The ILI - State College, PA Chapter

Program partners for the ILI - State College, PA chapter include: the Penn State Intergenerational Program (rooted in Penn State Extension), the Penn State Center for Healthy Aging, RSVP - Centre County, OLLI at Penn State (University Park), and the Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences Office of Multicultural Affairs.

Some chapter highlights:

• On June 1, 2019: The ILI partnered with the State College Friends School to host an Intergenerational Friends Fair. The day-long event featured interactive exhibits and events planned by local organizations working to expand opportunities for intergenerational communication, learning and living throughout the State College area. To see a video of the event, click here.
• On Oct. 11, 2018: The ILI sponsored a daylong INTERGENERATIONAL PROGRAMMING RETREAT, entitled, "Intergenerational Ideas for Enriching Quality of Life in Centre County." The Retreat was held at the Millbrook Marsh Nature Center (State College, PA), with 48 administrators, staff, and volunteers affiliated with local community organizations in attendance. Click here for a 10-minute video with some highlights from the Retreat.
• A group of ILI participants attended the 2017 Generations United International Conference in Milwaukee, WI where they presented their ILI-inspired projects. They also participated in site visits to model intergenerational sites in Milwaukee, Cleveland, Ohio (where they visited The Intergenerational School founded by Peter and Cathy Whitehouse), and Ligonier, PA (where they visited the Grandparent Games sponsored by Bethlen Communities and the Ligonier Camp and Conference Center).
• On Sept. 22, 2017, nine ILI participants "graduated" and joined the ranks of "ILI Fellows." To gain a sense of what ILI participants can accomplish by the time they graduate, here is a link to the press release for this ILI graduation event.

• ILI-inspired projects that were highlighted at the ILI graduation ceremony include the following:

-- SAVOR (Sharing And Valuing Our Relationships): State College Meals on Wheels clients (primarily isolated older adults) and Penn State students come together for regularly planned meals, fellowship and activities based on common recreational interests.

Penn State Students and Meals on Wheels clients get to know each other during SAVOR events.

-- Weaving Wisdom uses the arts to provide a framework for planning activities, school curricula, and interactive exhibits that promote intergenerational and intercultural understanding in diverse cultural contexts, including in West Africa and the U.S. Weaving Wisom is highlighted in a NextAvenue article on three of the 2022 Encore Fellows, one of whom is Grace Hampton - ILI Fellow and Professor Emeritus (Art, Art Educaiton, and Integrative Arts at Penn State University).

Families weaving bracelets together at Schlow Library in State College, PA

-- Wholesome Fare for All Ages: Fun family activities, each with a health and wellness theme.

Sitting down together after cooking the meal with Elaine Meder-Wilgus, owner and manager of Webster's Book Store and Café. One goal of the "Food that's Real for the Family Meal" event was to provide an opportunity for families to learn about, prepare and enjoy healthy foods together.

-- Intergenerational Pen Pal Program enhancement: Program assessment and strategic planning for this program run by RSVP-Centre County.

What these ILI-inspired projects have in common is that they build learning opportunities and meaningful relationships across generations. The ILI functions as a low cost strategy for seeding intergenerational programming leadership at the local level as exemplified in these and other projects implemented in Centre County, PA.

When is the next intergenerational studies class offered for new ILI participants? The last in-person ILI short course was held April 19 to May 28, 2019, on 8 consecutive Tuesday afternoons (2:00-4:00). [Location: Penn State Center for Healthy Aging, Biobehavioral Health Bldg., 4th floor conference room.] With the onset of the Covid pandemic (March 2020), plans to run additional 16-hour, in-person "short courses" (on intergenerational programs and practices) were put on hold. [However, the monthly "application sessions" component of the ILI model were recast as online "intergenerational think tank" meetings and expanded to include a broader base of participants (including some individuals based in other states and countries).] Each meetings draws between 10-20 intergenerational proponents.]