AgeWell at the Jewish Community Center is seeking volunteers to teach courses on the Virtual Senior Academy. The Virtual Senior Academy (VSA) was created by the Jewish Healthcare Foundation in 2017, as a free program to connect adults age 50 and older to their peers in the Pittsburgh region through interactive courses online. The program has expanded and is now run by AgeWell at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh, with some classes offered in a hybrid format (in person at the JCC while also streaming online).Any adult can sign up for an account and join classes from anywhere they can access the internet. Utilizing Zoom, the website offers learning experiences that cover a wide range of topics. Some of our most popular class topics include health and wellness, arts and entertainment, music, book clubs, technology, history, religion and current events. Technology provides a unique opportunity for engagement, expanding the reach of existing educational programs for older adults. The VSA is a safe space for older adults to connect and remain socially engaged from the comfort of their own homes. Classes are led by volunteers (retired professionals, community partners, students, etc.), who have a passion in a certain field.
Ideal volunteer candidates can offer programming at least once a month (30-60 minutes per class) in-person at the JCC or virtually, have an interest in working with older adults, and experience in public speaking or teaching.