Experience Corps Works! Results from Washington University Study

The recently released final report from Washington University in St. Louis states conclusively that Experience Corps works. We have always known this, and now there is a rigorous scientific study that backs up our own evaluation.

The study took place between 2006-2008 in three cities where Experience Corps operates. These were Boston, New York City, and Port Arthur, TX.

Results show that students who participate in our program make over 60% more progress than similar students not served by our program.

The greatest areas of improvement were in two key areas:
Sounding out new words
Reading Comprehension

The study also shows that teachers overwhelmingly welcome the program.

Finally, Experience Corps members also benefit from the program. Working with children improves the health and well-being of older adults.

Please read the great stories printed recently in the Boston Globe and the Christian Science Monitor. Click the links below.


http://www.boston.com/news/education/k_12/mcas/articles/2009/04/08/older_hands_plant_seeds_of_literacy/

http://www.csmonitor.com/2009/0408/p90s01-usgn.html

The worst of times, the best in people

I have attended a couple "survival" meetings recently, focusing on how the non-profit sector can weather the economic storm. Some advice is helpful, such as sharing "back room" administrative expenses with another non-profit. And some advice...well, not so good. "Get rid of the fat." What fat?

My organization is not immune from the recession. Our budget is relatively small, just under $2 million. But giving is way down this year and we expect that 15% of projected revenues will not materialize. So we have had to make painful adjustments affecting people.

The plan is to "bite the bullet" in February, slashing salaries for staff and stipends for 120 volunteers for one month. We will keep programs going and will ask great sacrifices of everyone. By taking this preventative action, everyone feels relief knowing the "downsize" will only last a month.

The response to this decision is creating some amazing stories of human kindness. A 75-year old Experience Corps member serving 8 hours/week will not receive her meager stipend in February. When we told her that we didn't expect her to serve for the month, she was insistant. "Who will read with my students? What will I do with my time? I will serve." Another Experience Corps member when informed of the situation declared it time to make a cash donation and also insisted she would continue to serve. Staff offered to reduce their pay. Our AmeriCorps members and VISTA volunteers are waiting to hear how they can help fill some of the gaps.

On March 1, everything will return to some semblance of normal and the recession will most likely continue. We will need to be realistic, practical and creative as we go forward.

But for now, while going through a down-size of the checkbook, we are realizing a rebirth of spirit, energy, and commitment to service and to our mission. Times are very tough, yet its amazing what a team of caring and committed people spanning 3 generations can do when everyone at every level agrees to sacrifice.

Happy New (Mentoring) Year!

We all know January to be a time for fresh starts, new resolutions, and… mentoring? A National Mentoring Month? Well mentoring is important year round but this January marks the eighth time an entire month has been dedicated to it.

This month of awareness-raising mentoring gives what we do here at Generations Incorporated a national platform, and I love that. To celebrate the month last year we hosted Irene Smalls and our mentors had a wonderful time.

This year we’re putting a different spin on how we observe the month. We’ll be making a special effort on January 22^nd to get all our staff and AmeriCorps members to participate in Thank Your Mentor Day™ (and I encourage you to join us). For those interested in participating there are “Four Ways to Honor Your Mentor”:

1) contact your mentor directly to express your appreciation
2) pass on what you received by becoming a mentor to a young person in your community
3) make a financial contribution to a local mentoring program
4) write a tribute to your mentor for posting on www.WhoMentoredYou.org.

For more information visit: www.nationalmentoringmonth.org

Congratulations Ruth!

Congratulations to Ruth Villard, who tonight was honored by Bank of America as a Local Hero. Ruth was one of five adults in the metro Boston area to receive this award this year.

Described as the "Volunteer Queen" by her daughter, Ruth has been an active member within the Dorchester community since her three children were young. Inspired by her goal of a safe community where seniors are actively involved in the lives of Boston youth, Ruth has continued to participate in various community organizations in order to promote positive changes in Boston.

In 2007, Ruth began volunteering through Generations Incorporated as a literacy mentor at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club. Ruth's patience and constant encouragement for her 5 mentees yielded quick results. “You really see a positive difference in the children. I felt like I was making a big impact on the children and helping them develop.”

Additionally, Ruth connects to her community members through her church as a youth group leader and squad leader for the Archdiocese of Boston Black Catholic Choir. Ruth promotes awareness of health issues that affect her neighbors and friends through her passionate participation in Boston Reach 2010. As a senior, Ruth serves as an advocate for her peers on the Senior and Disabled Council for her senior housing development and the Mayor’s Advisory Council, which assists in developing and coordinating community-based systems of service for Boston seniors.

In recognition of the Local Heroes Award, Bank of America donated $5,000 to the non-profit of the winner's choice. Thank you Ruth, for choosing Generations Incorporated.

And more importantly, thank you, Ruth, for being an inspiration for us all!

It's Intergeneration Week

Yesterday marked the beginning of Intergeneration Week, a national event that occurs the first full week of October every year. The mission of the holiday is to connect generations through communication, celebration, and education.

Read more about it at: www.intergenerationday.org.

Service Nation!

On Saturday, Service Nation kicked off their Movement with a Day of Action. Over 2700 service events were hosted around the country to urge individuals and communities to take action. More than 100 events took place in Massachusetts. At Generations Incorporated we hosted our own event: a Bookfolder Bonanza (above). Over 40 folks showed up to help us create the curriculum materials that we'll use in our new programs in Revere this fall.

The Day of Action follows the Service Nation Summit which took place in New York City on Sept 11th & 12th. At the Summit, both Presidential candidates, Senators McCain and Obama, pledged to make national service a priority in their administration. Also at the Summit, every time service was mentioned, folks over the age of 50 were included in the discussion. Experience Corps, our national partner, was specifically highlighted. This is a major change in the way service is seen around the country and I'm giving a cheer at my desk in appreciation.

About ServiceNation: The ServiceNation Movement is a national grassroots campaign that launched immediately following the ServiceNation Summit in New York City. It rallies the voices of ordinary Americans behind the idea that citizen service can strengthen our democracy, and help solve our most persistent social challenges and crises. These voices call upon the next President and Congress, leaders from all sectors of society, and fellow Americans to join to create a new era of service and civic engagement in America: an era in which by 2020, 100 million Americans will volunteer time in schools, workplaces, and faith-based and community institutions each and every year (up from 61 million today), and that increasing numbers of Americans annually will commit a year of their lives to national service.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson

Paul and Nancy Thompson are in their late 50's and have been married for 40 years. They were raised in the same neighborhood of Boston, attended the same schools, and went to the senior prom with each other. They chose to stay in Boston and raised their kids here. Both of them spent their lives teaching in the Boston Public Schools--Paul as a second grade teacher, Nancy as a high school foreign language teacher.

Both newly retired, who would blame them for taking a well deserved vacation, a hiatus away from the world of work? Instead, both will continue to work part time in their new "encore careers". They had a month off between retirement from the Boston Public Schools and their start date at Generations Incorporated, where they will each be responsible for the oversight of a "cluster" of schools which will host our intergenerational programs.

They are transferring a lifetime of important work to a new sector: helping other older adults, our Experience Corps members, to work as mentors with children. They have immediate credibility...a lifetime of experience in the schools, life-long commitment to Boston youth and Boston communities, and they themselves are of the same generation as the mentors they will oversee.

This is yet another important reminder that, especially in this very challenging economic environment, some of the greatest resources for under-resourced non-profits are at our finger tips. Take a look around and tap into the ever growing population of older adults as they begin to retire. Have fun, have time off, continue to contribute in new and meaningful ways.