As a child, AmeriCorps member Brooke says the education programs offered at zoos, aquariums, and wildlife refuges in Wisconsin sparked her interest in animals. The complex interactions between humans, animals, and their shared environments intrigued her.
AmeriCorps Seniors Director Atalaya Sergi shares how older Americans serving with AmeriCorps Seniors combat food insecurity and hunger in their communities, greatly enriching and benefitting their own lives through service.
Older Americans who serve as AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers go beyond supporting their community. They tap into their life experiences to help address critical needs in their communities. During Older Americans Month, we join the nation to recognize and thank older adults for their invaluable contributions from coast to coast.
JC endured racism most of his early life. Today, he volunteers in the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent program to help other children navigate life’s challenges.
I was an orphan at the age of five when my mom passed.
This year, we celebrate AmeriCorps Seniors Retired & Senior Volunteer Program’s 50th Anniversary. Over the past five decades, millions of RSVP volunteers improved communities across the United States. The older adults serving in RSVP are dedicated to solving problems in their local communities. Our volunteers provide more than $1 billion worth of service to the nation each year, driven by motivation to give back, improve their communities and leave a legacy.
The Reframing Aging Initiative is generating a groundswell for change – from local efforts to national leaders – to tell a more complete story of aging. This story explains that good ideas know no age limit, and that experience and wisdom can be tapped to benefit us all. And more than we realize, our words matter. Changing how we communicate will change attitudes about aging, and ultimately will advance policies and programs that support us at every age and stage of life.
Aleina Hodnett is a teacher in Milwaukee Public Schools, where AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors national service programs provide tutoring and mentoring.
“The students are always so excited to see the tutors walk through the door,” said Hodnett.
National service through AARP Foundation Experience Corps gives retired engineer Linda Fong the opportunity to improve educational access for others, while empowering her to focus on self-care.
John King loves to drive. But now, he’s driving with a purpose – serving veterans. John King, 79 years old, is a veteran himself who continues to serve. He provides transportation for other military veterans, makes sure they get to medical appointments, assists them in buying groceries, takes them on a trip down memory lane or simply gives them the opportunity to spend time with someone who understands them.
"This is what we owe them, because life today is what it is because of what these guys did," King says.
Each year, more than 170,000 older Americans make time to serve in their communities through one of several AmeriCorps Seniors programs.