From Service to Solutions: How One AARP Volunteer Is Making a Difference

Across California, AARP volunteers contribute their time, knowledge and experience to help improve their communities. They advocate to enhance the quality of life for all and work with local leaders and organizations to address community needs.  

For Bill Curtis, volunteering with AARP California is a continuation of his lifelong commitment to serving others. 

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Public service has been a guiding force throughout Bill’s life. As a teenager, he helped his mother, a nurse, care for residents in local rest homes during holiday staffing shortages. He continued volunteering while raising a family and building his career, always looking for ways to support others. 

After retiring, Bill spent several years living and teaching in China. When his students shared that they struggled to compete for jobs against graduates from more prestigious schools, he developed a course focused on succeeding in job interviews. The course helped students strengthen their confidence and secure employment in a challenging job market. 

When Bill returned to the United States, he wanted to combine his interests in civic engagement, advocacy and community service. In 2024, he joined the first cohort of AARP California Planning Academy volunteers. Through AARP, Bill found a community of volunteers and staff who share his commitment to improving the lives of older adults and strengthening local communities. 

One of his most meaningful experiences was participating in AARP’s Navigating City Services workshop. Representatives from LA Sanitation, the Bureau of Street Lighting, the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and other city departments explained how their agencies collaborate and how residents can work more effectively with local government. 

Bill applied what he learned to his involvement with the Glassell Park Improvement Association, Council District 1 and the Los Angeles Police Department. Together, they have advocated for a protected left-turn signal at a dangerous intersection near a local senior center. Bill also created a survey to track accidents that may not have been officially reported, with the goal of gathering enough information to prompt an LADOT traffic study. 

“AARP gave me the knowledge, connections and confidence to help move that effort forward,” Bill said. 

For Bill, volunteering with AARP is especially meaningful because it connects people and organizations committed to creating positive change. He appreciates the training and resources AARP provides, as well as the encouragement he receives from fellow volunteers and staff. 

His advice to prospective volunteers is simple: “Be patient with yourself and don’t feel you have to know everything before you get involved. Find an issue that matters to you, jump in and be willing to learn.” 

Bill’s story demonstrates the many ways AARP California volunteers can turn their interests and experiences into meaningful action. Through advocacy, education and community service, volunteers build new skills, form valuable connections and help make their communities better places for people of all ages.