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from Generations United

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 Volume 10, Issue 5
February 4, 2015
Tracy Bennett/Relativity Media
Black or White? Let's Talk About Gray

In a her Huffington Post piece, Donna Butts looks at what Kevin Costner's new movie, Black or White, teaches us about grandfamilies, their needs and challenges. "Heading a grandfamily...
isn't a role people seek," Donna writes. "It's one they accept. Often with little to no notice and even less support." Learn more

Registration for Our 2015 Best Intergenerational Communities Event Closes on Friday!

Registration closes on Friday, at midnight! Register today

, so you can join us next week Feb. 11, 10:30 a.m. - noon, at Hall of the States Office Building (444 North Capitol Street NW) on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. We're thrilled to have our 2015 Best Intergenerational Communities Event hosted by our strategic advisor Juan Williams (FOX News correspondent and journalist) and moderated by our Board member Jatrice Martel Gaiter (executive vice president of External Affairs at Volunteers of America) with special remarks from Dennis White (CEO and president of MetLife Foundation) and Thelma Collinsmayor of Itta Bena, Mississippi. We look forward to honoring the 2015 Best Communities: Carlisle, MassachusettsGreater Richmond Region, Virginia; Greater Plymouth Area, Wisconsin; and our national finalist, City of Surprise, Arizona! You must be registered by Fri., Feb. 6, at 5pm, to attend. 

New Deadline for National Valentine's Day Campaign
Generations United's Seniors4Kids, the National Women's Law Center and child care advocates across the country are reaching out to Congress with Valentine's Day messages supporting investments in children. Here's how you can get involved. Please have your valentine to Generations United | c/o Valentine Day Activity | 25 E Street NW, 3rd Floor | Washington, D.C. 20001 by Fri., Feb. 6
Extended Deadline on Exhibit Tables and Booths - Feb. 28!
We're still seeking exhibitors for the Family Resource Fair to be held on the second day of the conference, Intergenerational Action on a Global Scale, July 21-24 in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Exhibitors will provide free demonstrations and promotions of services and products, fun games and more! We extended the deadline on our early bird rate for booths and tables - learn more. While you're on our site, nominate an outstanding individual or best practice for our awards. You can also take advantage of our early registration at the advanced rate until Feb. 15. Register today! 
New Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards: Overview
Our Ana Beltran and Heidi Epstein, with the American Bar Association Center for Children and the Law, have an article in Child Law Practice that gives an overview of the New Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards, which according to the article, "make it possible for more relatives and non-related applicants to become licensed foster parents." Learn more
A Huge Thanks to Our Members and Supporters
Generations United thanks our Board member, Michael Marcus. 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.
Estella Pyfrom All Aboard the Brilliant Bus
On Sunday, hundreds of millions of Super Bowl viewers learned about Estella Pyrom in a Microsoft commercial that showed this #FearlessElder delivering technology to under-served youth. Watch the video | Read Estella's story.

Introducing...The JCA Heyman Inter-Ages Center and AGE to age!

In part 3, we introduce The JCA Heyman Inter-Ages Center (Rockville, MD) and AGE to age: bringing generations together (Duluth, MN), two of our 2015 Programs of Distinction re-designees. The JCA Heyman Inter-Ages Center engages active older adult volunteers to deliver tutoring and

mentoring services to at-risk youth, provides interactive programs for youth and frail elders in senior facilities, and connects youth and older adults in various programs that enrich the lives of both generations. Learn more about The JCA Heyman Inter-Ages CenterAGE to age: bringing generations together is an intergenerational grassroots initiative of the Northland Foundation. It provides an avenue for different generations to overcome age stereotypes, establish friendships, and pool their strengths for civic good. Learn more about AGE to age: bringing generations together. Stay tuned for next week, when we introduce DOROT's Youth Volunteer Program and The Great Friendship Link.

Implementing the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act To Benefit Children and Youth
Implementing the Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act (P.L. 113-183) To Benefit Children and Youth, which includes provisions for grandfamilies, is a helpful resources for advocates and state and local staff to help ensure full and prompt implementation of the improvements made in the new Preventing Sex Trafficking and Strengthening Families Act. The brief includes a summary and rationale for each of the Act's provisions and answers a number of questions being asked or likely to be asked as implementation gets underway. Learn more

Introducing...City of Surprise!

In our last installment, we highlight City of Surprise, Arizona, a national finalist for the 2015 Best Intergenerational Communities Award! In 2008, the community reached a milestone when when the City of Surprise and Benevilla established the Community for All Ages (CFAA) partnership that connects nonprofits, private businesses, academic institutions and city officials in a program to embrace the connections of the young and young-at-heart populations. Learn more

Culture United

Grammys

The Los Angeles Times reported that this year's Grammy Awards -  is going intergenerational and mixing up the generations with performances from young and old pairs like Lady Gaga (28) and Tony Bennett (88), Hozier (24) and Annie Lennox (60), and Jessie J (26) and Tom Jones (74). Watch the Grammys, then  share your thoughts with us on Facebook and Twitter about your favorite intergenerational duet.

 

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.

mUsic Unites - Cool Ideas
In the latest of series, we feature mUsic Unites, based at Hebrew SeniorLife's Jack Satter House in Revere, MATweet 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 mUsic Unites.
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

 

Grants Promote Community Gardens and Green Spaces. Scotts Miracle-Gro: GRO1000 Grassroots Grants is awarding grants of up to $1,500 to local communities throughout the country to help bring edible gardens, flower gardens, and public green spaces to more neighborhoods. The focus is on garden and green space beautification projects that incorporate the involvement and engagement of neighborhood residents and foster a sense of community spirit. Deadline: February 13, 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 aking@gu.org

Great Resources

Reports

Child Welfare Outcomes 2009-2012: Report to Congress

This report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provides outcomes that address the safety, permanency and well-being of children, and focus on widely accepted performance objectives for child welfare practice. Learn more

  

Resources

Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards, Under One Roof
and Connecting Generations
These resources are available for the shipping and handling price - Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards - $4.50, Under One Roof - $4.50, Connecting Generations - $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

 

An Intergenerational Community Built on an Innovative Funding Model and Partnerships: Visit to Bridge Meadows. Alliance for Strong Families and Communities. Portland, OR. March 18 - 19, 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 8-11, 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
"No one can win the war individually. It takes the wisdom of the elders and young people's energy.~Common and John Legend in "Glory" from the movie, Selma.

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 aking@gu.org. I'd love to hear from you!

 

Best,       

 

Alan King 

Communications Specialist

Generations United 

 

  
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