In her retirement, Barbara Johnson found herself with too much time on her hands, so she turned to AARP to help her find a way to get involved with her community. They connected her with the VCU Head Start program in Richmond Public Schools, where retired seniors are trained to become teacher’s aides. She loved the opportunity to learn while supporting youth, but the program limited her to a four-year contract. When that time ended, Barbara took the advice of some of the teachers she’d been working with, who recommended she get involved in the AmeriCorps Seniors Foster Grandparent Program at Senior Connections.  

These days, Barbara serves as a Foster Grandparent at a local day care and at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond, during summer camp season as well as the school year. In spite of health issues of her own, she spends anywhere from 3-6 hours per day at each site, where the youth that Barbara works with range from 9 months old to 15 years old. “They’re making robots or are on the computer. You’re teaching them their alphabet, their colors… for the babies, you’re feeding them and then they’re napping,” she says, reflecting on the wide range of activities she helps youth accomplish. “You have to be patient and loving with them, and you’ll be amazed at what they can do.” 

Barbara’s favorite activity to do with the kids? Homework. But they also play games together and have fun. She says, “I treat them like they’re my grandchildren. A lot of them need that. When they get to know you and they know you care about them, they trust you. They know they can come to you and that’s the best part because some of them don’t have grandmas at home.” 

Though she is also a mother and grandmother, her family lives in Maryland so she doesn’t get to see them that much. “Working with these kids helps make up for that,” she says. “I’m giving to the kids but, also, it’s getting me out of the house and I get a chance to use my brain. We have kids from all walks of life and that’s been a joy to me, to watch them grow. It seems like every year we get a group of kids who are smarter than the year before.” 

After 11 years as a Foster Grandparent and her time as a teacher’s aide, Barbara now enjoys seeing youth she served while out and about in the community, living the futures she helped support. She says, “I see my kids that I had in 2007 in the VCU Head Start program, and they’re driving their car and going to college. It’s amazing. I watched these kids grow from 3-4-year-olds. It gives my heart joy. It comes full circle.” 

She’s also gotten to know other foster grandparents through the program, especially those who are serving at the same sites. “If anyone has the chance to join the Foster Grandparents program, they should do it,” advises Barbara. “They’ll be amazed at the joy they feel getting out of the house everyday and being with children.” 

Barbara recently took part in a Photovoice project at Senior Connections in collaboration with Serve Virginia, AmeriCorps Seniors, and research grantees Virginia Tech and VCU Center on Society and Health. Photovoice trains and puts cameras in the hands of AmeriCorps Seniors across Virginia to enable them to share their experiences, perspectives, and stories of volunteerism through the use of photography and discussion. Here are a few of the pictures she shared: