s Catalyst
gramming
JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER
A recently approved grant
gives the JCC and other
organizations the
opportunity to plan more
intergenerational
programming.
.1* WW,, ;
s„
,
THE DETROIT J EWISH NEWS
Local agencies will join the JCC in
intergenerational programming thanks
to a Max M. Fisher Foundation Grant.
14
randparents might not under-
stand their grandchild's love for
video games, and grandchildren
might find it difficult to imagine
what life was like without televi-
sion.
Nevertheless, the relationship
between the generations is irre-
placeable.
To foster Jewish identity, un-
derstanding and activity between
young and old, the Jewish Com-
munity Center is using a recent-
ly approved $25,000 one-year
Max M. Fisher Foundation grant
to sponsor intergenerational pro-
grams.
Although the Center is the
grant recipient, other communi-
ty organizations, including Jew-
ish Family Service, Jewish
Information Service, B'nai B'rith
Youth Organization and Jewish
Federation Apartments, also will
benefit from the funding. They
will develop programs and ser-
vices and expand those already
in existence.
"We are looking at having each
agency develop its
own quality pro-
grams for older and
younger people
that fits its specific
programming,"
said Margo Weit-
zer, who heads the
adult services de-
partment at the
Maple/Drake JCC.
"By putting these
agencies together,
we are saying we
feel a need for this kind of activ- planned in conjunction with there is an obvious gap between
ity. ,,
Fresh Air Society is called Cele- those who are older and tend to
Creative Grandparenting brating the Family: Intergener- have a stronger identification
Symposium, an annual forum ational Retreat. The retreat is with Judaism. Older Jewish peo-
which addresses current issues geared so that three generations ple have the background, they've
of concern to grandparents in the of a family can participate in a lived Jewish lives. We need to
open up enough avenues to pass
Jewish community, is one of the Jewish experience weekend.
Eileen Polk, assistant Adult on their knowledge and experi-
existing activities that will now
Services coordinator, said inter- ences."
be assisted under the grant.
The Center can apply to renew
One service to be offered is oral generational programming is es-
histories, where the Center will sential to maintaining Jewish its grant each year for two more
years. The $25,000 this year will
develop an oral history outline for continuity.
"Everyone has his own feeling be used for publicity, program-
children who wish to interview
about what being Jewish means," ming, materials and coordinat-
an older adult family member.
Another program being Ms. Weitzer said. "My feeling is ing projects. [1]