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

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Program Details

Year of Experience Corps project launch: 1998

Students served: 6,000

Grades/ages of students served: pre-K-5

Experience Corps participants: 271

Participant hours logged last school year: 168,000

Schools and Centers served: Barclay Elementary/Middle School, Belmont Elementary School, Brehms Lane Elementary School, Coldstream Park Elementary/Middle School, Cross Country Elementary/Middle School, Dallas F. Nicholas Elementary School, East Baltimore Community School, Furley Elementary School, Gardenville Elementary School, Guilford Elementary School, Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School, Hilton Elementary School, James Mosher Elementary School, Lockerman-Bundy Elementary School, Margaret Brent Elementary/Middle School, Medfield Heights Elementary School, North Bend Elementary School, Tench Tilghman Elementary/Middle School, Waverly Elementary/Middle School, William Pinderhughes Elementary School
Requirements for volunteers: Volunteers are required to complete all application and screening materials, interview, a criminal and child abuse background check, 32 hours of initial training, regular meetings during the year, and day-long refresher training before reentering the schools.

Partners and Funders

Lead Agency: Greater Homewood Community Corporation

Community partners: Johns Hopkins University Center on Aging and Health, AARP Maryland, Baltimore City Commission on Aging and Retirement Education, Baltimore City Public School System

Funders: Abell Foundation, AmeriCorps, Baltimore City, Baltimore Community Foundation, Baltimore Women's Giving Circle, Betty & Dudley Digges Foundation, Abraham & Ruth Krieger Family Foundation, Maryland Governor's Office on Service and Volunteerism, Venable Foundation, Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation

Community Involvement

Experience Corps members Ms. Alta Morris and Mr. Darryl Powell from Highlandtown Elementary/Middle School #215 prepare to distribute Thanksgiving food baskets to needy neighborhood families.

Sylvia McGill
Director, Experience Corps
Greater Homewood Community Corp.
443-278-9400
SMcGill [at] greaterhomewood.org

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"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