They are places that folks of all ages proudly call home because they recognize the benefits of intergenerational programs, practice, policies and services. Please join us in applauding the recipients of the 2015 MetLife Foundation/Generations United Best Intergenerational Communities Award: Carlisle, MA; Greater Richmond Region, VA; and Greater Plymouth Area, WI. In addition, kudos go to the 2015 National Finalist: City of Surprise, AZ. The next few weeks, stay tuned to learn more about each community. Save the date for the recognition of award winners on Feb. 11 in DC.

Eisner Purpose Prize

If you know someone working across generations to improve lives and create positive social change,

Encore.org wants to hear from you. Encore.org's annual Purpose Prizes recognize outstanding social innovators over age 60; in 2015, a $25,000 award for intergenerational impact, sponsored by the Eisner Foundation, seeks to honor work that unites multiple generations to bring about positive and lasting change. Read more here about the prize and about 2014 winner Dr. Pam Cantor; deadline for nominations is January 15.

Early Registration Deadline Extended!

Take advantage of early registration at the advanced rate until Feb. 15, 2015. Don't miss out on our incredible line-up that includes pre-conference/site visits, inspiring keynotes, motivating educational sessions,culture-based and environmental action projects and more. Learn more

Welcome to 2015!

We hope you enjoyed the holidays! We closed out 2014 with a slideshow tribute to older adults raising children, featuring Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Inductee Bill Wither's "Grandma's Hands." Watch the video and share.

A Huge Thanks to Our Members and Supporters

Generations United thanks Francine Salamone, Kenyattah Robinson (in honor of Donna), Paul Thornell, and Donna Butts (in honor of Bill Libro.)

We also thank our renewing member, Ebenezer Ridges. Merci. Danke. Arigato. Asante. Gracias. Thank you. You can also honor a friend or loved one with a Tribute Gift. Donate to help us unleash the potential of an "age-amped" society.

Click here to play video.

Generations United Member Shout Out!

In her TEDxStouffville Talk, "Building a 7-generation world," Legacy Project's Susan Bosak takes a look at the big picture of how communities thrive. She is inspiring youth, elders, organizations, communities and funders to think about how they interact with their families, neighbors, and environment and how to leave a legacy for generations to come. Learn more

New Seniors4Kids Website!

Last year, we announced the exciting changes with our national initiative, Seniors4Kids, which raises the voices of older adults on behalf of children and youth. We started with our e-Alert, which moved towards a national policy focus. Now, we welcome and thank our national partners:

the American Society on Aging, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A), National Council on Aging and the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare. Check out our new webpage, then join the Seniors4Kids movement and join the Facebook group.

Culture United

Alive and Kickin'

Over the weekend, 60 Minutes' Lesley Stahl did a segment on an intergenerational exchange in Harlem. Vy Higginsen, a New York radio personality and theater producer, went through Harlem, looking for African-American Baby Boomers with untapped talent. These older adults, who've been singing all their lives (in churches, amateur groups and the shower) didn't make it as professional performers, but found a purpose for their gifts. Their stories are about how music got them through their dramatic moments. The older adults' stories inspire the youth from Higgensen's Gospel for Teens class, who, with their older counterparts, celebrated the legacy of gospel music and old school R&B. Learn more

Do you know of any films, books, music and TV shows with an intergenerational theme? Share them with us and we'll share in the weeks and months to come. Disclaimer: Inclusion in this section is not an endorsement from Generations United. Rather, it is a way of showing the multiplying impact when the arts and pop culture are age-advantaged.

New Youth Leadership Showcase

Meet our youth leaders from our Youth Jumpstart Grant program. They are adept communicators with exemplary leadership skills. They're committed to improving their communities through effectively connecting older and younger generations. These youth share their personal stories and tips for planning and implementing successful age-integrated programs. Learn more

Beresford Park Community Center - Cool Ideas

In the latest of series, we feature Beresford Park Community Gardens, based in San Mateo, California. Tweet your cool intergenerational ideas to #cooligideas. You can also post them to our Intergenerational Connections

Facebook Group or just text us through the Facebook Messenger app (friend me to join our Cool Ideas group discussion). We want to highlight innovative age-optimized programs and practices through our blog, social media and weekly e-newsletter! Share the inspiration. Learn more about Beresford Park Community Gardens.

