Generations This Week

We're thrilled that The Eisner Foundation has evolved and is now the only U.S. foundation solely dedicated to funding intergenerational solutions. "The Eisner Foundation has taken a bold step that will elevate Los Angeles County as a leading municipality that values and engages all generations," Donna Butts said. "The Eisner Foundation can play a significant role in moving the emerging conversations from the realm of problems to possibilities." Learn more

Thank you, Sodexo!

Generations United thanks Sodexo for being a sponsor of our upcoming conference, Intergenerational Action on a Global Scale, July 21-24, 2015, Honolulu, HI!

White House Conference on Aging
Generations United was honored to be invited to participate in this once-a-decade event. We're very happy to see the intergenerational focus in their video: White House Conference on Aging. For more news, watch Generations This Week for Donna's upcoming Huffington Post piece on the conference.

Latest issue of the Title I Report Featured Our Grand Partners in Education Initiative

The Title I Report, which highlights cutting-edge strategies and schools' best practices, did a wonderful write-up on our work with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation through Grand Partners in Education, a two year initiative we started - in partnership with the Center for Law and Education and the Baltimore-based Grandfamilies Parent Teach Student Association (GPTSA). The Grand Partners in Education initiative will d evelop, pilot and promote a family engagement model that improves the long-term academic and social outcomes for Pre-K through 3rd grade children in Baltimore. Read the Title I write-up.

A Huge Thanks to Our Members and Supporters

Generations United thanks our renewing member, Friendship Center, Inc. and Donna Butts, who contibuted in honor of our upcoming conference. 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.

Grandparents Day 2015 Ideas

Grandparents Day is Sept. 13! Here are a few ideas:

Grandparents Climate Action Day. If you're a grandparent or elder interested in saving the environment for future generations, the Elders Climate Action are offering trainings for their Grandparents Climate Action Day in Washington, D.C. on Sept. 9. Being a concerned elder is the only requirement. Learn more
Generations United's Grandparents Day Stories. Last year, we shared our favorite moments with grandparents. (Read Sheri's story: "Fortunate.") We'd like to share your stories. Check out our submission requirements, then send us your stories for consideration on our Together Blog.
General. Haven't decided on an activity yet? Then visit www.grandparentsday.org for resources, ideas and information.

Intergenerational Action on a Global Scale

Meet Generations United's 2015 Award Recipients

This week, we introduce our 2015 Generations United Intergenerational Innovation Award recipients, 'Iolani School and Sweet Readers! If you plan to tweet on your way to or during the conference, tweet at #GensUnited15.

Intergenerational exchange is a priority for the 'Iolani School, which offers its students multiple opportunities to learn about issues of older adults and interact with kupuna. The school's curriculum includes two classes on intergenerational issues: the One Mile Project and the hospice class. The One Mile Project educates students about issues facing the elderly in their community. Students engage in empathy challenges that simulate age-related changes in vision and balance. Read the full profile.

Based in New York City, Sweet Readers connects middle school children with older adults suffering from Alzheimer's disease and other forms of dementia through art, music, hands-on projects, and conversation. Its goal is to discover the person behind the disease. Sweet Readers partners with museums, schools, senior centers, and other community groups in six cities. Read the full profile.

Meet Our 2015 Programs of Distinction Designees

This week, we introduce

Opening Minds through Art and PSS/WSF Grandparent Family Apartments!

The mission of Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is to build bridges across age and cognitive barriers through art. The program is implemented in group sessions of 12 people with dementia with the assistance of 12 trained volunteers working on a one-to-one basis. Read the full profile.

Presbyterian Senior Services has been a pioneering leader of kinship services since the early 1990's when it held support groups at its senior centers for grandparents raising grandchildren. Its PSS/WSF Grandparent Family Apartments, one of the first residences for kinship families, opened in 2005. It now provides kinship caregiver services in three boroughs of NYC. Read the full profile.

Stay tuned to next week to learn more about The Intergenerational School and TimeSlips Creative Storytelling-Creative Trusts .

Culture United

The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman

Based on the Ernest Gaines novel. An ex-slave, Miss Jane Pittman, now 110 years old, reviews her life for a young print journalist. The journalist grows to respect and affirm this woman's wisdom and grasp of history. Miss Jane also is inspired by the young people of her community who are involved in the Civil Rights struggle. Consequently, she protests the mistreatment of her people in a climactic scene.

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.

Cool Ideas

Awakening Minds Art's Intergenerational Painting Program

This week's cool idea is Awakening Minds Art (AMA)'s Intergenerational Painting Programs, which gives participants across the lifespan the opportunity to come together through art. T weet your cool intergenerational ideas to #cooligideas . You can also p ost them to our Intergenerational

Connections Facebook Group . 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 Awakening Minds Art's Intergenerational Painting Program .

Want to be Considered for a Bookend Blog?

Three years ago, we started a series known as the Bookend Blog. (see: Betty White's Off Their Rockers.) The series got its name from our contributing writers, youth and older adults, both of whom we refer to as the "bookends" that hold our civil society together. Bookend bloggers comment on current events and offer generational perspectives. Does this sound like you? Let us know if you want to be considered for our Bookend Blog.

Think Intergenerational - Funding Opportunities

Free Bridges Together Intergenerational Program. Thanks to Massachusetts Council On Aging, Bridges Together is providing grants for five communities in Massachusetts to be trained on implementing an award-winning Bridges intergenerational program! Deadline: Rolling. Watch the video on Bridges program curricula. Learn more about the grant's eligibility and requirements.

Legacy Youth Activism Fellowship. The Youth Activism Fellowship is a 12-month leadership development and community activism program for 18-24 year olds. Throughout the program, the selected Fellows learn from nationally recognized leaders in public health and network with other dynamic young adults from around the nation. Deadline: July 31, 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

Children's Budget 2015

This new report from First Focus, offers a detailed guide to federal spending on children and serves as an invaluable resource for those seeking to improve the lives of America's youth. Learn more

Model Family Foster Home Licensing Standards, Under One Roof

and Connecting Generations

These excellent Generations United 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

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

Celebrate the Power of Experience. Senior Corps. Reston, VA. Sept. 9-12, 2015. Learn more

Grandparents As Parents Conference. Grandparents As Parents. Covington, KY. Sept. 11, 2015. Learn more

Tribal Customary Adoption: Making Relatives, Supporting Families. National Indian Child Welfare Association (NICWA). Portland, OR. Sept. 22-23, 2015. Learn more

2015 GIA Annual Conference. Grantmakers in Aging. Washington, DC. October 28-30, 2015. Learn more

LeadingAge HackFest. LeadingAge. Boston, MA. Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2015. Learn more

International Youth Earth Summit. Montessori Model United Nations. New York, NY. Nov. 11-14, 2015. Learn more

Quote

"Let us take care of the children, because they have a long way to go. Let us take care of the elders, because they have come a long way. Let us take care of those in between, because they are doing the work." ~Nelson Mandela

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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