What is the role of higher education institutions in preparing students to live and work in an aging society? How can we create reciprocal, mutually beneficial learning experiences for students and older adults? With support from the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, Generations United is working with Michigan’s colleges and universities to develop high-quality intergenerational teaching and learning opportunities that combat ageism, build generational empathy, reduce social isolation, and foster collaborative approaches to addressing complex societal challenges.

Join us Tuesday, June 11 from 1:00-2:00 PM EST for this webinar where we will share the findings from a new report that provides a framework for intergenerational teaching and learning, highlights examples of current practices in Michigan, and identifies challenges, promising practices, and opportunities for deepening and expanding intergenerational learning. We hope you can join us for this important webinar. Register today!

Stay Tuned for Updates on Generations United's 23rd Global Intergenerational Conference!

Generations United’s 23rd Global Intergenerational Conference is off to the races! We are thrilled to partner with Harbor House to bring the conference to Louisville, Kentucky in Summer 2025. More details, including dates, location, and travel information, will be shared at www.guconf.org as they become available.

Generations United GRAND Voice testifies at Senate Finance Committee Hearing

Last week, Laurie Tapozada, GRAND Voice from Rhode Island and Peer Kinship Navigator, provided testimony at the Senate Finance Committee hearing focused on the Families First Prevention Services Act. Thank you, Ms. Tapozada, for sharing your story and advocating for grandfamilies. Watch the recorded version of the hearing here.

Are you passionate about improving supports for kinship/ grandfamilies? Make your voice heard by submitting a written statement for the hearing record by June 5th, 2024. Directions for submitting written statements are available here. For any questions, contact Chelsi Rhoades, Generations United Public Policy and Advocacy Specialist, at crhoades@gu.org.

Generations United at the UN International Day of Families/IYF+30 observance

Generations United Executive Director Donna Butts spoke at the UN International Day of Families/IYF+30 observance on May 15th and presented our report, Changing Demographics Can Result in Strengthening Families, that resulted from the expert symposium we conducted as part of our 2023 Global Intergenerational Conference. Donna also moderated a panel as part of the Expert Group Meeting on Families and Climate Change convened by the UN on the 15-16th.

Generations United Featured in Stateline Article

Generations United Deputy Executive Director Jaia Lent and GRAND Voice Victoria Gray are featured in a Stateline article, titled "States shift toward kin-first foster care." It highlights states' increase consideration for kinship caregiving to prevent a child from entering the foster care system. Read the full story here.

Congrats to the 24th Annual Listen to a Life Story Contest Winners

Glimpses into history, hopes for the future, life advice shared, intergenerational connections strengthened, families and communities inspired, healed, changed. Read this year's winners of the 24th annual Listen to a Life Story Contest, organized by the Legacy Project in partnership with Generations United here.

Thank you to all the wonderful programs that applied for our Exemplary designation, showed us your work in action during site visits, and reviewed our write-ups of your exemplary services. We are proud to be elevating your work and we are thrilled to announce that the write-ups for all of the programs that earned an Exemplary designation are now available. Learn more about the Exemplary designation and access all of the write-ups here.

As always, the Network is accepting individual requests for assistance from professionals who work in systems or organizations that serve kinship/grandfamilies. Fill out the request assistance form to receive support from our team. Learn more and sign up to access our resources!

Unboxed

Unboxed is an intergenerational digital storytelling program conducted in 2022 and 2023 that brought together LGBTQIA+ youth aged 13+ and older adults to explore and share transformative personal stories of identity. Sponsored by the Denver Public Library in collaboration with StoryCenter and LinkAGES, this program engaged participants in a collaborative creative process using images, music, and voice narration to make their stories into short videos. Each workshop was intimate, engaging no more than 10 participants. Facilitated by StoryCenter staff identifying as LGBTQ+, participants wrote, created, and collectively edited mixed-media digital stories about their lived experiences while exploring movement, self-care, and opportunities to connect. Read more about Unboxed here.

Join the Commit to Connect Nationwide Network of Champions

Become a champion of social connection on the Nationwide Network of Champions. Hosted by the Commit to Connect initiative, this online and free community fosters collaboration, networking, and problem-solving across sectors and perspectives. Champions are professionals, volunteers, and innovators at the local, state, or national levels who are dedicated to ending social isolation and loneliness. Register to become a Commit to Connect Champion to have access to a nationwide network where Champions can connect and share questions, learnings, resources and perspectives. Register and sign-on today!