Our Initiative

The Communities for All Ages Team:
Our Communities for All Ages work has shifted in focus somewhat since we began four years ago. One key stakeholders in our initial Communities for All Ages team, the Golden Gate Community Center, has infused an intergenerational lens into the mission of the center. This has resulted in a wide range of intergenerational programs, supports and leadership development opportunities. In addition to being part of the national network, The Golden Gate community center participates in the Arizona statewide network of Communities for all ages teams, and provides feedback and mentorship where appropriate to the newer sites.

Our Funder:
• Arizona Community Foundation

Phase of development: IMPLEMENTATION

Starting date: 2004

Our Communities for All ages team has intentionally sought to support and engage community residents of different ages in leadership roles. Building the leadership skills of community residents of all ages has created opportunities and support for community residents of all ages and has improved our ability to effectively communicate the value of an intergenerational approach to a much broader range of residents, organizations and policy makers.

Our Communities for All Ages team decided to focus on integrating Communities for All Ages strategies into the work we were already involved in at our local community center. We chose to focus on engaging community residents of different ages around issues of health and wellness, caregiver support, neighborhood safety and lifelong learning. In addition to creating opportunities for intergenerational interaction and connection through a range of classes, workshops, literacy training and cultural events, we also developed several new groups that have trained leaders of different generations. These leaders have been responsible for developing a range of opportunities and supports for residents of all ages and for raising awareness on the local, city and statewide level of the value of an intergenerational approach.

Some examples of our work among different generations:

• The Communities for All Ages team supported residents in establishing a neighborhood association, and encouraged safety efforts to incorporate intergenerational approaches. This included hiring local residents (called “promotoras”) to go door to door in neighborhood to identify needs and connect residents to local supports, services and opportunities
• In 2007 youth leaders were engaged in an intergenerational photography project with older photography teachers in which students photographed their community. The artwork produced was presented to a City Council member and eventually went all the way to City Hall. The young people and older adults involved were able to learn new leadership skills, draw on their creativity, connect with the community and communicate the value of intergenerational community building work to a much wider audience. The older adults that participated in this process have now committed to undertaking new intergenerational photography projects in other communities. The youth that participated have maintained an interest in participating in intergenerational projects like Photo Vision.
• The Communities for All Ages team helped support the development of a kinship care network. The network has been so successful that the grandparents who were initially group participants have now taken over the leadership and governance of the network. They keep members connected, bring in new families and offer support and services. In three years they have worked with over 1,000 families. The grandparents not only worked locally, but also brought their message to a broader range of organizations and policy makers by organizing over 800 grandparents to attend “Grand rally” at the State capitol and raise awareness of issues faced by grandparents raising grandchildren.