UNIVERSITY AS INTERGENERATIONAL LEARNING AND LEADERSHIP INCUBATOR

摘要

Public awareness and interest in intergenerational programs is strong, fueled in part by a growing literature that attests to wide-ranging benefits for program participants and their communities. Participants tend to derive richer life perspectives, enhance social support networks, and find new pathways to civic engagement and community service. However, even successful programs tend to have difficulty finding skilled staff members to assist with program planning, activity facilitation, and program evaluation. Penn State University’s Intergenerational Leadership Institute (ILI) is a lifelong learning and civic engagement program for older adults as well as an incubator for new intergenerational program development. ILI participants gain skills in reaching out to age-diverse populations, facilitating communication and cooperation across generations, and building consensus and teamwork among partnering organizations. The ILI adopts a micro-level approach to community innovation and service, focusing on the utilization of local assets and skills to shape self-help strategies at the local level