Guest blogger Megan Tracy Benson is deputy director of Empowering the Ages, an organization connecting older and younger generations in their communities in meaningful and mutually beneficial experiences.

Volunteers Collaborate Across Generations for Student Success!

Every child needs and deserves the support of multiple generations to become a thriving member of the community. With this core belief in mind, the Maryland-based nonprofit Empowering the Ages is recruiting volunteers age 50+ for the inaugural year of the Connections: School Ambassadors, Student Advocates program. The program will launch in 2020 in two Montgomery County elementary schools.

Empowering the Ages (ETA) is an organization dedicated to transforming lives through facilitating relationships across different generations. ETA connects people of all ages to each other and their communities so that they can contribute to each other’s well-being, feel connected, and be valued for their unique skills and perspectives.

Connections takes a unique, 3-generation approach to supporting young students who are at risk of academic underperformance and chronic absenteeism.

Volunteers serve as a bridge between family and school, utilizing their own life experiences and skills to become an additional supportive member of their student’s success team. ETA recruits and screens each volunteer, provides ongoing training and support, and is deeply committed to helping each volunteer have a fulfilling and meaningful experience.

Volunteers work in groups to become part of an elementary school community, striving to understand the school’s culture and resources so that each one can serve as an effective school ambassador to the families they work with.

Each volunteer spends time at school throughout the year getting to know their student as an individual, in order to serve as an effective advocate for the student. They have conversations and do activities both one-on-one (to provide personal attention) and in small groups (to enhance students’ social skills). Volunteers are in regular, proactive communication with parents/caregivers to support the parent/caregiver’s own efforts to advocate for their child.

Join us in making a positive difference!

If you are an adult age 50+ who wants to

• Make a real difference in the life of a child;
• Take a holistic approach to helping a child and their family achieve academic success;
• Become part of a vibrant school community; and
• Enjoy the support and camaraderie of a team of fellow volunteers;

Then ETA would love to hear from you. Learn more at https://empoweringtheages.org/