Schools, partners, funders
Experience Corps impact
Educators, members and community leaders
Answers to your questions
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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

Program Details

Minneapolis/St. Paul Program Details Year of Experience Corps Minnesota project launch: 1995

Schools/Centers served:

Minneapolis: Lucy Craft Laney, Lyndale Community School, Marcy Open, Stonebridge Community School, Whittier

St. Paul: Barack and Michelle Obama Service Learning Elementary, Chelsea Heights, Frost Lake, Higher Ground Academy, Maxfield

Students served: more than 800

Grades/ages of students served: Kindergarten through 3rd grade

Experience Corps participants: 85

Participant hours logged last school year: 16,200

Requirements for volunteers: Age 55 or older, high school diploma or equivalent (minimum), sincere interest in children. Ability to relate well to children and school staff, accept differences of race and culture, easily take supervision and suggestions. Ability to be dependable and flexible, patient with children. Background check required. Weekly commitment of 4-15 hour a week. Volunteers who serve 10 or 15 hours per week receive a small stipend and education award from AmeriCorps. Pre-service and in-service training are provided.
 

Program Goals

 

Partners and Funders

Minneapolis/St. Paul Partners and Funders Lead Agency: Volunteers of America of Minnesota

Community Partners: Minnesota Literacy Council, Behavioral Institute for Children and Adolescents, St. Paul Public School Foundation, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, Hands On Twin Cities, RSVP, MAVA (Minnesota Association of Volunteer Administrators),Minnesota Reading Corps, Area Agency on Aging

Local funders: AXA Foundation, Deluxe Corporation Foundation, General Mills Foundation, Kopp Foundation, RBC Wealth Management, Roundy's Foundation, Staples Foundation, Symantec Corporation, Traveler's Insurance and United Way of the Twin Cities.





 

Schools

Minneapolis/St. Paul Schools
 
Janet Triplett
Project Director
Volunteers of America of Minnesota
Phone: 612-617-7827
jtriplett@voamn.org

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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