Intergenerational Program Database

Perk is a one-hour, weekly program that stimulates and engages people socially, enotionally, mentally and physcially. Yes, it can all be done in just one Perk session. One of the key features of the program is social connectedness throught the creative, art-based activities. Participants collaborate in doing an improvisation, inventing a new signature dish, designing an ideal community, creating a fairy tale - just to name a few- all to help combat social isolation and loneliness. Not to mention, strengthening the imagination for a good mental workout. Please check out our website to learn more about the program or contact us at email@perkactivities.com

Getting Pitch-Ready equips Hispanic women entrepreneurs with the essential training, networking, and confidence to effectively pitch and secure funding for their businesses. This bilingual, cross-generational initiative leverages the energy, tech skills, and fresh perspectives of younger entrepreneurs alongside the experience, resilience, and strategic insights of older ones. Cross-generational learning is a cornerstone of the program’s success, fostering a collaborative environment where diverse strengths come together to empower each participant.

The LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project, founded in 2019, brings together racially, socioeconomically, and gender diverse cohorts of LGBTQ+ college students and older adults (60+), for a year-long series of bi-weekly themed dialogues, creative work, and shared dinners. This community-engaged project includes two university classes centering the role of intergenerational dialogue and collaborative art making in learning LGBTQ+ histories. The project also has an interdisciplinary research component exploring the impact of intergenerational dialogues on LGBTQ+ people’s well-being and social-connectedness LGBTQ intergenerational dialogues are neither simple nor easy for a whole range of reasons that we continue to discover. However, it is through staying with these complexities and challenges that we come to find our ways into histories and legacies that have often been excluded from our experiences coming into LGBTQ + communities. Through this work we bridge generations to showcase the knowledge and importance they have in sustaining and creating LGBTQ+ cultures and communities. The LGBTQ+ Intergenerational Dialogue Project is a partnership between The Center on Addison at Center on Halsted, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Illinois at Chicago and Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice, the University of Chicago.

The Intergenerational CallHub (ICH) is an innovative program dedicated to combating social isolation by fostering meaningful connections between older adults and student volunteers. Initially launched as a pilot project by the San Diego State University Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity (CEAL), in collaboration with Determined Health and Meals on Wheels San Diego, this program addresses the pressing issue of loneliness among older adults through regular social phone calls. By bridging the generational divide, ICH cultivates enriching relationships that enhance the social well-being of both older adults and college students. The program provides a structured environment for consistent interactions, offering vital companionship and emotional support to older adults, who often face challenges due to limited social networks and mobility constraints. The program's design incorporates evidence-based practices that promote successful engagement between generations. Through its innovative approach, the ICH creates a vibrant, connected community.

TBD! Details coming soon!

Dance Generators is an intergenerational dance company housed at the University of San Francisco that fosters artistic collaboration between University students and Bay Area older adults. Ranging in age from 18 to 91 years old, Dance Generators use dance as a tool for bridging generational and cultural divides through workshops, performance, and community building events that catalyze connections across differences.

Hands 4Life is a nonprofit with a mission to unite orphaned children and orphaned elders to form intergenerational families. By 2050, over 1.5 billion seniors—80% in developing countries—will need support. Hands 4Life bridges this gap through community outreach, educational programs, and faith-driven, self-sustaining campuses that restore respect, purpose, and dignity to both generations. Our prototype campus in Nigeria addresses critical issues like elder isolation, ageism, and youth vulnerability by creating safe, supportive spaces for young and old orphans alike. Through intergenerational relationships, we build family structures that promote compassion and self-sufficiency. Hands 4Life provides life-skills training, spiritual guidance, and community empowerment to ensure that each campus becomes a sustainable care model. With a vision of establishing a Hands 4Life campus in every developing nation, we train nationals to care for their communities "from womb to tomb." Hands 4Life's unique approach focuses not just on structures but on nurturing values of empathy, resilience, and intergenerational connection—making each campus a heart for change that equips and empowers families worldwide.

Affordable, Intergenerational Housing to ensure that all children and youth who experienced foster care are rooted in family and community. Our intentionally designed communities empower community members of all ages who live in 12 affordable rental cottages/apartments for foster, adoptive and kinship families; 8 studios for youth aging out of foster care, and 46 affordable rental 1 BR cottages/apartments for older adults.

July Society is a women-led nonprofit digital coworking space and community. Our goal is facilitating the focus, connection and enrichment of our members. We offer online events that facilitate productivity, encourage learning, celebrate creativity, and cultivate connection and belonging. We host twice daily Focus Sessions to provide guided support for members during their day, whether it’s while they complete work tasks, chip away on to-do lists, or accomplish other productivity goals. We have a thriving online space where participants can chat each day, ask questions, offer solutions, and share about their lives. In our 24/7 online peer lounge, you’ll find community members around the clock accomplishing work tasks; writing and creating art; completing household chores; cooking and baking; and more.

We operate on grant funding from East Central Illinois Area Agency on Aging to provide support and resources for relatives raising children, grandparents raising grandchildren, and legal custodial guardians caring for children in McLean County.