Monday, October 17, 2011
AARP Joins Forces with Experience Corps
AARP, the largest organization in the country that serves seniors, announced today that it is joining forces with Experience Corps, a leading national service program for older adults.
For a decade Generations Incorporated, which is and will continue to be an independent nonprofit organization, has been affiliated with Experience Corps. Our partnership has thrived because of our shared intergenerational missions, the focus on results for kids and older adults, and our collective vision for the powerful contributions that older adults can make to strengthen communities.
Locally, AARP has also been an invaluable partner to Generations Incorporated. Approximately 30% of our 300 Experience Corps members come to us through AARP Massachusetts. They have been an important partner in many of our different endeavors, while helping to shape the Commonwealth’s agenda for older adults.
This merger leverages the combined strengths and resources of AARP and Experience Corps. It will provide AARP with a signature volunteer program that makes a huge difference in the lives of kids and seniors. Experience Corps, in turn, will have access to thousands of AARP members and other significant resources. Collectively, the new organization will be able to serve hundreds of thousands of children who struggle with basic literacy skills.
Generations Incorporated looks forward to continuing our long affiliation with Experience Corps, now called AARP Experience Corps.
For more information please visit www.aarp.org/experiencecorps.
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Intergeneration Week: An Interview with Bill Wolff
This video is the final post featured in our week-long series for “Intergeneration Week”.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Intergeneration Week: Day 6
This photo is the sixth of seven posts that will be featured in our week-long series for “Intergeneration Week”.
Three of our wonderful Experience Corps members: Edna Little, Ruth Villard and Michel Idiokitas
Thursday, October 6, 2011
Intergeneration Week: Executive Director Mary Gunn on Intergenerational Partnerships
This video is the fifth of seven posts that will be featured in our week-long series for “Intergeneration Week”.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Intergeneration Week: A Story About Mary Austin
This story is the fourth of seven posts that will be featured in our week-long series for “Intergeneration Week”
Mary Austin reading with a student at the South Boston Boys & Girls Club.
Mary Austin was born and raised in South Boston and worked at the Boston Housing Authority for 40 years until she retired at age 65 with chronic back pain. Mary quickly realized that without a motivational activity to keep her socially engaged, her back pain would homebound her, increasingly isolating her from society. She wasn’t sure, however, where to look for opportunities. Then she saw a Generations Incorporated advertisement and picked up the phone to volunteer.
Following her orientation, Mary began tutoring six students at Boston’s Condon Elementary School. Despite her chronic pain, Mary rarely missed a day of service, stating frequently that seeing her mentees motivated her to get up and head to the Condon school each morning. On one such day, the site’s coordinator heard loud music coming from Mary’s tutoring room. Upon inspection, he found Mary and her student dancing to a hip-hop piece, using lyrics the student had written himself.
Mary passed away in 2009. We were sad to lose such a wonderful volunteer and mentor for students in Boston. She served with Generations Incorporated for 10 years and said it was the most important work she’d ever done.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Intergeneration Week: Day 3
This photo is the third of seven posts that will be featured in our week-long series for “Intergeneration Week”
Experience Corps member Rose Napolitano reads with a student at Garfield Elementary School in Revere, MA.
Monday, October 3, 2011
Intergeneration Week: An Interview with Hattie West
This video is the second of seven posts that will be featured in our week-long series for “Intergeneration Week”
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Intergeneration Week: Ms. Ruth’s Story
This story is the first of seven posts that will be featured in our week-long series for “Intergeneration Week”
As the Site Team Leader at the Yawkey Boys & Girls Club, one of my responsibilities is to observe how our volunteers manage the Reading Coaches sessions they have with children. I remember the first time Jason came into our reading room 3 years ago. He had his head down and a big frown on his face. He was very standoffish and it was clear that he had no intentions of reading with us, but when we paired him with Ms. Frankie Robinson we saw a real change.
When Ms. Frankie sees a child who can be a challenge to work with she only sees his potential. She’s a figure whose quiet reserve makes her a balancing force and respected member of our team at the Yawkey. Ms. Frankie sat down with Jason and told him the importance of keeping his head held high, having confidence in his ability, and being polite when he came into the reading room. That year, every member of the team saw a big change in his attitude and willingness to read.
Ms. Frankie and Jason built a strong connection based on mutual respect and trust. Through this relationship Jason completely transformed! He would come in with his head held high, a big smile, and ready to read. He came to realize that he actually enjoyed reading! All through the first year the reading sessions, Ms. Frankie would come and show me what Jason had done and tell me that he was ready for more challenging books. I think one reason their partnership is so successful is because she would ask all of our team members to offer words of encouragement to Jason. Ms. Frankie also made it a point to reach out to Jason’s aunt because she knows how important it is for children to have family support and encouragement. His aunt would actively participate in conversations about Jason’s progress and even came in to watch one of his Reading Coaches sessions. Ms. Frankie not only helped Jason feel proud but she helped instill in him confidence to read.
Ms. Ruth is the Site Team Leader at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club. She has been serving children through our programs for almost 7 years.
