Gen Now: Generational diversity, equity and inclusion matters, too
There is a popular video produced by AARP that asks a group of millennials to say what age they consider to be "old" and to show what "old" looks like to them. Most said 40s, 50s, and 60s and then pretended to hobble across the street using a cane and write a text message on their phones using one finger while squinting at the screen. But then each millennial is paired with someone older, in his or her 50s, 60s or 70s, and something changes. A 55-year-old does a perfect yoga balance on a small block, something one millennial can't do. A 70-year-old does karate moves with his younger partner. They teach each other dance moves, balancing exercises. The result?
The millennials quickly change their minds about what they thought "old" was. "Old, now, to me is, like, 100," says one millennial.
What's striking about the video is the intimate connection the millennials and older people have with each other by the end. Most are holding hands, embracing, or smiling brightly as they describe their experience. The experiment reveals how energized both the millennials and older people were by the experience.
Yet, as the need for such an experiment shows, there exist false perceptions and societal walls that often prevent much-needed connections between generations in our society. Not to mention the ageism that exists in our youth-obsessed culture. While we live in an age focused on equity, reducing discrimination, and encouraging diversity, divides and misunderstandings between generations still persist.
"We seem to understand the value of having diverse relationships and connections with people of different socioeconomic, faith, racial or other backgrounds. The same is true for engaging with a wide variety of ages," said Peter Thompson, executive director of The Center.
"A community is made up of all ages, and the strength of the community depends on all generations," said Marta Keane, CEO of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging (JABA). "Generations have so much to learn from one another. The seniors have wisdom and experience to share. They can provide guidance and encouragement, and demonstrate the joy of life. Younger generations have ideas without assumptions/biases and can be open to new ideas. They might stretch what is in one's comfort zone."
Indeed, intergenerational programming is a priority at JABA, and it's the reason they have a preschool right beside their Adult Care Center in Charlottesville, and often invite young people from the community to participate in activities with senior members. Recently, The Center organized a chat between UVA med students and senior members, and there are frequent Zoom events, like a recent discussion on equity in our community presented by UVA's Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Albemarle County's Office of Equity and Inclusion, that can bring young and old together.
At a time when COVID has separated many of us, and increased isolation, especially for more vulnerable older people, it's all too easy to end up spending most of our time with people roughly the same age or generation as we are. Even before the pandemic, young people working for local tech companies or in restaurants, or continuing their education, often find themselves in social worlds isolated from older people. Likewise, older people entrenched in their careers and family lives, living in retirement communities or isolated in their homes, don't often have opportunities to interact with younger people.
Much can be done simply by making micro-gestures in our daily lives. Why not think about striking up a conversation with an older person of a different generation that you see in the grocery store or walking in your neighborhood? Make a random phone or Zoom call to an older person in your life. You never know what kind of cool stuff you might learn.
"I get new perspectives every time I engage with, for example, a UVa student, or our Center members who are sometimes my age but often 20 or 30 or more years my senior," Thompson said. "With a rapidly changing world, hearing a wide variety of views is vital to my understanding of what it takes for the Charlottesville area to be a healthy community."
This article originally appeared in C-Ville Weely’s special section Gen Now
David McNair handles publicity, marketing, media relations and social media efforts for the Jefferson Area Board for Aging.
Black History Month: Center members recall their Burley High School days
For Black History Month this year, current members of the Mary Williams Community Senior Center in Charlottesville shared their memories of attending segregated Jackson P. Burley High School on Rose Hill Drive. Jackson P. Burley was an educator and prominent African American Businessman who sold 17 acres he owned on Rose Hill Drive for the construction of the school, which opened in 1951 and graduated its last class of seniors in 1967, eight years after school integration began in Charlottesville. Later, the school became Jackson P. Burley Middle School, which serves students from Albemarle County. Center members recalled the amazing Burley Band, which was always the highlight of local parades, and their famed football team, the “Burley Bears.” The 1956 Burley Bears were memorialized in a documentary by local filmmaker Lorenzo Dickerson called “Color Line of Scrimmage.” Not only did the team go undefeated that year, but none of their opponents scored against them, and their home games were more popular than UVA football games. They also highlighted the Monument Wall that was placed in front of the school and dedicated in 2018 to honor that history.
Members are also excited to read the new book that was just published, “Unforgettable Jackson P. Burley High School” by author Lucille Smith, which the Daily Progress called "the most comprehensive record of Burley’s history written to date."
“Black history matters,” Smith told the Progress. “The students are now senior citizens and many are no longer with us. Going forward, we can preserve, honor and never forget the past we document to secure the future because this is a brave and powerful story of African American students in the city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.”
Black History Month: Celebrating senior advocate Mary Williams
Mary Williams grew up in Charlottesville and always wanted to be a nurse. However, being a Black woman, she was unable to attend a college in town to achieve her goal. So she moved away, got her degree, and had a wonderful career as a nurse. She loved what she did and who she helped. She was saddened to not be able to do it in her hometown, for the people she cared about. When she retired, she moved back to Charlottesville. And that was when JABA’s and Ms. Williams’ paths crossed and aligned.
JABA was trying to find a space to create a community center in Charlottesville. And nothing was working out. Ms. Williams knew that there were many seniors, especially black seniors in Charlottesville, who would benefit from the opportunity to socialize and have a nutritious lunch together. She organized a group and led a march down Main Street. She didn’t need to get very far before it caught the attention of the City Council, and all worked together to identify a space for the first center in Charlottesville. Ms. Williams and her sister enjoyed several years of attending the center. Ms. Williams was a wonderful leader in advocating for the needs of seniors, both at the community level, and even within the center for the activities that were expanded.
Marta Keane, JABA CEO
Message from Marta: A time to celebrate Black History and strengthen our commitment to equity and inclusion
February is Black History Month. This is a time to celebrate the achievements of African Americans and for recognizing their central role in U.S. history. Dr. Carter G. Woodson, referred to as the Father of Black History, chose the second week in February initially as “Negro History Week” to include the birthdays of Abraham Lincoln (president who formally abolished slavery) and Frederick Douglass (abolitionist who escaped slavery). Dr. Woodson was among the first black scholars to receive a doctoral degree. After getting his Ph.D. in history from Harvard University, he joined the faculty at Howard University as a professor and historian.
Recently Maya Angelou, poet, memoirist and civil rights activist, became the first Black woman to be commemorated on the U.S. quarter. She worked with Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X, was a Pulitzer Prize-winning poet, wrote seven autobiographies, performed in plays, films, and on television, and received over 50 honorary degrees. Here's a wonderful quote from her:
I’ve learned that people will forget what you said,
People will forget what you did,
But people will never forget how you made them feel.
Harriett Tubman, abolitionist, nurse, and human rights advocate, has been commemorated on a sculpture, Journey to Freedom. This sculpture demonstrates her heroism and determination as she helped to free others from slavery.
Throughout JABA, we will be celebrating Black History Month, at our Centers, in our newsletter (subscribe here!), and in our social media posts. Join us in embracing our second value of Inclusion, through learning more about important people in our community.
Marta M. Keane
Chief Executive Officer
Gen Now: Can Robots Make Good Companions for Older Adults?
For C-Ville Weekly's monthly Gen Now feature, we highlighted the use of robotic pets at our Adult Care Centers and explored the growing use of AI technology to serve older adults.
