10News Leadership Award Winner Erica Schild

10News honors Erica Schild for founding Teen Senior Connect, a non-profit organization that helps ease the cross-generalization gap that exists between America’s older and younger generations, while teaching computer skills to senior citizens.

Teen Senior Connect visits retirement communities throughout the county and teaches the residents skills such as email, instant messaging, web navigation, Microsoft Word, Digital Photo Editing and Printing, playing computer games and buying and selling goods on sites such as eBay and Amazon. Teen Senior Connect not only teaches senior citizens computer skills, but the program has easer an existing cross-generational gap.

Erica has been working on the program for two years and is comprised of Erica, as well as fellow student volunteers that serve as tutors. In starting the Francis Parker chapter of Teen Senior Connect, Erica created brochures, tutoring schedules and lesson agendas for the volunteers. She also created a mission statement, goals, dress code, FAQ sheet and parental permission slips, as well as volunteer registration forms from the individual centers.

In order to get involved in the program, volunteers must be formally trained and prepared before they go on-site. Student volunteers hold these training classes during the weekends.

Teen Senior Connect has been extremely successful. The organization is currently working with four senior centers in San Diego; Downtown Potiker Center, Casa de Manana in La Jolla, Carlsbad by the Sea in Carlsbad, and Seacrest Village in Encinitas. Additionally, Erica has inspired students at the Bishop’s School in La Jolla, San Dieguito Academy in Encinitas, and Torrey Pines High School, to start chapters at their schools as well.

Erica is currently a high school senior at Francis Parker School and involved with Teen Senior Connect as the Founder, President and a current volunteer. Erica is also working with a teenager in New Jersey to establish a chapter there.

For more information, please contact Teen Senior Connect at www.tsconnect.org.