oneemptyspace — April 19, 2010 — Kevin Ward, 23; Erica Smith, 23; Lisa Allen, 23
Charlottesville, Virginia

Solving both the academic achievement gap and generation gap through public service intergenerational tutoring

This young team from Virginia proposes an ongoing, structured intergenerational program to enhance education and foster community. We propose an innovative solution for the growing needs of at-risk students at a time when there is an abundance of talented seniors and Boomers aging into retirement, says Kevin Ward. Intergenerational programming exists to support students, but it certainly isn’t a norm or highly valued. Ongoing intergenerational programs are rare, particularly ones that foster relationships, and the pieces are present in every community to make it happen.

Many programs supporting elementary school kids involve highly transitional college students or rely solely on overworked school staff. Many intergenerational programs involving seniors and youth are merely a casual interaction (ie a young girl scout troop singing at a nursing home.) Our project is really meant to shift the way we think about Boomers and seniors and their role in our community while simultaneously meeting a much talked-about need.

Via YouTube