About Us
The 2024 Experience Corps National Meeting, held from June 25 to 27 both virtually and in person at the national headquarters in Washington, DC, was an occasion to celebrate, to share ideas and to look to the future. This annual event is where origins meet innovation, where thoughtful discussion leads to action, and where our volunteers’ wisdom fuels fresh wisdom.
With our biggest audience yet, we welcomed more than 350 members of our national network to explore the theme “Forging the Future” with three days of panels, workshops and discussions. Leading experts addressed current challenges and program accomplishments, advising our network on topics ranging from social connection to technology to volunteer recruitment.
Find highlights and recordings and post-event access for registered attendees below.
Bill Wolff, Experience Corps volunteer
National Meeting Highlights
The meeting started with recent highlights and successes from the Experience Corps network and an update on how the program is poised to scale and meet the needs of our target communities. Discussions focused on the vital role of our volunteers and the impact of the program on high-need students. Organization and agency leaders shared key data on how volunteering can create meaningful social connection in the face of a rising tide of loneliness. Experts in student relationships and youth development explored new ways of using intergenerational connection and sustained support to reduce isolation in America’s young people.
We closed our program with three key voices for Experience Corps: Co-Founder Marc Freedman sharing how the origins of the program laid the groundwork for accomplishing our social mission; AARP Foundation President Claire Casey bestowing the President’s Volunteer Service Awards and recognizing the present contributions of so many; and two of our Lifetime Achievement volunteer honorees calling attention to how their experiences can help shape the program’s future. Below you can hear more of our volunteers’ stories, learn from experts, and share in the fire that we’ll kindle together to forge a bigger future for Experience Corps.
Recordings
Watch recordings and learn key insights from the main meeting sessions below.
Welcome Remarks
AARP Foundation leaders kicked off the National Meeting by reflecting on the success of the Experience Corps program. Mioshi Moses shared findings from a recent historical analysis conducted of the last 12 years, and Claire Casey discussed AARP Foundation’s strategy for forging the future of volunteerism to better support older adults.
Discussion 1: Forging Connections For and With Older Adults
Leaders from the Aspen Institute and the UMaine Center on Aging sat down to discuss the realities facing too many older adults. “With 50% of Americans saying that no one knows them well,” and the US Surgeon General declaring an “epidemic of loneliness,” social connection, especially among older adults, remains critical yet elusive for too many.
New solutions, like building volunteer communities virtually, offering more flexible volunteering opportunities, and weaving direct service with more personal interactions show promise for boosting the social health of older adults and their communities. Watch the recording of the session about forging connections for and with older adults below.
Discussion 2: Forging Connections For and With Students
National leaders from MENTOR and AmeriCorps explored the importance of relationships for students as the country faces dual crises of learning loss and social isolation. Even before the pandemic magnified these trends, “nearly two thirds of students reported feelings of hopelessness and disconnection with their schools and communities.”
But there remains evidence that innovative approaches to these problems can work, like introducing additional engaged adults into the classroom and creating a rich experience of tutoring that bridges the gap to mentorship. Watch the recording of the session about forging connections for and with students below.
Keynote: Forging Brighter Futures From the Start
Co-Founder Marc Freedman delivered the keynote address about pivotal historical moments that led to the creation of Experience Corps. Marc shared about how programs like Experience Corps, designed to meet the needs of older adults and harness their “second act,” are key to meeting the needs of students, older adults and community. In mentioning Experience Corps as one of the most heavily evaluated and proven social programs in recent history, Marc shared how the program can be scaled to address “breathtaking opportunities disguised as unsolvable problems.”
Awards Ceremony & Fireside Chat: Celebrating Years of Service
Leaders presented the nation’s top civil award for volunteer service to 190 individuals nationwide and chatted fireside with two Lifetime Achievement awardees. These two individuals volunteered over 16,000 hours for the Experience Corps program over 18 years and brought with them their wisdom and lessons for future volunteers. “What keeps me going over these years is the relationships … because I know that I can be part of the change,” said William Wolff, Experience Corps volunteer with Literations in Boston and recipient of the 2024 President’s Volunteer Service Award for Lifetime Achievement. Hear more from their stories and perspective on being a part of, not a servant to, their communities.
Attendee Hub
If you were registered for the meeting, you can watch the recordings and download any workshop materials from the Attendee Hub. The event website will be available through December 31, 2024.
Do you know someone who might be interested in becoming a tutor? Share volunteering articles for more information about the program and how to get involved. Want more inspiration? Check out highlights from our 2023 National Meeting and 2022 National Meeting. For more information or to get involved, please contact ExperienceCorps@aarp.org.