Detroit volunteer graduates from VLI

[ Washington, DC] – Christina Guzman of Detroit will participate in the graduation ceremony for the AARP’s Volunteer Leadership Institute (VLI) on Friday.   She will be joined by 32 other exceptional volunteers from all across the country. 

 VLI is a rigorous and innovative training opportunity launched by AARP in December 2012 to mobilize highly skilled and motivated AARP volunteers to the next level of volunteer leadership.  This third VLI class was designed and scheduled to appeal to the “new breed” of volunteer -- tech savvy leaders who may still be in the workforce.  Participants met both in person and virtually over a six-month period and used their new skills, techniques and knowledge to work more effectively with their AARP state office or program partners as leaders of volunteer teams and in the community. Richard Harwood, founder and president of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, was a guest speaker at the graduation ceremony.

 “We’re so pleased with Christina Guzman’s growth as an AARP volunteer and her extraordinary commitment to our social mission,” said Thomas Kimble, State President of AARP Michigan. “This VLI training will help Christina rise to a higher level and be the best volunteer she can be.”

 Guzman said the VLI training has been “a very meaningful opportunity for me. The skills and techniques I learned will help me give back to my community and to advance AARP’s mission.”

 AARP is one of the leading volunteer organizations in the nation, with more than 55,000 active volunteers.   Earlier VLI graduates have made early strides as well, taking on new responsibilities, such as serving on committees and task forces; representing AARP as subject matter experts at events and conferences; and reaching thousands of people through speaking engagements.