The Heyman Interages^®Center is a program

of JCA^® - Jewish Council for the Aging of Greater Washington.

COFFEE MEET AND GREET

BRING FRIENDS!

The coffee and light fare is on us! Come meet and greet with JCA Interages staff and volunteers. Learn about our new fall volunteer opportunities and share your ideas.

Thursday, August 16th at 10:00 am

Jewish Council for the Aging

12320 Parklawn Drive, Rockville, MD 20852

To RSVP or for information, contact Indira Dingledine.

JCA Heyman Interages

Seeking volunteers aged 50+

Get ready, Apply now

for fall volunteering

• Literacy/Reading with children
• Tutoring opportunities for volunteering with different ages and subjects
• In - classroom support opportunities
• Dialogues with children in middle school and high school

301-949-3551 | [email protected] | https://accessjca.org/interages/

The Intergenerational Book Club, a collaborative program organized by the Jewish Council for the Aging Heyman Interages® Center, Montgomery County Public Library (MCPL) staff, and MCPS students, aims to foster connections and meaningful discussions among participants of different generations. The book club connects individuals to literature that resonates with them by providing engaging reading materials. Through stimulating conversations, youth and older adults can learn from one another and engage with a diverse group of participants. The current book club, which began in early July, takes place virtually, offering flexibility for everyone involved. The chosen book for the club is The Last Cuentista, by Donna Barba Higuera, available in various formats. Participating students earn SSL (Student Service Learning) hours by attending all meetings, presenting a final project, and keeping their videos on during the sessions. Facilitated by MCPL staff and Interages volunteers, this program provides an enriching intergenerational experience for all involved. Another Book Club will be starting in October. Contact Indira Dingledine if you are interested in joining.

JCA FOOD DRIVE!!!

JULY 24-28

Help fight food insecurity this summer! JCA is collecting for the food drive at the JCA building 12320 Parklawn Avenue, Rockville, MD 20852, from 10 - 4 each day. Saturday, July 29th, from 12 - 2, youth volunteers will be assisting those donating at Interfaith Works located at

751 Twinbrook Parkway

Rockville, MD 20851.

See a list of suggested items. 

No expired items, please.

JCA staff will take the items to Interfaith Works.

For more information, contact Indira Dingledine.

Bringing Generations Together aims to create an awareness of the benefits of intergenerational relationships. To do so, we shine a light on all that young people and older adults have in common, provide research illustrating the value of intergenerational connections, and suggest activities that can ignite meaningful relationships between generations. 



Sue and her granddaughter Alexis (Interages alum) co-authored a book on intergenerational connections, aiming to inspire readers to bridge the generational gap and explore the benefits of such relationships. Drawing from Sue's experience as a schoolteacher and their close bond, they share personal insights and practical advice to help readers foster stronger intergenerational bonds. The book serves as a roadmap, providing specific strategies and activities to encourage meaningful connections and highlighting the positive impact of these relationships on social, emotional, and physical well-being.

The authors were pleasantly surprised by the extensive research supporting their book's message and the active engagement of individuals in building intergenerational connections. They hope their book raises awareness and motivates readers to become agents of change in fostering these relationships. By presenting a unique perspective as both granddaughter and grandmother authors, Sue and Alexis emphasize that intergenerational relationships can transcend stereotypes and provide valuable experiences regardless of age.



The book emphasizes the importance of recognizing the value of intergenerational relationships and challenging preconceived notions. Sue and Alexis encourage readers to keep an open mind when interacting with different generations and provide practical guidance for fostering connections. They stress the significance of finding common ground, engaging in shared activities, and seeking out collaboration opportunities. Through tangible steps like starting clubs, volunteering, and reaching out to family members, the authors inspire readers to actively nurture intergenerational bonds in their own lives and communities, embracing the wisdom and richness that these relationships bring.

The entire process of bridging the gap between the generations can be exciting and rewarding. The following are components of that process:

• RESEARCH: Investigate opportunities for intergenerational relationships.
• READ: Take time to locate information to help understand the value of pursuing these relationships and collect good ideas.
• ASK: Talk to folks for suggestions.
• LIST: Based on what you learn, make a list of organizations, contacts, and activities.
• CONTACT: Get in touch with groups and individuals to begin your intergenerational journey.
• SCHEDULE: Make it happen by scheduling time together.
• SHOW UP: Go!
• SHARE: Enjoy the shared experience.

Summer 23 Music Appreciation

The JCA Heyman Interages^® Center intergenerational programs have brought children and older adults together for more than 30 years. This summer, the Interages Center is partnering with the Kensington Clubs, an adult day-care program that engages elderly adults with memory loss/dementia. Youth volunteers and seniors will virtually participate in four shared Music Therapy classes. In addition, the young participants will virtually attend an introductory session to learn about aging, as well as career development in working with the elderly and the arts.

Following these activities, students will create a Reflection Project, producing posters, poetry, art, or other promotional material raising awareness to support the dignity of those with Dementia. JCA Interages will share the students’ work, advocating for the dignity of those with Dementia. The youth volunteers are middle or high-school-aged only.

To earn six SSL hours, students MUST attend ALL the sessions and produce a reflection project. 

For more information, contact Olga Pulgar Vidal.    

Youth on a mission!

Catholic Heart Camp, hosted by Georgetown Preparatory School at the end of June, brought together 200 youth from various locations for mission-driven activities. Among the youth were six remarkable individuals from Tennessee, Illinois, and North Carolina. They had the opportunity to engage in a four-day passport program with JCA Interages at the JCA Kensington Clubs. This unique initiative focused on themed activities based on different countries, including Korea, Ghana, Maine, and Israel, and involved adults with early-stage memory loss. The youth developed a deeper understanding of empathy and community by immersing themselves in these diverse cultures and connecting with the adults. The experience left an indelible mark on their personal growth and highlighted the power of fostering connections between generations and cultures.

See volunteer opportunities anytime through our Volunteer Portal

Please note, all opportunities require

preregistration and a background check.

MONTHLY READING TUTOR TRAINING SERIES

We hope you will join us on Zoom for our monthly Reading Tutor Training series. We are so grateful to presenter Megan Bainbridge, Reading Specialist of the Captain James E. Daly Elementary School, who is providing the sessions. Each session focuses on a different Reading Tutor Training topic, and lasts about an hour. Pre-registration online is required. 

Please note, these sessions provide broad tips and are not intended to be certification level training.

RECORDED SESSIONS

To view past recordings of the Reading Tutor Training sessions, view our Volunteer Portal

UPCOMING SESSIONS

Reading Tutor Training sessions are resuming in September. Have a great summer!

Things You Can Use

Free Resources for Teachers and Other Educators

Informed by experts and extensive research, these free teacher resources and guides from First Book’s Accelerator save you time and offer actionable steps you can take today to support the kids and teens in your community. www.fbmarketplace.org

Homepage, Open Source Phonics

"Literacy is a civil right. The research supporting phonics is too strong to ignore."

- Katie Spurlock

Open Source Phonics offers free phonics materials for teachers, tutors, and families.

Make a gift to support the good work that we do.

You can designate your gift to intergenerational programs on the donation form.

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.”

– Mahatma Gandhi 

For your convenience, past issues of the JCA Interages Connector are available on the JCA Interages website. Or hold your phone camera over this QR code or take a screenshot of the QR code and it will take you to our website.