Experience Corps Bay Area hosts fifth annual Generations of Success event

SAN FRANCISCO - March 30, 2015 - PRLog -- Experience Corps Bay Area (ECBA), a research-driven and award-winning youth literacy program serving thousands of Bay Area students, will host its fifth annual Generations of Success event on Sunday, May 3, at the Martin Lawrence Gallery located on Union Square.

Guests will enjoy an afternoon hosted by seven-time Emmy-winning reporter and KPIX 5 anchor Elizabeth Cook while touring collections of diverse art, dining on delicious fare and a hosted bar, and listening to keynote speakers, David L. Kirp and Monique Brinson.

Kirp is a Professor of Public Policy at the University of California at Berkeley and author of “The Rebirth of a Great American School System for American Education” and “Kids First: Five Big Ideas for Transforming the Lives of Children.” His articles have appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, American Prospect, Nation, Slate, Daily Beast, San Francisco Chronicle, Sacramento Bee and Huffington Post.

Brinson is the Principal of Sankofa Academy. She spent ten years teaching in Massachusetts, nine of those as a founding teacher at one of Boston’s first elementary pilot schools. She earned her principal’s credential from Northeastern University. Sankofa Academy emphasizes student empowerment and academic achievement. Students become critical thinkers, strong leaders, and positive members of their local and global communities.

“Experience Corps is an incredible source to our school and our students,” Brinson said. “They have helped transform our school into becoming a place of care and vigor—where kids get the extra time and support from consistent adults that they need to become engages, critical thinkers and successful in their academic pursuits.”

Attendees will also have the opportunity to participate in an auction that will offer a wide variety of items to choose from, all while raising funds for ECBA.

ECBA is a school-based program of Aspiranet, a leading human services agency dedicated to supporting youth and families in California for the past 40 years. ECBA has been recognized for its efforts to improve the literacy skills of students in kindergarten through third grade by engaging with older adult volunteers so students can become self-sufficient and achieve lifelong success.

"Almost 70 percent of American children reach 4th grade unable to read at a proficient level. The work we do provides the resources needed to guide young people as they learn to read and gain hope for the future,” said Paul Olsen, Director of ECBA. “Our programs would be impossible to carry out without the support of our community – from our Honorary Committee Members that promote our programs, to our team of adult literacy volunteers, and the public support we need to continue bringing this program into our schools to improving literacy proficiency.”

Event Info:

What: Experience Corps Bay Area's Fifth Annual Generations of Success fundraiser

When: Sunday, May 3, from 1:00 – 4:00pm

Where: Martin Lawrence Gallery, 366 Geary Street, San Francisco

Cost: $100 per person; $25 for educators and ECBA Volunteers

Tickets: Space is limited and advanced ticket purchase is highly recommended.  Tickets may be purchased at www.experiencecorpsbayarea.org.

About Experience Corps Bay Area

Experience Corps Bay Area mobilizes, trains and matches adults, aged 50 and older, as literacy tutors and mentors to elementary school students who are struggling to reach grade level in reading. ECBA serves 22 of the lowest-income schools throughout the Bay Area in San Francisco, Oakland and Berkeley. The program is a win-win for the community, as adult tutors stay active and give back in a meaningful, measurable way, while the students receive consistent, individualized academic and social-emotional support. For more information about the program, visit www.experiencecorpsbayarea.org.

About Aspiranet

Aspiranet, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity, supports foster children, siblings, families and the community with 35 core programs offering specialized services throughout 45 locations within California. Aspiranet strengthens children, families and communities through seven core programs including: Foster Care, Adoption, Residential, Transition Age Youth, Behavioral Health, Wraparound and Family and Community Services.

Founded 40 years ago as a six-bed group home for young boys in Moss Beach, Calif., Aspiranet is one of the most diverse nonprofit social service agencies in the state. With a statewide network of innovative services, Aspiranet serves more than 10,000 families each year. For more information, please visit www.aspiranet.org.