Experience
Experience Corps leverages the experience of adults over age 55 by placing them in classrooms around the country to mentor children in reading and writing. Launched as a pilot program in only five cities during the mid-nineties, Experience Corps has since expanded to over 22 cities serving children nationwide.
Former Health, Education, and Welfare Secretary John Gardner formed the idea for Experience Corps in the late 1980s. Securing $1 million in federal funding for the program, Gardner piloted the program in just 12 schools in densely-populated urban areas.
It was a huge success.
Corps volunteers donate time in their own communities, bringing a huge reserve of talent, experience, and commitment to their local schools. Experience Corps uses their skills to enrich the lives of young children.
Experience Corps volunteers must dedicate a minimum of 15 hours a week throughout the school year, spending the majority of their time in elementary schools. Once recruited, volunteers spend the bulk of their time working one-on-one with students.
The program has succeeded largely because of the huge outpouring of older Americans eager to contribute their time to the project.
One Experience Corps member, Teresa Gresham of Baltimore, shares her story:
One little boy would always resist my help. Day after day, he watched me. One day when I was helping others he came over and said, "I'm ready. Will you help me now?" He needed to see that it was ok to work with me. I knew he needed to watch me with others before he could trust me. He was a loner. When we began to work together I said to him, "See? Everybody needs help." I wanted him to know that he wasn't alone. Now he raises his hand in class and takes risks. He knows it is ok to need help.
