Do you or your community have a program that is effectively creating meaningful connections across generations? Generations United invites you to apply to be selected as a Program of Distinction, the U.S. benchmark for high-quality, high-impact intergenerational programs. The designation is the only of its kind, as it aims to recognize excellence while celebrating the rich diversity among intergenerational programs. The deadline to apply is July 15, 2021. See additional information or contact Sheri Steinig.

Each week, we'll be highlighting a program from our resource, Staying Connected While Staying Apart: Intergenerational Programs and the COVID-19 Pandemic. Next up is Protect the Sacred.

This grassroots initiative educates and empowers Navajo youth and young people throughout Indian Country as the next generation of leaders in protecting their elders, their languages, their medicine ways, and their cultures as an emergency response to the crisis in the Navajo Nation from COVID-19. Learn more.

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During her Grammys acceptance speech in January 2020, Angélique Kidjo told the crowd: "The new generations of artists coming from Africa [are] going to take you by storm. The time has come." The 60-year-old, who's originally from Benin, brought together a generation of younger artists across Africa on a new album, called Mother Nature. Learn more.

Culture United highlights films, books, music, and TV shows with an intergenerational theme. Do you have any suggestions? Share them with us, and we'll share in the weeks and months to come. We welcome responses or reactions. We'll possibly feature them on our blog. See disclaimer.

New Intergenerational Resources. This latest set of free resources, developed by Generations United with support from RRF-Foundation for Aging, aims to strengthen and expand intergenerational programs. The new publications—Making the Case for Intergenerational Programs, Fact Sheet: Intergenerational Programs Benefit Everyone, and Staying Connected While Staying Apart: Intergenerational Programs & the COVID-19 Pandemic—support the growing field of practice by increasing the knowledge and skills of people working to connect and support older adults, children, and youth. Learn more.

Fact sheet: Intergenerational Shared Sites includes updated information about these important program models and what we know about their impact. Learn more.

Federal Funding Opportunities for Intergenerational Shared Sites Chart is designed to share some federal funding sources that include—or could include—support for intergenerational shared sites. Learn more.

Generations United's 2020 State of Grandfamilies Report—Facing a Pandemic: Grandfamilies Living Together During COVID-19 and Thriving Beyond. Grandfamily caregivers are the first line of defense for children during the pandemic, having stepped in when parents cannot raise them for many reasons, including cases where children's parents have died from the COVID-19 virus. Download the full report, watch Senator Sherrod Brown's award acceptance speech, and listen to stories of grandfamilies impacted by COVID-19. Learn more.

Staying Healthy Across Generations: Vaccines are Essential for All Ages. Generations United's new infographic illustrates that vaccines aren't just for kids-they protect all generations- especially in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Staying up to date on vaccines for the flu, pneumonia and whooping cough is important to protect both older adults and children. Check it out.