Today, 8.4 million people live in age-friendly communities, where all ages engage in decision-making, problem-solving and relationship-building. Since 2012, Generations United and MetLife Foundation have recognized the best intergenerational communities in the United States. From this work, Generations United has developed a new toolkit, Creating An Age-Advantaged Community. Download both publications, then share through your networks. Stay tuned for next week, when we recap our award event. In the meantime, you can read more about our 2015 Best Intergenerational Communities here.

Meet Our New Project Director!

We're thrilled to welcome Emily Duda to the Generations United team. Emily has studied under our colleague, Shannon Jarrott, at Virginia Tech and worked with intergenerational programs. As our project director, Emily will manage our Seniors4Kids initiative, conferences, intergenerational programs, our new Grandfamilies Financial Empowerment Project, future Best Intergenerational Communities Awards, Youth Jumpstart grantees and more. Join us in welcoming Emily! Contact Emily at [email protected].

Our Advanced Registration Rate Ends Sunday!

During his acceptance speech, 2014 Heisman Trophy winner Marcus Mariota attributed his success to his "Ohana" (Hawai'ian for family including blood-related, adoptive or intentional). Join us July 21-24 as we explore the role of Ohana at our conference, Intergenerational Action on a Global Scale. Take advantage of our advanced rate (available until Sun., Feb. 15!). While you're on our site, check out our preliminary schedule of events and nominate an outstanding individual or best practice for our awards.

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GIA's #GenTogether Selfie Campaign

#GenTogether is Grantmakers in Aging's social media campaign for all ages that invites people of different generations to team up, take a "selfie" photo together, and post it on social media. It's another way GIA's Community AGEnda is helping communities become great places to grow up and grow old. Learn more

LeadingAge's New Housing and Health Partnerships Toolkit

The Housing and Health Partnerships toolkit, developed by the LeadingAge Center for Housing Plus Services, provides resources and guidance to help providers of affordable senior housing and their health care partners work together to improve health, safety and quality of life for housing residents, while reducing unnecessary use of health services and achieving cost savings. Learn more

A Huge Thanks to Our Members and Supporters

Generations United welcomes our new member, Community LIGHT Housing Corp. 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.

Introducing...DOROT's Youth Volunteer Program and The Great Friendship Link!

In part 4, we introduce DOROT'S Youth Volunteer Program (New York, NY) and The Great Friendship Link (San Diego, CA), two of our 2015 Programs of Distinction re-designees. DOROT's Youth Volunteer Program mobilizes volunteers of all ages to improve the lives of the elderly. The program engages youth in volunteer activities within an educational framework, increases their sensitivity to the needs of the elderly, and furthers their commitment to service. Learn more about DOROT's Youth Volunteer Program. Through The Great Friendship Link, Sunshine Care partners with private and public schools, 4-H, Scout Troops, home school networks and various non-profits to create a vibrant community for all ages and abilities. Learn more about The Great Friendship Link. Stay tuned for next week, when we introduce Together Transforming the Experience of Aging.

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Culture United

Intergenerational Grammys

This past Sunday, it was great to see the Grammy Awards embrace the intergenerational spirit. Our Board member, Marvin Waldman, pointed out the fact that AC/DC, whose members are in their 50's and 60's, opened the show to a young crowd that gave them a huge ovation. We congratulate the intergenerational pairs that performed, including Tony Bennett and Lady, whose CHEEK to CHEEK album won Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. This year's Grammy performances showed the creativity unleashed every time young and old work together.

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.

Generation Exchange - Cool Ideas

In the latest of series, we feature

Generation Exchange, based in Kansas City, MO. Tweet 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 Generation Exchange.

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 [email protected]

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

"To me, grandparents are like the family National Guard. They are ready to step in when there is a need, and as soon as that need is met, they are ready to leave active duty." ~Andrew J. Cherlin, a sociologist at Johns Hopkins University.

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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