A bi-monthly roadmap for navigating longevity
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Dear Friends and Neighbors,
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What a year – and it’s only August! Since January, we have been celebrating the Village’s 10th anniversary with a series of events and activities focused on connecting generations – an idea which is central to the Village’s mission of inclusiveness and well-being. We are committed to creating opportunities to bring people of all ages together.
In these months it has become increasingly clear that age integration is more than just a nice idea – it is critically important to the health and well-being of individuals, communities, and the economy.
We are living in a world in which age and experience are integral throughout life’s journeys: people in their 50’s find themselves job-hunting; women in their 30’s are members of Congress; couples in their 60’s raise children; people in their 20’s become caregivers. Age is not the determinant – life is.
We understand that, and we are proud to say that The Village Chicago is an established community resource for developing the programs and services that directly address many of the social determinants of well-being for people of all ages. And…we are warm, welcoming, and fun!
Here are some of the ways we are connecting people of all ages – we hope you will join and support us!
Thank you and kindest regards,
Darcy Evon
CEO
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It’s official. Ageism is the most socially acceptable prejudice on the planet, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Discrimination because of age is more normalized than even racism or sexism.
But here’s some good news! Ageism researchers at Cornell University have demonstrated for the first time that it is possible to reduce ageist attitudes, prejudices and stereotypes through intergenerational contact and education. We now know it is possible to overcome self-fulfilling internalized stereotypes of age, such as social isolation, physical, and cognitive decline. And that developing a positive attitude can be life-changing for people of all ages:
A Yale study (Levy et al.) found a striking link between ageism early in life and poor health later on. The study also shows that positive attitudes about aging can extend life by 7.5 years – a greater lifespan gain than from low cholesterol, low blood pressure, maintaining a healthy weight, or even being a non-smoker!
These are just some of the reasons that the Village programs connecting generations are more important than we thought. In addition, they have been fun, enlightening, and have helped build community. Read on!
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I. Collaborations and friendships that transcend age...
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Bridging Generations board member Liz Metzger (right) with her husband, Avi Newman.
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Liz Metzger grew up in a large multi-generational building and still feels that without older people in her life, her community is not whole. That is why she was attracted to the Village’s Bridging Generations Board, a group of mostly millennials who feel the same way and have come together to dispel preconceptions based on age by creating meaningful connections among generations.
Liz observes, "Through our college and post-college years, we have had limited opportunity to be involved with older people and so the mission of the "Bridgers" is to create more opportunities for the generations to be together."
They have held two dinners, two book discussions, are working on a trivia night – and will soon be producing an important intergenerational event:
Bridging Generations Board’s All Hands Volunteer Day!
As part of the celebration of the Village's 10th anniversary, the Village and the Bridging Generations Board will present a gift to the community on Saturday, September 7 - a day of volunteering for four local non-profit organizations - serving our community while connecting with individuals of all ages. (See details in Village News by scrolling below).
We are fortunate to have within the Village community a group of young people who are passionate about the importance of age diversity and inclusiveness and have translated their feelings into action.
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Grace and Laurel
by Laurel Baer
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I had called the Village office asking for someone to help with me with care giving, and a few days later I found myself greeting a young woman named Nyota who told me to call her Grace.
I liked her at once – she is kind, engaging, grounded, and mature for her age (20 when we first met) – no doubt because of her history. Grace was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, fled to a refugee camp in Rwanda at age 6, and thanks to World Relief and the United Nations, was able to leave there at age 10 to settle with relatives here in Chicago.
Grace and I found we could talk about anything – politics, health, her plans for the future, my past, her family, my work. And we also bonded over clothes.
Grace has a natural sense of style and from time to time I would give her some of my relatively dull, simple things only to have them show up on her as part of a trendy, smart outfit. How does she do that? And how can it be that a 21 year old and an 80 year old can wear the same clothes?
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I guess the same way they can become friends. Grace says, "The thing I value most in a friendship is the ability to talk about anything and not have to hold back, to be myself." And I feel the same way. Rather than being separated by our differences, we are connected by our similarities. Although there are three generations separating Gen Z Grace and Silent Generation Laurel, our friendship has transcended them all.
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II. Opportunities to bring people of all ages together…
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The Ageless Innovators program is a partnership between The Village Chicago and Chicago Innovation which brings older and younger business leaders together in Chicago’s first ever intergenerational co-mentoring program. The first cohort of co-mentors has completed the program and here’s what two of them had to say.
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Jay is CEO of
TopstepTrader, a company that evaluates traders’ skills, and if they pass muster, funds their trading and shares the profits.
Jay says, "I have been in many mentoring relationships before – but never as a co-mentor with each one mentoring the other." Jay was paired with a young man who is in the early stages of his career – also in finance.
