AGE to age Projects Beginning to Blossom

This spring, enthusiasm and momentum continue to build across the region as people of all ages come together with a shared goal of strengthening and serving their communities.

The Northland Foundation’s AGE to age: bringing generations together initiative joins elders, adults, and youth in 10 northeastern Minnesota sites, including the three Indian Reservations. AGE to age communities participated in a series of organizing meetings to idenifty opportunities and needs, engage people of all ages in a community dialogue, create a vision, and develop an action plan.

For example, nearly 70 people from the small town of Floodwood (population 480) turned out for an AGE to age Speak Out. The group has drafted a Vision Statement and begun developing concepts for a community project such as an all-ages fitness program and an internet café to make computers, internet, and training by youth available for adults and seniors.

Fond du Lac Reservation residents have formed Anishinaabe L.I.F.E. (Learning, Involvement, Foundation, Enjoyment) a program in which tribal elders and adults will involve youth in traditional cultural activities such as ricing, beading, spearing, sugar bushing, and storytelling.

Other project plans underway include Cloquet’s “Friendship Through the Ages” and McGregor’s “Ageless Friendship”. Both efforts include a wide array of activities such as service projects, mentoring programs, and social and recreational activities that meet the diverse interests and needs of young people and older adults. 

“The dialogue, the Vision Statement drafted by the group, and brainstorming have provided a great start as we work together to develop a project that will connect the generations and benefit the whole community,” summarized Damita Miller-Chasson, AGE to age community coordinator for Floodwood.

On June 9th, teams of eight to ten representatives from each community will gather in Proctor for a "Connecting the Generations" Summit. The agenda includes a multi-generational training session with nationally acclaimed leadership trainer Craig Hillier. Community teams will also have the opportunity to present their initial project plans to the entire group.

Watch for more updates on AGE to age communities in the coming months. The program is made possible through a generous grant from the Community Experience Partnership, an aging initiative of The Atlantic Philanthropies.