Experience Corps Members Travel to Nation's Capital

This coming weekend five of our Experience Corps members will travel to Washington D.C. to participate in the second annual Learning & Leadership Exchange. They will join 20 other Experience Corps members from around the country to discuss and develop leadership activities back in their home cities. While most Experience Corps volunteers are engaged as tutors in elementary schools, there are many other ways for them to lead. Last year's group came back with an extensive plan to reach out to parents and families.

On the eve of their departure, we caught up with a few of our leaders:

Q. Why do you want to participate in this conference?
A. Boston schools need help. I want to learn how to better serve the children I tutor. --Virginia
I hope to learn something I can use in my tutoring. One good idea can increase your effectiveness. It's good to go beyond ourselves-- we may be doing something good, but maybe it could be done better. --Dan

Q. What are you most looking forward to doing while in Washington D.C.?
A. I'm looking forward to spending time with my Boston peers and chatting with Experience corps members from other cities to gain new ideas, new perspectives. --Dan
I want to learn more about childhood education. That's the main reason I applied for this opportunity. --Manny

Q. What do you hope to contribute?
A. I hope to bring the knowledge I've gained from the children here in Boston, to pass that on. --Manny
Experience. --Virginia

I bet they are also looking forward to visiting some of our nation's treasures in DC and having some fun!

Last year's leaders happened upon Sen. John Kerry on the way to the cafeteria! (L-R: Shelia Randolph, Ricki Henderson, John Kerry, Amy Burns, Yvonne Franck, Mary McDonald)