EXPERIENCE CORPS AND THE NEW WAVE OF CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Photographs by Alex Harris U.S. Senate Russell Building Rotunda July 11-15, 2005
Experience Corps, an award-winning program, engages people over 55 in meeting their communities greatest challenges. Today, in 20 cities across the country, 2,000 Experience Corps members serve as tutors and mentors to children in public schools and after-school programs, where they help teach children to read and develop the confidence and skills to succeed in school and in life. Independent research shows that Experience Corps boosts student academic performance, helps schools and youth-serving organizations become more successful, strengthens ties between these institutions and surrounding neighborhoods, and enhances the well-being of the older adults in the process.
“When they read a page, and I can smile and say with joy in my voice, ‘Oh look how much you’ve been able to do today’…that’s what I call the million dollar reward. It doesn’t come easy.” Elizabeth J. Deucher, Cleveland
Experience Corps is a signature program of Civic Ventures.
“A little girl I’ve been tutoring came to me unable to do anything more than scribble all over her paper. She knew the alphabet song but not her alphabet. I have watched her develop and grow. You can’t imagine the pride I have in her accomplishments, not because I did it, but because I know how hard she has worked to get to this point. To see the happiness and pride on her face as she recognizes all the letters, upper and lower case, to listen to her as she attemptto read a book, to see her write her name fills me with a satisfaction that only those who have tutored before can truly understand.” Belinda Cousins, Philadelphia
