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

Printer Friendly
 

Program Impact

Minneapolis/St. Paul Program Impact In the 2007-2008 school year:

  • 95% of teachers agreed that having an Experience Corps member in the classroom improved the overall learning environment.

  • 100% of Experience Corps members reported being satisfied with their experience.

  • 85% of members agree that their service was useful to the community.

  • 100% of members agreed that their service was useful to the school and the students served.

  • 98% of members say that Experience Corps enabled them to better understand the needs of students.

  • 96% agreed that tutoring with Experience Corps increased their understanding of the value of service.

    •  

    Awards

    Experience Corps member Frank Johnson was chosen as one of the "Eleven Who Care" volunteer award winners from local TV channel, KARE 11 (NBC) in 2002.

    Experience Corps member Valdeck Jackson received a 2005 MetLife Foundation Older Volunteers Enrich America Award, one of the highest national honors available to older Americans in service. Valdeck has been an Experience Corps member since the organization's inception and has given more than 4,500 hours of service to Lucy Laney Elementary School in Minneapolis.
     
    Janet Triplett
    Project Director
    Volunteers of America of Minnesota
    Phone: 612-617-7827
    jtriplett@voamn.org

    Leave a message here:

    Name

    Email

    Message



    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