6,6000 students are helped by volunteers 55 and over. The aim of Experience Corps is to aid Baltimore elementary school students in the areas of reading, writing, and arithmetic, and the group consists of community volunteers aged 55 and up. 15-20 Experience Corps volunteers per school spend about 15 hours a week to helping children learn, with their specific duties being at the discretion of the teacher. Corps Volunteers serve over 6,600 students in 25 City schools. Each member helps teachers in the classroom, but their duties “might also include library help, behavioral support, health promotion, enrichment activities, and improving attendance and parent involvement.”
According to an eblast from the office of City Council President Jack Young, “research shows that when the program’s volunteer members help children with their reading skills, they become better readers for life.” This system helps children get more one-on-one experience in some areas than it is feasible to get from a single teacher. The members of Experience Corps provide the children with their wisdom and experience and stand out as inspirational role models for these children to look up to.
To celebrate the program, AARP’s Experience Corps is hosting its 4th Annual Literacy Festival on Saturday, October 20th. The event is for parents and their children to help promote the importance of literacy as well as celebrate the literacy achievements of Baltimore elementary schools. All parents and students of Baltimore City are invited to this free festival and you can expect literacy games, guest readers, music, and book giveaways. The organizers of the event are expecting over 200 students and their families to attend the festival at Margaret Brent Elementary Middle School gymnasium beginning at 10am. The event will kick off with a welcome from AARP Experience Corps Branch Director Bill Romani and Margaret Brent Principal Dr. Jackie Waters-Scofield.
This event will be held:
Saturday, October 20th
10am-2pm
Margaret Brent Elementary Middle School gymnasium
100 East 26th Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
