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News for Advocates of Children, Youth and Older Adults  

from Generations United

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 Volume 10, Issue 50
December 16, 2015
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Near East Side program brings elderly, preschoolers together
The Columbus Dispatch highlighted a new intergenerational center , which resulted from a partnership that includes the Columbus Early Learning Center, National Church Residences and Ohio State University. The article also quoted Donna Butts  and our  friend and colleague, Shannon Jarrott "People are starting to wake up and smell the demographics," Donna said. "We're starting to see a real uptick in interest (for programming), and, in a lot of ways, Columbus is ahead of the curve." Read the full story.
Partners in Education program crosses generations  to help children thrive
Our funder, the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, highlighted our Partners in Education program, a collaborative that recognizes parents, grandparents and schools as equal stakeholders in improving the academic success for children. "From attending our meetings, parents, grandparents and the school (leaders) have opened lines of communication," said Jaia Peterson Lent, Generations United deputy executive director. "Because every generation wants to see children thrive, parents and grandparents can be effective partners." Read the full story
Best Intergenerational Communities Awards! - Deadline: Jan. 15    
There's no place like home - especially if you live in a community that offers opportunities for every generation. Sound like your community? Then apply today for the 2016 Best Intergenerational Communities Awards sponsored by MetLife Foundation and Generations United.  No community is too big or too small. The award winning communities will be publicly recognized at an Intergenerational Communities Briefing in Washington, DC, in Spring 2016, including visits with their members of Congress.  Learn more, then download the application .
Generations United Shout Out!
Our friend, Dr. Erwin Tan, director of the Corporation for National Community Services' (CNCS) Senior Corps program, will be retiring next Tues., Dec. 22. We wish him well and congratulate him on his new position as director of Thought Leadership-Health with Generations United member, AARP!
A Huge Thanks to Our Members and Supporters
We thank our Board member, Marla Viorst, and new member, Chautauqua Education and Event Promotions, Inc., for their contributions.  You can also contribute and/or honor a friend or loved one with a Tribute Gift to Generations United.  Donate to help us unleash the potential of an "age-amped" society.
Grandfamily Stories
The Only Safe Place He Had
Starting today, we'll highlight a story each month from our State of Grandfamilies in America: 2015 report. First up, is Chad Dingle, a 23-year-old who was raised by his grandmother. Read his story.
Social Security 101: What's in it for me?
Social Security is often seen as a retirement program that benefits only older adults. But did you know this family insurance program also helps college students and young workers? The Social Security Administration has a new video, Social Security 101: What's in it for me?, that explains to young people the FICA tax that comes out of paychecks and offers tips on saving and planning for the financial future. Watch the video.
Victories for the Nation's At-risk Young Children
Our friend, Miriam A. Rollin, vice president and chief operating officer of Council for a Strong America, shared some good news about a new funding bill that supports Head Start, Preschool Development Grants and the Child Care and Development Block Grants. Learn more
Thanks to Patti Russo for this suggestion!

Culture United
My Grandmother Ask Me to Tell You She's Sorry by Fredrik Backman
Elsa is seven years old and different. Her 77-year-old grandmother her best, and only, friend. At night Elsa takes refuge in her grandmother's stories, in the Land of Almost-Awake and the Kingdom of Miamas where everybody is different and nobody needs to be normal. When Elsa's grandmother dies and leaves behind a series of letters apologizing to people she has wronged, Elsa's greatest adventure begins. Her grandmother's letters lead her to an apartment building full of drunks, monsters, attack dogs, and totally ordinary old crones, but also to the truth about fairytales and kingdoms and a grandmother like no other.

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. See disclaimer.
Cool Ideas
Storied Lives
This week's cool ideas is  Storied Lives , which pairs service-minded high-potential students who love to write with the elderly living in residential care homes, who are often lonely and want to tell their stories. 

Got something cool you tried that was successful? Why not tweet your cool intergenerational ideas to  #cooligideas ? You can also post 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 Storied Lives .
Think Intergenerational - Funding Opportunities
Stop Hunger Grant. Youth Service America and Sodexo Foundation are looking for 125 of the best ideas from young people about how they can help end childhood hunger in their communities. They will offer $400 grants to youth leaders ages 5-25 across the U.S. to turn their ideas into action. 
Deadline: Jan. 15, 2016. Learn more

Responsive Grant. The Retirement Research Foundation is accepting request for proposals for efforts that increase the competency of professionals and paraprofessionals who serve older adults. Deadline: Feb. 1, 2016. Learn more

If you have - or know of - any intergenerational funding opportunities, please send them to Alan King at aking@gu.org
Great Resources  
Research
State of Grandfamilies in America: 2015.  In this  second edition of the annual State of Grandfamilies in America report , Generations United identified key state laws and policies specifically designed to address barriers and better support the diverse and unique population of grandparents and other relatives raising children. Learn more

Conceptual Frameworks and Practical Applications to connect Generations in the Technoscape. Matt Kaplan,PhD.Leah Bradley, MSW, and Mariano Sánchez, PhD, explored this potential through an international survey and found that important strides are being made in utilizing new technology for effectively connecting generations and positively affecting aging adults' lives. Learn more

The Resounding Resiliency of Grandfamilies: Financial Stories from Older Relatives Caring for Children in Lower-Income Communities. 
Citi Community Development commissioned this report by Generations United and CFED , which  highlights the financial strengths and challenges facing grandparents raising grandchildren in low-income communities. Learn more
Events
Conferences 
Disparate Income, Wealth and Opportunity:  Implications for Social Insurance. National Academy of Social Insurance. Washington, DC. Jan. 27-28, 2016. Learn more

Educate. Ignite. Transform. National Youth Leadership Council. Minneapolis, MN. March 30 - April 2, 2016. Learn more
Quote    
"It is utterly false and cruelly arbitrary to put all the learning into childhood, all the work into middle age, and all the regrets into old age."  ~Margaret Mead, 

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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