Because of his years of experience, Jay was able to share his perceptions of the industry from a "meta" level. Both of them discovered that despite the changes that technology and time have brought, some things never do change and both face similar problems and situations, despite the difference in their ages and the passage of time.
Jay’s younger co-mentor clearly was able to learn much from Jay’s years of experience – but what did Jay get out of their relationship? When asked he said, "I learned that my skills and knowledge are still useful, relevant, and valued." A good thing to know in the midst of a thriving career!
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Brad Baum is co-founder of
Llama Naturals, a fruit and plant based nutrition brand. Brad’s co-mentor was Rob Knauer, Chair at
Vistage, a private CEO peer advisory organization. The two found that even though they are from different generations, they share similar interests such as reading (for example Simon Sinek, the
Start with Why author), learning new things, and the challenges of leadership.
Like most young people, Brad was "age-siloed" until entering the workforce and since his company is new, other than family, he has relatively few inter-generational relationships and none right now at work.
Both Brad and Jay agreed that cross-generation co-mentoring is of great interest and value to many, but until Ageless Innovators came along, few have had access to it. As Chicago Innovation Co-Founder Tom Kuczmarksi says, "No matter how old or how young, everybody has something to teach and something to learn." So thanks to Chicago Innovation and The Village Chicago for bringing this outstanding co-mentoring program to life.
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Dr. Michele Kehrer, Gen X
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"Eye-opening!" That is how Michele Kehrer describes her experience on the Village’s Bridging Generations Board.
We know her as Michele, but she is Dr. Michele Kehrer, PT, DPT, the founder of
Balance Chicago, and an innovator in the field of vestibular therapy, whose work has been featured in such publications as Martha Stewart Living and Oprah.
Because of her collaboration with the Village, she experienced an epiphany recently. She was having difficulty finding employees and realized that there was an option to be found among some of the older adults she had met. "I never thought of this before – but why would I not want to hire people with lots of experience, plus depth and breadth of knowledge?"
Michele serves as the liaison between the Bridging Generations Board and the Village Board of Directors. She says, "Attending the Village board meetings has demonstrated to me again how many opportunities there are to work together for the benefit of each other and our communities."
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III. Living together in multi generational neighborhoods…
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Virtually all Village members live in multi-generational neighborhoods – one of the desired outcomes that inspired the founders to establish the Village ten years ago.
One such member is Karen Terry, who observed recently that her downtown Chicago neighborhood is becoming more consciously age-integrated. In addition to the traditional facilities that older residents enjoy, there are more resources for young families with children such as schools and the expansive playground in the newly opened Bennett Park.
Also in the downtown area, Village member Carol Stein has lived for 20 years in a fascinating building still known by many as the Furniture Mart. Carol is also seeing changes. "Many older residents and some commercial establishments have moved out and younger families have moved in."
Stories similar to the ones which follow have happened in all of the neighborhoods in which Village members live. We present the Near North neighborhood as an example of how the variety and richness of city life and Village membership work together for engagement, community and well-being.
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The Near North Circle
There are 90 Village members living in the Near North area and, following the example of the Village’s Lake View and Edgewater members, have formed the Near North Circle – the Village’s third.
Neighborhood Circles encourage Village members who are also neighbors to develop a deeper connection to each other and to their neighborhoods with fun and support close by.
Janice Gerstein chairs the Near North Circle steering committee and says that their goal is to have two gatherings every month – a movie and dinner. In addition to oysters at Hugo's, a dinner at Osteria, and a visit to the Four Seasons for their fabulous house-made hot dogs, the group has toured both the Driehaus and Broadcast Museums.
These Village neighbors can look forward to an ongoing series of group outings and events as well as the comfort of knowing people are close by for a spontaneous walk, movie, or a cup of coffee.
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The Fitzgerald's
by Bruce Hunt
In the middle of the brutal winter of 2014, Dot and Jim Fitzgerald’s four daughters (one of whom is Village member Diane Fitzgerald) each made a pitch for why Dot and Jim should move from their familiar surroundings on Long Island, to a place closer to one of the daughter’s homes. Chicago won and "the New East Side" was one of the deciding factors – they fell in love with the views: the river, Navy Pier, the lake, and the exploding scoreboard at Soldier Field.
Because she claims to be "constitutionally incapable" of riding in the building elevator without striking up a conversation, Dot has come to know a number of the diverse occupants in their building. That diversity, by ethnicity, by age, by heritage and by socio-economic class, plus the number of students who live there temporarily, is one of the joys of living in their vertical village.
