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The GU Photography Exhibit: Celebrating Intergenerational Images
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Generations United, with generous support from MetLife Foundation, has held its annual intergenerational photography contest for young and old amateur photographers since 2001. The contest is for the best photograph taken by a younger or older person of younger and older people together, that demonstrates the importance of intergenerational connections.
In 2005, GU created a travelling photography exhibit of photographs for the contests. This exhibit entitled Celebrating Intergenerational Images, is a small sampling of some of the wonderful entries that truly capture the power and beauty of intergenerational relationships and convey the important roles that younger and older people play in each other’s lives. In addition to the photographs, the exhibit includes the powerful stories behind the photos.
You can see the images and read the stories by downloading your free copy of Celebrating Intergenerational Images. |
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Simply point and click on an image to enlarge.
These photos may not be reproduced without express consent from Generations United.
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Photo by GB Mukherji
Orissa, India
Age 54
2005 Grand Prize
Tibetans have been living in exile in India for several decades. Even though they have been very welcome in India, and they have managed to assimilate themselves to the Indian ethos, being refugees, they harbor a deep sense of uncertainty about their future. This grandfather is clutching his grandchild reflecting the feeling, come what may, he must protect the child.
Intergenerational programs and policies that affect persons of all ages are taking shape everyday all over the world. Learn more about promoting intergenerational programs, strategies, and public policy from a global perspective by visiting the International Consortium for Intergenerational Programmes at www.icip.info.
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Photo by Harriet The Jewish Home & Hospital
Bronx, NY
Age 55
2005 Entry
Elvis Checo, 20 years old, has volunteered with the Jewish Home & Hospital's Intergenerational At-Risk Youth Program since he was fifteen. Elvis was a poor native of the Dominican Republic, living in a rented room in the barrio, separated from his family. Margaret Oliver, age 93, had lived a comfortable life, and her daughters and grandchildren visited as often as they could. When Margaret’s daughter hired Elvis to look in on her mother a few afternoons each week, nobody realized that this would be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
The story of Elvis and Margaret is the inspiration for the newly published book, His Oldest Friend: The Story of an Unlikely Bond. Written by New York Times columnist Sonny Kleinfield, the book addresses the under representation of youth and elderly in our society.
Margaret appreciates Elvis’ "big, megawatt smile" and his jokes. Elvis grew to appreciate the love, attention, and respect he received from his surrogate grandmother. "We can tell each other anything," Elvis explains in His Oldest Friend.
Together, Elvis and Margaret have worked to battle the stereotypes that are unfairly held about people, including prejudices about young and old. Though their ages are 75 years apart, when they are together, time collapses.
Discover more about His Oldest Friend: The Story of an Unlikely Bond by Sonny Kleinfield at www.henryholt.com.
Find out more about the intergenerational work being done at The Jewish Home & Hospital by visiting www.jewishhome.org. |
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Photo by Billie Foster
Grandparent Program
Chattanooga, TN
Age 54
2005 Entry
Ms. Barrow, age 65, is a Foster Grandparent who works with many children such as Qwintral, age 6 months, who are brought to the emergency room at T.C. Thompson Children’s Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The children Ms. Barrow works require a great deal of special attention because of the children’s emotional and social challenges, hearing and visual impairments, mental and physical challenges, prenatal drug dependencies, language disabilities, and history of abuse and neglect.
During their hospital stay, Ms. Barrow provides comfort by playing games, reading, and telling stories to the children in order to help them have fun and spend less time thinking about their illness, disability, or “boo-boos” as she calls them around the children.
Ms. Barrow loves her work as a Foster Grandparent. She is compassionate and very responsive to the children and their families. The intergenerational time she spends volunteering with such a wide variety of young special-needs individuals has broadened her skills. Ms. Barrow is able to divert the children’s attention from their illness while gaining deep satisfaction from serving others in great need.
Foster Grandparents devote their volunteer service entirely to disadvantaged or disabled youth. If you would like to learn more about Foster Grandparents or would like to volunteer, contact Senior Corps for more information at 800-424-8867 or visit www.seniorcorps.gov.
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Photo by Mary Beth Burkholder
Friends Care Community
Yellow Springs, OH
Age 51
2002 Grand Prize
Squealing with delight, Chelsea and Kaila, ran with outstretched arms to greet their friend, Hazel Dabney, who lives at the Friends Care Community in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The students attend Friends Pre-School, which is also housed on the same 22 wooded acres as the extended care facility where Hazel lives. Friends Care Community has hosted daily intergenerational interaction between these two programs since 2000.
Young and old thrive when resources are used to bring the generations together rather than separate them. Intergenerational shared site pre-kindergarten programs provide children with an opportunity to learn more than just colors, shapes, and the alphabet. These students also learn life lessons and healthy attitudes toward aging. The older adults have a chance to be active and engaged, impart their wisdom, as well as be an effective and valuable part of the nation’s educational process.
