Wisdom & Wonders
Team members: Trent Acker, Melanie Brown, Deborah DePaoli, Teresa Goodman, Margret Jung, Brian Keefe, Rut Rivera, Peter Rumsey
Wisdom & Wonders is an intergenerational project in which students interview senior adults to capture and celebrate meaningful stories from their lives. The project encourages empathy, active listening, reflection, and creativity. Each pair of students interviewed one elder, documented an anecdote, and collaborated to design a visual poster featuring shared wisdom.
Mission: Bridge generational gaps between youth and elders.
Why it matters: To foster belonging, cultural preservation, and mutual respect.
Key benefits of intergenerational connection:
- Improves older adults’ cognitive health, especially memory and attention
- Reduces depression and increases self-esteem in seniors
- Enhances social connectedness and reduces loneliness
- Develops empathy and reduces ageism among youth
- Builds stronger, more inclusive communities
The pilot event, held on May 6th with a small group of students and team members, included 4th and 5th graders to test the event format and introduced students to the goals of the main event. Team members provided coaching and preparation for the students’ roles, received positive feedback and valuable takeaways, and used insights to refine their approach for the main event. The team partnered with the Greenwood Rotary Club to engage with local leaders and bring together youth and seniors from diverse backgrounds. Through storytelling, music, and shared meals, the event created a welcoming space for connection and sparked meaningful relationships and deeper understanding across generations.