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.

A Look Back at Past Best Intergenerational Communities Award Winners

Communities across America are developing innovative practices, programs and policies to solve challenges that benefit people of all ages.

Next month, we’ll honor the 2014 Best Intergenerational Community award winners: The Greater Phoenix Region, Arizona; City of Parkland, Florida; Reston, Virginia and Village of Shorewood, Wisconsin.

These age-optimized communities bring together people of all generations to improve neighborhoods, towns, cities, and counties.    

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.

  

That’s why, starting today and through the weeks leading up to our March 25 event, we’re highlighting our past winners’ stories in three-part series that shows why age-intentional strategies are important.

First up, are our inaugural winners in 2012: Georgetown, Texas; Lamoni, Iowa and Oberlin, Ohio.

In Georgetown, TX, home to approximately 47,000 residents, no one entity plans or oversees the city’s array of intergenerational activities or initiatives. Instead, the city government, schools, businesses, and religious and nonprofit organizations all work collaboratively to identify opportunities and strengthen existing efforts.

The city government helps sustain intergenerational efforts in a number of ways. Using an Asset Based Community Development approach, it works to build the often underused “community assets” (talents) of seniors and youth.

The city is also a major contributor to the Georgetown Project, which funds social service and youth development organizations that help sustain intergenerational connections. Other city projects include helping to revitalize the historic town square so it now serves as an intergenerational gathering place; overseeing a new public library that includes space to foster intergenerational interactions; and building a new recreation center that includes a teen/senior center.

Things are just as busy in Lamoni, Iowa, where problem solving brings the generations together.

With a population of just under 2,500 residents, Lamoni has numerous strong intergenerational practices benefiting all ages. Graceland University students volunteer with school children, senior adults and local community organizations. High school students teach computer skills to adults. 

The weekly Lunch Buddies mentoring program brings mentors ranging from Graceland students to city employees, to Optimist Club members, to retired citizens to the local elementary school.

Additional intergenerational programs include a Service Learning Club that provides a wide array of services for older adults and Across Ages mentoring that pairs middle school youth with adults aged 55 and over.

That spirit of collaboration and community service are a big part of life in Oberlin, a city that’s built strong alliances with community organizations that ensure that Oberlin is an intergenerational community. 

The local government, Oberlin College, Oberlin City Schools, Kendal at Oberlin (a retirement community), Oberlin Community Services, Oberlin Heritage Center, Mercy Allen Hospital, and many other local organizations work closely together to develop programs that support and encourage interaction among different generations. 

Students from Oberlin College’s Bonner Center for Service and Learning work with the many community organizations to address concerns and challenges, using many intergenerational techniques to achieve the goals.  Read the full community profiles here.

Stay tuned for next week, when we introduce San Diego County, California; Virginia Planning District 10 (2012 winners) and Dunedin, Florida (a 2013 winner).