The Village Chicago has been instrumental in helping the Fitzgerald's to build their community. When Jim called the Village requesting help with a series of computer problems, volunteer Mark answered the call and continues to be a guru and a friend. The recent midsummer BBQ hosted by the Stuckey’s was another way to connect.
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From left: Jim, Dot, and Diane Fitzgerald.
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They have also had occasion to request transportation and thus they encountered Bob Hernquist, volunteer driver. It started when they first arrived in Chicago and since then, the Fitzgerald's and the Hernquist’s have built a strong friendship.
Dot and Jim express appreciation for how daughter, Diane (who works full time as President of the
RPM Foundation), has figured out ways they can be together. "The Fitzgerald’s love movies," says Diane, "and so we regularly go to an early movie, get some lunch and then do some grocery shopping." They all speak of that ritual as being important for staying connected. Coming to Chicago and joining the Village, both good moves for Dot and Jim, and another example of why connecting generations is important for people of all ages.
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DePaul University and The Village Chicago – Community Partners
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The joy of living near a university and its faculty and students was one of the reasons that the Village has thrived since its founding in 2009. DePaul was among the first to support the newly formed Village. Julie Emms, DePaul’s Director of Community Relations, says, "We have a long-standing history of involvement with the community and were happy to extend help to a new organization of a different kind – a social and services organization for people over 50."
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Julie Emms describes DePaul’s engagement with the community, which goes back over 100 years to its founding in 1898. "Over that time, the university has been instrumental in the development of the community. Today, we support neighborhood organizations such as the Sheffield Neighborhood Association and their annual Garden Walk, the Wrightwood Neighbors Association, the Lincoln Park Chamber of Commerce and more."
One of their on-going activities is the Lincoln Park Community Research Initiative, begun 20 years ago on the occasion of DePaul’s centennial. Twice a year, the Research Initiative presents programs that document the shared history of the University and Lincoln Park through a collaboration between faculty and local historians.
Last fall, the Research Initiative presented "From Prairie to Performance Hall: An Architectural History of the 2300 Block of N Halsted." This is the site of the beautiful new Holtschneider Performance Center where The Village recently held its 10th Anniversary celebration and benefit.
Over the years, DePaul has contributed in many ways to the Village from providing interns, to community service activities and access to venues, which provide opportunities to bring members together for meetings and events that are essential to the Village community.
Julie says, "Community is at the heart of DePaul University. As an institution, we are committed to the Lincoln Park community and excited to see the neighborhood change and evolve." The Village Chicago is part of the next chapter in the community’s history.
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Bridging Generations All-Hands Volunteer Day
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On Saturday, September 7 from 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM, The Bridging Generations Board invites all Village members and their guests to participate in a day of service to PAWS Chicago, the Lakeview Pantry, the Lincoln Park Conservancy and Lincoln Park Community Services. Volunteers will register for 2-4 hours of service, organized into groups, and will spend time serving our community while connecting with individuals of all ages. To register, please
click here or call the Village office at 773.248.8700.
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Mark Your Calendar! Village Programs
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Village Member Pastime Groups
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Are you...
Looking for a new career, about to retire, wondering what's next? Seeking companions that share your interests? Searching for a way to utilize your abilities? In need of occasional help? New to Chicago? Worried about changing needs? An adult child with aging parents?
Village members are part of an inclusive, intergenerational community, connected to others and to the resources that support growth and well-being as we navigating longevity together.
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Leadership of The Village Chicago
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Board of Directors
Kathleen Kologdy,
President
Nancy Felton-Elkins,
Vice President
Beth Burn Joosten,
Vice President
Alan T. Lougée,
Vice President
Joan Goldstein,
Secretary
Karen Terry,
Secretary
Richard W. Sullivan,
Treasurer
Ruth Ann Watkins,
Immediate Past President
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David E. Baker
Donald M. Bell
Judy Carmack Bross
Patricia Clickener
Charles G. Cooper
John Craib-Cox
Thomas C. Eley III
Hollis Hines
Bruce Hunt
Ira Kohlman
Angie Levenstein
Gail C. Moss
Leatrice Berman Sandler
Bob Spoerri
Melville Washburn
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Advisory Council
Neelum T. Aggarwal, MD
Robyn L. Golden, LCSW
Joanne G. Schwartzberg, MD
Mary Ann Smith
CEO
Darcy L. Evon
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The “new longevity” means that later life can span 30 years or more. Whether we’re working, retired or farther along on our journey, we all seek well-being, to be valued and to contribute. The Village Chicago is an inclusive membership community of people 50+ that provides services, expertise, social connection, engagement, volunteer opportunities and health/well-being resources - all to support members’ growth and quality of life, keeping us connected to each other, our communities and the city as we navigate longevity together.
2502 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois 60614.
773.248.8700
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