I developed an intergenerational mentoring program several years ago, called Live the Vision: A Career Development Mentoring Program^TM where residents of retirement communities are paired up with employees of the same retirement community to help them with their careers.  The premise was that, if one has been successful enough to live in a Continuing Care Retirement Community in later years, then one has a lot to teach younger generations about how to navigate and advance from front-line positions into more senior positions and/or into further education.

Aldersgate was so enthusiastic about the program’s success last year that they invited me back this year for 10 more employees and residents to go through the 9-week program.  Magic occurs when employee-resident boundaries break down and the pairs get to know each other as people with dreams, experience, passions.  Many friendships have emerged that continue beyond the time in the program.

We’re incorporating another example of intergenerationalism into Aldersgate’s Shamrock Gateway Phase 2 – gaining information from neighbors along Shamrock Corridor about their desires for the future of the Eastside through Story Circles.  A story circle is a group of people sharing stories about their experience on a given topic or theme, in this case, Eastside neighbors from different generations exploring various visions and dreams for the neighborhoods along Shamrock Drive – neighbors to neighbors. And one of the most exciting aspects for me, personally, is that I’ll be working with Amalia Delaney, a generation younger than me, and a seasoned community activist!

Yet another manifestation of intergenerationalism is through the work of Adam Bucko and Rory McEntee, authors of “The New Monasticism: An Interspiritual Manifesto for Contemplative Living” where they sought out elder spiritual mentors and they, in turn, have become mentors for their mentors in how they are taking their responsibilities out into today’s world.  I’ll be on a team with Rory at Mepkin Abbey in October, together with Fr. Guerric, Director of their Retreat Center, and my husband, Barry Sherman. We are in the process of designing the weekend retreat, tentatively called Intergenerational Networks for the Future. It’s a retreat for deepening and expanding cross-generational activist companionship. 

These intergenerational activities give me a bounce in my step, enthusiasm, hope for the future, and an opportunity to learn many new skills, approaches, ways of thinking.  I’m rooting for more Intergenerationalism in our public squares.  Who knew that gerontology could be so exciting!