Request for Grandfamilies

A producer with a national TV show, which covers today's hottest financial topics, is seeking grandfamilies (grandparents, or other older adults, raising children) for a possible segment on how such households can avoid, or get out of, debt. The grandfamilies must be willing to fill out a full financial disclosure* and appear on camera. The show's host, an internationally-acclaimed personal finance expert, will offer the grandfamily advice to help them avoid, or get out of, debt. If you would like to recommend a family, please pass along their name and contact information to Generations United's Communications Specialist Alan King. *Filling out the financial disclosure doesn't guarantee the grandfamily will be on the show.

Funding Opportunities

Imagine Your Parks. Through a new grant initiative, in celebration of the NEA's 50th anniversary and the National Park Service's centennial in 2016, the NEA and the National Park Service will provide an anticipated $1 million in funding through the NEA Art Works grant category to projects that use the arts to connect people with memorable places and landscapes of the National Park System. Deadline: February 19, 2015. Learn more

Sodexo Foundation Youth Grants. Youth Service America and Sodexo Foundation are looking for 100 of the best ideas from young people about how they can help end childhood hunger in their communities. $400 grants are available for youth leaders ages 5-25 across the U.S. to turn their ideas into action and make an impact on the issue of childhood hunger during Global Youth Service Day - April 17-19, 2015 - and beyond. Deadline: midnight on Jan. 15, 2015. Learn more

Generations United encourages you to submit intergenerational projects. If you have - or know of - any intergenerational funding opportunities, please send them to Alan King at [email protected]

Great Resources

Report

Improving Child Well-Being: Strengthening Collaboration Between the Child Welfare and Health Care Systems

The State Policy Advocacy and Reform Center (SPARC) released a brief, authored by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia's PolicyLab & Safe Place, which explores collaborations-old and new-between child welfare and medical providers. Learn more

Webinar

Performance Partnership Pilots Overview Webinar. The Forum for Youth Investment is hosting a webinar designed to help communities and states learn about a special opportunity for them to apply for the Performance Partnership Pilots (P3), which will allow them unprecedented flexibility in how they use their existing federal formula and discretionary funding for disconnected youth. Jan. 9, 3pm-4pm EST. Learn more

Resources

Under One Roof and Connecting Generations

These Generations United resources are available for the shipping and handling price - Under One Roof is $4.50 and Connecting Generations is $5.50. Order your copies today!

Events

Conferences

47th Annual Senior Leadership Conference. Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. Clearwater Beach, FL. Feb. 21-24, 2015. Learn more

2015 National Conference on Bullying. School Safety Advocacy Council, Florida Association of School Administrators and the Florida Association of School Resource Officers. Orlando, FL. Feb. 24-27, 2015. Learn more

Aging in America Conference. American Society on Aging. Chicago, IL. March 23-27, 2015. Learn more

Ready by 21 National Meeting. The Forum for Youth Investment. New Orleans, LA. March 31 - April 2, 2015. Learn more

More Powerful Together: The 26th Annual National Service-Learning Conference. National Youth Leadership Council. Washington, DC. April 9-11, 2015. Learn more

Intergenerational Action on a Global Scale. Generations United, Seagull Schools, International Consortium of Intergenerational Programmes (ICIP), UNA-Hawaii and JANCA. Honolulu, HI. July 21-24, 2015. Learn more

2015 Joint International Conference: Global Communities Coming Together. Aged and Community Services Australia and IAHSA. Perth, Australia. August 31 - September 4, 2015. Learn more

Quote

"Knowledge is the greatest gift to future generations" ~Sandy F. Kraemer, founder of Intergeneration Month

Your Feedback Invited!

We want Generations This Week to be a real resource for you. Please send us any national news on intergenerational issues in addition to upcoming conferences, funding opportunities, reports and webinars. Local and state events can be shared in our Facebook group. Please also let us know how we can improve! My email is [email protected]. I'd love to hear from you!

Best,

Alan King

Communications Specialist

Generations United

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