Columbia wins Cities of Service National competition to engage adults aged 50+ in service
June 17, 2019
Columbia was announced as a winner of the Cities of Service Experience Matters competition. With support from AARP, Cities of Service will work with Columbia and five other cities to develop volunteering initiatives that address public problems related to the drivers of poverty.
Each city will receive $25,000, technical assistance, and two full-time AmeriCorps VISTA members based in city hall who will build capacity and raise awareness for the initiatives. They will focus on engaging residents 50 and older in program implementation.
In Columbia, volunteers will act as mentors for youth, forming the strong relationships that are necessary for children to succeed and increasing the likelihood of high school graduation.
Cities of Service and AARP will provide support in recruitment and selection of AmeriCorps VISTA members, pre-program training, project design assistance customized to each city, expert and peer learning opportunities through site visits and convening, and promotion of projects to encourage replication of best practices.
