The Heyman Interages^®Center is a program

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

Thank you to everyone who donated to the July JCA Food Drive!

Get Ready for Fall Volunteering!

Are you ready to make a meaningful impact in the lives of young learners? JCA Heyman Interages is excited to invite volunteers aged 50 and above to join us in a rewarding journey volunteering this fall. We are actively seeking compassionate individuals who are eager to contribute their time and knowledge to support various educational initiatives. From fostering literacy and reading skills among children to providing tutoring across a range of subjects and age groups, your participation can truly make a difference.

Opportunities also include in-classroom assistance and engaging dialogues with middle school and high school students. If you're passionate about enriching the education of the next generation, don't hesitate to apply now. Contact us at 301-949-3551 or Interages@AccessJCA.org, and visit our website at https://accessjca.org/interages/ to embark on this fulfilling volunteer journey with JCA Heyman Interages.

Introducing Solyana, a rising 10th grader and facilitator for the JCA Interages/Montgomery County Public Libraries Read Across Generations intergenerational summer reading initiative. Over a span of six weeks from July 10 to August 18, Solyana, alongside high school and college peers, is making a meaningful impact. With guidance from MCPL librarians, she's learning to effectively engage parents, matching children with Interages 50+ volunteers for shared reading experiences. Capturing essential details on the provided sign-in sheets, Solyana skillfully guides book selections. Under the librarian's supervision, she helps ensure program success while immersing herself in the MCPL site to enhance her community contributions.

Solyana's involvement extends beyond the program's duration. Through dedicated service, she earns Student Service Learning (SSL) hours, showcasing her commitment to education and community growth. As a facilitator, Solyana's role exemplifies unity, storytelling, and youth-driven positive change, leaving a lasting imprint on the Read Across Generations program and the Montgomery County Public Libraries community.

Featuring JCA Volunteer, Bernadette Salyer. Thank you for your time and enthusiasm. Bernadette is currently volunteering in the JCA Interages/Montgomery County Public Library Read Across the Generations program, reading with children who come to the library. She shared with us about herself.

A real DC area native, I was born in Washington, DC, and raised in Silver Spring, MD. I attended grade school in Silver Spring and high school in DC; college was in Wheeling, WV (BA in American History) and grad school was UMD, University College (BA in Accounting). Except for my undergraduate years, I have lived in this area all my life. 

After college, I worked for the Federal government in the Accounting Dept. of the Public Health Service. After five years there, I moved to the Legislative Branch and worked for a Senator from AZ doing legislative secretarial work until I married in 1976 and started raising my family. I was a stay-at-home Mom until my children started school.  

Back at work, I made a career in Accounting until I retired in 2021. I worked in the non-profit - Suburban Hospital and the Village of Friendship Heights and for-profit - Health Care Management Group and Rad Campaign.

From 2006-2010, I read with second graders in an MCPS program sponsored by Comcast/Ruth Railes that provided additional reading help in the hope they would be ready for the demands of third-grade course work. Even when those children struggled to read, they loved the individual attention from an adult.

I have always enjoyed reading and felt I wanted to share this love with children who could use encouragement to keep at it so they could find joy in stories about kids like themselves or in fairy tales or pets or sports, etc.

50th anniversary Interview Project

JCA has been helping seniors thrive since 1973

The JCA Heyman Interages Center's innovative approach to training high school and middle school students in conducting intergenerational interviews via Zoom is a testament to its commitment to fostering connections across generations. By empowering young students to engage with older adults in meaningful conversations, the program not only imparts valuable interviewing skills but also nurtures a deep appreciation for the wisdom and experiences of older community members. The Interages Interview Project, (https://accessjca.org/intergenerational-interview-project/), stands as a testament to the program's success in bridging generational gaps and preserving the stories and insights of individuals within the community.

As part of the JCA's 50th Anniversary celebration, the JCA History Video Project adds another layer of significance to the intergenerational mission. Pairing students with JCA individuals to document their impactful contributions to the community through interviews aligns perfectly with the center's core values. This approach not only captures the essence of the JCA's history but also showcases the ongoing endeavors that continue to shape and enrich the community. By offering students the opportunity to engage in these interviews, the center not only instills essential communication and interpersonal skills but also imparts a sense of purpose and belonging as they contribute to the preservation of their community's heritage.

Teens Teaching Tech

The African American Health Program, under the umbrella of the Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services, has embarked on an innovative partnership with the JCA Heyman Interages to foster intergenerational connectivity and enhance the well-being of older adults residing in East County. Recognizing the increasing importance of technology in today's world, this collaborative initiative aims to bridge the digital divide that often leaves seniors feeling disconnected and isolated. By leveraging the expertise of students as volunteers, the program seeks to empower older adults with fundamental technology skills that will not only improve their quality of life but also open doors to newfound opportunities.

The heart of this training program, held at the East County Recreation Center, lies in its dedication to nurturing understanding and connection across generations. Through patient guidance and hands-on support from compassionate student volunteers, older adults will be introduced to the basics of technology, including navigating digital devices, accessing online resources, and communicating through various digital platforms. Beyond just sharing technical know-how, the initiative aspires to create a sense of camaraderie and mutual learning between the younger and older participants, fostering an environment where questions are welcomed, and learning is a collaborative journey. The students earn Service Learning Hours.

Seeking Spanish Speakers

The Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) district has experienced a surge in its student population over the years, reaching an unprecedented enrollment milestone of 160,564 students at the commencement of the 2022–2023 academic year. This notable growth reflects the district's commitment to providing quality education to an increasingly diverse student body. With a breakdown of 32.8% Hispanic, 25.8% White, 21.8% Black, and 14.3% Asian students, MCPS exemplifies the richness of its multicultural environment.

For those interested in making a positive impact within this dynamic educational landscape, the JCA Heyman Interages Center offers a unique opportunity. The center is actively seeking compassionate individuals who are proficient in both English and Spanish to volunteer their time. Volunteers will be engaged in various meaningful activities, such as tutoring and reading with underserved youth or offering vital in-classroom support. For more details about how to get involved, please don't hesitate to reach out to Indira Dingledine, Volunteer Manager, at idingledine@accessjca.org. Your contribution could make a significant difference in the lives of these students. Thank you for considering this valuable opportunity to give back to the community.

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 when our monthly Reading Tutor Training series returns this fall. Stay tuned for dates tbd. 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.

Next Session is September 14th at 2:00pm.

The Science of Reading.

Register on the link below. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIsceChqz0iHtJ6L1ZDMxvIAEHfzdfsA7AH

RECORDED SESSIONS

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

NEXSTAR MEDIA WIRE NEWS addressed

Are your old CDs worth anything to collectors? For more information, click here.

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

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

If the house of the world is dark,

Love will find a way to create windows.

"The Analects of Rumi"

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.