programs for Experience Corps with expertise in building the capacities of individuals and communities through direct service and advocacy. Prior to coming to Experience Corps, Zandarski-Pica served for six years as the Program Coordinator for the Georgetown Ministry Center in Washington, DC, which engages homeless individuals and helps transition them from the street to housing. Most recently, Zandarski-Pica completed graduate fieldwork in program management and policy development at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Special Needs Assistance. Zandarski-Pica holds a Master's in Social Work from the University of Maryland-Baltimore, with a concentration in Management and Community Organization.
E-mail: azandpica [at] experiencecorps [dot] org
Phone: 202-478-6123


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Celebrating People in Action!
"In the 21st century, the best anti-poverty program around is a world-class education. And in this country, the success of our children cannot depend more on where they live than on their potential."

-President Obama, "State of the Union," January 27, 2010
"Together, we can continue our commitment to education innovation by investing in Experience Corps, a program that helps elementary students by increasing the number of older adult tutors and mentors in the classroom. Independent research shows that Experience Corps works: Third-grade reading and math scores are rising and students feel safer at school."

-Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, State of the City Speech, February 22, 2010