Brunswick

Lead agency

People Plus

Contact person

Nancy J. W. Porter

nancy@peopleplusmaine.org

CFAA Team

• Downeast Energy
• Brunswick High School
• Brunswick Office of Economic Development
• Brunswick Parks and Recreation Department
• Curtis Memorial Library
• Brunswick Downtown Association
• Bowdoin College
• Head Start
• Senior Spectrum
• Five Rivers Art Alliance
• Brunswick Teen Center
• People Plus
• United Way of Midcoast Maine
• Midcoast Senior Health Center-Thornton Hall

Stage of development

Planning-year 1

Community concern(s)/issue(s) addressed thru CFAA initiative

• Isolation of youth
• Isolation of older adults
• Economic future of Brunswick as a major resource is phasing out-the Brunswick Naval Air Station
• Lack of community, multigenerational places and spaces
• Transportation from rural areas for elders and youth
• Disconnection from community across the generations

Key strategies used to address issue(s)

• Utilizing community residents and current infrastructure to identify the resources and thereby, connecting generations through community venues
• Identify the current infrastructure and what is working within that venue
• Identify community needs, assets and resources through community mapping, community focus groups and neighborhood dialogues
• Create opportunities for youth and older persons to come together which fosters the promise of tomorrow's youth, while honoring the wisdom and life experience of our older population

Major activities planned for this year

• Intergenerational art network
• Civic and non-profit training and event
• Continue community outreach and educational events to develop collaborative partnerships
• Continue to raise public awareness, finalize community asset mapping process, conduct community focus groups to identify needs and issues
• Focus upon programs and projects that will deliver to the community the benefits of intergenerational community building and beneficial outcomes

What do you hope will be different because of your CFAA work?

Brunswick is a community who is growing through urban projects, yet, is an economy which is incredibly unstable as the Naval Air Station is slated for closure. Brunswick is the second fasteset growing retirement destination on the East Coast. Maine is now officially the "oldest" state in the United States. Brunswick faces issues that many small towns face. The older adults who retire here are affluent and are driving middle income older perons into socio-econmic difficuties. As a small community, Brunswick is easily divided over community issues and needs. This type of devisive, community climate and culture continues to isolate certain populations-most importantly our youth and elders-as they are, also, one of this community's least acknowledged resources.

We live in a fractured and age based community. One of our deepest passions and community goals is to unite our generations, so that they can form relationships, that will impact and improve their lives. Inclusion and integration through meaningful and purposeful, community engagments, and the feeling of "belonging" through intergenerational connections are one of the key hopes in Brunswick as we move forward towards a Community for All Ages.