Congratulations to Our Winning Communities!

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (center) posing with Maricopa
County residents

Today, we presented four communities with the 2014 MetLife Foundation/Generations United Best Intergenerational Communities Award.

We're grateful to our MCs author and journalist Juan Williams and our Board member Jatrice Martel Gaiter for an inspiring and humor-filled event.

This annual award heightens awareness of the important role that intergenerational solidarity plays in building strong, vibrant communities.

The event also included members of Congress speaking on behalf of their communities.

Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) gave a shout-out to Parkland, FL, for being an intergenerational champion. “This growing city,” he said, “will continue to thrive and succeed.”

The hardworking residents of Shorewood, WI, got some love from their representative, Congresswoman Gwen Moore (D). Of Shorewooed, Moore said: “It’s without a doubt one of the four communities in our nation that demonstrates…bringing the best of youth and elderhood together.”

Robert Simon, a developer and founder of Reston, VA, recounted a story that garnered laughs from the packed room. According to him, some kids were playing by a statue the city erected in his honor.

Hayley Tsuchiyama, of Shorewood, WI, greets Reston's
founder Robert Simon after her speech

One of the boys, looking from Simon to the statue, asked the developer, “How did you get out?”

(Videos: Reston Wins Best Intergenerational Community Award and Fox News Juan Williams recognizes Bob Simons 100th Birthday)

Simon's Reston and the other award recipients are redefining community life by throwing out old stereotypes and engaging residents of every age in decision-making, problem-solving and relationship-building.

Simon, who was 50 when he founded Reston in 1965, remembered the city developing from humble beginnings to where it is now. The visionary couldn't imagine his community any other way.

“If I didn’t have intergenerational relationships, I’d be  lonely,” said Simon, who turns 100 next month.  

Jessica Ayala’s remarks were just as touching. The Maya High School student, of Maricopa County, AZ, talked about overcoming her shyness and learning how to lead.

“I thought being a leader was being bossy and pushy,” Ayala said. “I learned that leadership is speaking up for others.”

Jessica Ayala, a student at Maya High School in Maricopa
County, sharing what she learned about being a leader

Her most important lesson was introspective.

“I learned,”  Ayala said, “my true self was better than I thought.”

Congratulations, again, to our winners. You can see other highlights here.

If you’re interested in more info about intergenerational communities, click here and share our resources with your networks.

Looking Back Part 2

We’re less than three weeks away from honoring the 2014 Best Intergenerational Community Award winners: The Greater Phoenix Region, Arizona; City of Parkland, Florida; Reston, Virginia and Village of Shorewood, Wisconsin.

These four winners are examples of communities across America that are developing innovative practices, programs and policies to solve challenges that benefit people of all ages.

Intergenerational communities thrive because they build strong, supportive communities with fresh solutions to challenges that help people of all ages. They advance policies and practices that both acknowledge and promote intergenerational interdependence.

 

Last week, we highlighted a few of our inaugural winners from 2012. In the weeks leading up to our March 25 event, we’ll continue sharing stories from our past winners’ stories. This is the second in a three-part series that shows why age-intentional strategies are important.

Introducing…San Diego County, California (2012 winner); Virginia Planning District 10 (2012 winner) and Dunedin, Florida (2013 winner).

With three million residents to serve, San Diego County absolutely believes in the need to support intergenerational connections

  

Today, all types of county services and programs have an intergenerational aspect. Libraries and Parks and Recreation offer intergenerational art, math, reading and jazz programs. Older adults take part in a Workforce Academy for Youth, mentoring foster youth for six months as they get ready to leave the foster system and join the work world.

Young people have the opportunity to join the Legacy Corps Program where they serve caregivers and learn about the aging process. The county also works with providers that serve older adults and youth to sponsor Resident and Youth Leadership Academies. These academies train older adults and youth in leadership, and primarily focus on community planning principles and environmental prevention strategies. The list goes on.

Covering the City of Charlottesville and sprawling counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson, Virginia’s Planning District 10 was until fairly recently as divided in its approach to serving multiple generations as in its geography. 

Today, all eight community centers have active intergenerational programs, and adult care centers interact on a daily basis with co-located child care centers.

In addition, there are intergenerational song-writing/performance programs, tutoring opportunities, vocational education programs, nutrition initiatives, and high school student representation on JABA’s volunteer board as well as many other intergenerational activities.Community gardens yield locally grown food that is used to feed elderly residents at the local community and senior centers.

Dunedin, home to over 35,000 residents, formalized its efforts to connect generations 1992. 

That’s when the community’s Committee on Aging formed an Intergenerational Subcommittee “to bring public awareness to the value of intergenerational relationships by supporting and promoting recreational, educational and service projects that bring together people of all ages.”

Today, intergenerational awareness in Dunedin is free-flowing and seamless. This mindset resonates from the city leaders through staff and into the community.  Each year since 2006, the mayor has issued a formal proclamation to bring awareness and commitment to the community’s celebration of Intergenerational Week.

During that week – the first full week in December – the city celebrates activities to cap off all the events and programs that brought generations together throughout the year.  Yearly, there are 29 events in the city that bring together multiple generations, along with ongoing programs, ranging from teenagers visiting nursing homes, intergenerational activities at senior centers and holiday festivals.  

Read the full community profiles here.  Stay tuned for next week, when we introduce Itta Bena, Mississippi; Montgomery County, Maryland and Westchester County, New York.

Introducing...City of Parkland, FL!

EDITOR'S NOTE: This is part 2 of our series on the 2014 Best Intergenerational Communities Award-winners. Read part 1 and part 3. 

The City of Parkland's got more going for it than its red-tiled stucco and stone mansions, golf courses, lakes and beautiful tourists-attracting parks. It's where 24,000+ residents of all ages benefit from a variety of programs, services and special events. 

The annual Winter Talent Showcase is a community favorite. "We audition many people in our community to get the best talent for the show," explained Alexa Naidus, a former member of Parkland's Teen Advisory Group, who produces the event at the Aston Gardens nursing home. 

Long-time Parkland resident and volunteer Beatrice Hawe can't contain her joy for the community: "I have made many new friends and could not imagine spending my senior years living anywhere else." Stay tuned for next week, when we introduce The Greater Phoenix Region, AZ. 

Registration's Now Open for 2014 Best Intergenerational Communities Event!

Join us on March 25 at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as we honor the communities that are best at serving and engaging all generations: The Greater Phoenix Region, Arizona; City of Parkland, Florida; Reston, Virginia and Village of Shorewood, Wisconsin. Learn about innovative programs and practices occurring in these communities to intentionally bring multiple generations together to thrive. Register today!