Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What does Generations Incorporated do?
A: Generations Incorporated engages older adults in effective programs that inspire students and dramatically increase their literacy skills. We recruit retirees from their local communities to provide one-on-one reading support to children. Our volunteers provide additional resources to public schools and afterschool programs. Each year, we engage nearly 350 volunteers in service to more than 2,000 children.
Q: What is Experience Corps? How are you affiliated with Experience Corps?
A: Experience Corps is an award-winning national program, engaging people over the age of 55 in meeting their communities’ greatest challenges. Today, in 22 cities across the country, 2,000 Experience Corps members tutor and mentor elementary school students, help teachers in the classroom, and lead after-school enrichment activities. Independent research shows that Experience Corps boosts student academic performance, helps schools and youth-serving organizations become more successful, and enhances the well-being of the older adults in the process. Generations Incorporated became an Experience Corps affiliate in 1998. In 2002 we received the seed funding to grow our Experience Corps program by leaps & bounds, expanding to become one of the largest Experience Corps programs in the nation.
Q: How do you know your program works?
A: In 2009, researchers from Washington University in St. Louis revealed that students in our program make 60% more progress in key literacy skills than non-participating students. If you’d like to read the full report, please click here (PDF format).
And according to researchers at Washington University and Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, our Experience Corps members reported key improvements in mental and physical health as a result of their service, including increased strength, more physical activity, larger social networks and higher self-esteem.
Q: I’m interested in becoming a donor. How can I learn more?
A: If you’d like to see our programs in action, join us on a site visit! We would be happy to give you a tour of one of our programs and can accommodate either work-day or afternoon schedules. For more information, please call Tara Finnegan, our Director of Resource Development, at 617.482.4651.
Q: I’m an older adult interested in becoming a volunteer. How can I learn more?
A: Generations Incorporated has volunteer opportunities to suit all schedules. If you are an older adult who likes to work with children, we’d love to tell you more about becoming an Experience Corps member at one of our Greater Boston school and afterschool programs. For more information on becoming a Generations Incorporated volunteer, please call our hotline at 617.778.0553, or contact us by email.
Q: What is the difference between AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA?
A: Full-time AmeriCorps members serve 1700 hours in 10 months and 80% of their service is direct, hands-on service in the schools or after school programs. We also offer part-time AmeriCorps opportunities for interested older adults. All of our AmeriCorps*VISTA members serve full time for 12 months and their service is 80% capacity building, such as helping with fundraising, marketing, training, and recruitment of volunteers.
Q: I’m interested in becoming an AmeriCorps volunteer. Can I serve with you?
A: Yes! Each year, more than 15 full-time AmeriCorps members serve with Generations Incorporated, coordinating our gold-standard programs, which engage older adults as mentors and literacy tutors to children. We also offer opportunities to older adults (age 55+) interested in becoming part-time AmeriCorps members. If you’d like to learn more about becoming an AmeriCorps member at Generations Incorporated, please call Julie Sitler, our Director of AmeriCorps, at 617.423.5545.
Q: I’m interested in becoming an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer. Can I serve with you?
A: Yes! Each year, more than a dozen *VISTA members serve with Generations Incorporated, while over 20 more serve at our partner organizations throughout Greater Boston, providing behind-the-scenes service in capacity-building, volunteer recruitment, training and more. If you’d like to learn more about becoming a *VISTA with Generations Incorporated, please call Kendra Mrozek at 617.399.4677 or Kara Sheridan at 617.399.4678.
Q: Do you have corporate volunteer opportunities?
A: Yes! We welcome corporate volunteers to join us in one-time service projects throughout the year, and can accommodate daytime or evening schedules. For more information on how you can get involved, please call CT Ransdell at 617.778.0501.
Q: I am a school principal or afterschool program administrator. Can you bring tutors to my school?
A: Each year, Generations Incorporated brings trained Experience Corps tutors to elementary schools and afterschool programs throughout Boston and Revere. If you are interested in bringing Experience Corps to your school, please call Mary Gunn, our Executive Director, at 617.423.5865.
Q: I’m a Greater Boston-area non-profit leader. Can you place an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer at my organization?
A: Yes! Each year, Generations Incorporated places over 20 *VISTA members in Massachusetts-based non-profits. For more information, or to apply to receive a *VISTA member, please call Tara Finnegan, our Director of Resource Development, at 617.482.4651.
Q: Can you tutor my child?
A: Yes! Generations Incorporated is a registered provider for Supplemental Educational Services (SES). If your child attends one of our school or afterschool partners, we can provide weekly tutoring sessions to help your child learn how to read or improve their literacy skills. For more information on how to register your child for SES, please call Kelly Connolly at 617.399.4682.
