AARP Experience Corps Mesa
Cause Area
- Children & Youth
- Education & Literacy
- Seniors
Location
120 N Center StMesa, AZ 85201 United StatesOrganization Information
Mission Statement
In conjunction with the goals of the AARP Foundation, Mesa Public Schools, and the City of Mesa, Experience Corps Mesa aims to empower people over 50 to serve as tutors to help students become better readers by the end of their third grade year. We disrupt the cycle poverty by making a meaningful difference in the lives of at-risk children and bringing meaningful volunteer experience to older adults.
Description
Experience Corps Mesa is a program run by the City of Mesa that recruits adults over 50 and trains them to be reading tutors in underprivileged schools in Mesa. In January of 2024, tutoring will begin in six Mesa elementary schools, with the goal of expanding to more schools after the initial pilot. While this program is new to Mesa, there is strong support from the AARP Foundation as well as established programs in Tempe, Phoenix, and other cities around the country. In the more than fifteen years since AARP Experience Corps began, it has helped thousands of children become stronger readers and more confident learners. Volunteers with the program report high levels of satisfaction with their volunteering experience, increased social connections, and better physical health.