Download GU’s Under One Roof: A Guide to Starting and Strengthening Intergenerational Shared Site Programs sponsored by MetLife Foundation and fact sheets about Intergenerational Shared sites at www.gu.org.
To learn more about intergenerational shared site pre-kindergarten or about the important role seniors can play in pre-k visit www.seniors4kids.org.
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Photo by Carolyn Langley
Lake Charles, LA
Age 55
2005 Entry
One month old Amy Grace is sleeping in the lap of her great-grandmother, Lou Ethel Chesson.
Lou Ethel, age 81, was an only child who grew up in Hayes, Louisiana speaking only Cajun French until she began public school. As a little girl, Lou Ethel would say to her mother, "I want a little baby brother or sister to play with." Her mother would tell her, "Play with your baby doll." Lou Ethel would always reply that she wanted a "poupee' de viande” or “meat doll" meaning a real baby sibling.
As an adult, every time a new grandchild or great-grand child is born, such as Amy Grace, Lou Ethel says, "We have another miracle from God. We have another meat doll.”
As matriarch, Lou Ethel has created a wonderful lineage of intergenerational family traditions. Whenever a child in her family grows up and leaves home, she gives them each a photo album of their lives from birth to adulthood.
Considering there are sixty children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and even one great-great grandson this has been quite an impressive task.
If you would like to learn more about the important role grandparents play in the lives of children visit www.gu.org.
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Photo by Nancy Ostrander
Sun City, AZ
Age 66
2003 Grand Prize
Carl Clay, age 93 is holding his “famous” great-grandson Connor, age five months old.
Connor, along with his twin brother Noah, plays the part of Ned on the CBS TV series Judging Amy. Connor and Noah like all the cast members, but are especially fond of costar Tyne Daly who plays the role of Ned’s grandmother. They are always excited when they get to go visit "Ms. Time." The relationship between the character Ned and his grandmother was a positive experience for viewers each week.
For better or worse, movies and TV shows play a huge role in shaping our culture. Too often the intergenerational images that are portrayed by the media are negative stereotypes. It is up to each of us to let TV stations, production companies, and advertisers know when they do something right and when they don’t.
Learn more about the benefits if intergenerational relationships, download free fact sheets, become a member of Generations United, and find a host of other features at www.gu.org.
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Photo by Richard Derwald
North Buffalo Community Center
Buffalo, NY
Age 70
2005 Humorous Situation
Eighty-three year old Ann Constantino, and two of her young friends workout at the North Buffalo Community Center in Buffalo, NY. Ann is the senior fitness trainer at the center and does not hesitate to join the students in vigorous activities. She is an inspiration to the young who learn from her that fitness is a lifelong pursuit.
This intergenerational fitness regime allows each generation to enhance their understanding of themselves and each other while also developing healthy habits for the future. The center also blends the generations by hosting after school activities during the school year and offering a youth day camp during the summer months.
For ideas on how to develop intergenerational fitness programs in your community visit Jewish Community Housing for the Elderly at www.jche.org.
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Photo by L. Roger Turner
Age 68
Madison, WI
2004 Entry
A young student is listening intently as a Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) volunteer reads from his favorite book.
This is but a snapshot of the many ways RSVP volunteers can engage children and youth in intergenerational initiatives. RSVP volunteers focus the energy of youth and help schoolchildren build skills by working as classroom aides, educational support staff, tutors, and mentors.
RSVP volunteers are able to put their unique talents to work for community and faith-based organizations that are significant to them. The children and youth served benefit from having a consistent adult who is able to provide one on one tutoring or simply a listening ear.
Learn more about the benefits of RSVP and how to volunteer by contacting Senior Corps for more information at 800-424-8867 or by visiting www.seniorcorps.org.
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Photo by David Greenfield
Waban, MA
Age 50
2004 Intergenerational Activity Portrayed
A younger person teaches an older friend about the benefits of hand-held technology.
Despite the prevalence of computers in our culture many people have still not ventured onto the technology super highway. Young and old are among the most marginalized members of our society when it comes technology access.
Public libraries and community centers provide free access to internet. Even better, many offer intergenerational technology courses that provide opportunities for the young to teach their elders about technology while the seniors impart their wisdom to the youth in the process. Here are great examples of great intergenerational technology programs that are springing up across the country:
CyberSeniors CyberTeens is a coordinated effort of the National Retired Teachers' Association, the National 4-H Organization's Youth Technology Corps, and CyberSeniors.org to pair 4-H youth volunteers with older adults to provide seniors access to and training about how to use the Internet. Contact CyberSeniors for more information at 888-676-6622.
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All photos Ó2006 Generations United
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