Congratulations Ruth!

Congratulations to Ruth Villard, who tonight was honored by Bank of America as a Local Hero. Ruth was one of five adults in the metro Boston area to receive this award this year.

Described as the "Volunteer Queen" by her daughter, Ruth has been an active member within the Dorchester community since her three children were young. Inspired by her goal of a safe community where seniors are actively involved in the lives of Boston youth, Ruth has continued to participate in various community organizations in order to promote positive changes in Boston.

In 2007, Ruth began volunteering through Generations Incorporated as a literacy mentor at the Yawkey Boys and Girls Club. Ruth's patience and constant encouragement for her 5 mentees yielded quick results. “You really see a positive difference in the children. I felt like I was making a big impact on the children and helping them develop.”

Additionally, Ruth connects to her community members through her church as a youth group leader and squad leader for the Archdiocese of Boston Black Catholic Choir. Ruth promotes awareness of health issues that affect her neighbors and friends through her passionate participation in Boston Reach 2010. As a senior, Ruth serves as an advocate for her peers on the Senior and Disabled Council for her senior housing development and the Mayor’s Advisory Council, which assists in developing and coordinating community-based systems of service for Boston seniors.

In recognition of the Local Heroes Award, Bank of America donated $5,000 to the non-profit of the winner's choice. Thank you Ruth, for choosing Generations Incorporated.

And more importantly, thank you, Ruth, for being an inspiration for us all!

It's Intergeneration Week

Yesterday marked the beginning of Intergeneration Week, a national event that occurs the first full week of October every year. The mission of the holiday is to connect generations through communication, celebration, and education.

Read more about it at: www.intergenerationday.org.

Service Nation!

On Saturday, Service Nation kicked off their Movement with a Day of Action. Over 2700 service events were hosted around the country to urge individuals and communities to take action. More than 100 events took place in Massachusetts. At Generations Incorporated we hosted our own event: a Bookfolder Bonanza (above). Over 40 folks showed up to help us create the curriculum materials that we'll use in our new programs in Revere this fall.

The Day of Action follows the Service Nation Summit which took place in New York City on Sept 11th & 12th. At the Summit, both Presidential candidates, Senators McCain and Obama, pledged to make national service a priority in their administration. Also at the Summit, every time service was mentioned, folks over the age of 50 were included in the discussion. Experience Corps, our national partner, was specifically highlighted. This is a major change in the way service is seen around the country and I'm giving a cheer at my desk in appreciation.

About ServiceNation: The ServiceNation Movement is a national grassroots campaign that launched immediately following the ServiceNation Summit in New York City. It rallies the voices of ordinary Americans behind the idea that citizen service can strengthen our democracy, and help solve our most persistent social challenges and crises. These voices call upon the next President and Congress, leaders from all sectors of society, and fellow Americans to join to create a new era of service and civic engagement in America: an era in which by 2020, 100 million Americans will volunteer time in schools, workplaces, and faith-based and community institutions each and every year (up from 61 million today), and that increasing numbers of Americans annually will commit a year of their lives to national service.

Mr. and Mrs. Thompson

Paul and Nancy Thompson are in their late 50's and have been married for 40 years. They were raised in the same neighborhood of Boston, attended the same schools, and went to the senior prom with each other. They chose to stay in Boston and raised their kids here. Both of them spent their lives teaching in the Boston Public Schools--Paul as a second grade teacher, Nancy as a high school foreign language teacher.

Both newly retired, who would blame them for taking a well deserved vacation, a hiatus away from the world of work? Instead, both will continue to work part time in their new "encore careers". They had a month off between retirement from the Boston Public Schools and their start date at Generations Incorporated, where they will each be responsible for the oversight of a "cluster" of schools which will host our intergenerational programs.

They are transferring a lifetime of important work to a new sector: helping other older adults, our Experience Corps members, to work as mentors with children. They have immediate credibility...a lifetime of experience in the schools, life-long commitment to Boston youth and Boston communities, and they themselves are of the same generation as the mentors they will oversee.

This is yet another important reminder that, especially in this very challenging economic environment, some of the greatest resources for under-resourced non-profits are at our finger tips. Take a look around and tap into the ever growing population of older adults as they begin to retire. Have fun, have time off, continue to contribute in new and meaningful ways.

Fun-draisers

When most people think of 'development' and 'fundraising', fun is the last word they think of. But this spring we've taken the 'fun' in fundraising to heart.

In March we hosted our first bar night fundraiser, raising a Toast to Generations Incorporated at Kingston Station. In April, we led a Readathon at the Hale School in Roxbury where the top fundraiser won a bike (left). In May, we hosted an event at the Acton Discovery Museum where we got to play around while we spread the word about Generations Incorporated. And most recently, last week, we hosted our second bar fundraiser, Apres, at Solas Irish Pub (below).

In addition to being successful in the fundraising sense of the word, these events have been a lot of fun. A chance to have a couple of drinks, play a few games, or chat with coworkers, the folks who are coming are having a great time (including me!). So if you haven't been able to join us yet, keep your eyes peeled for our next FUNdraiser. It is sure to be a lot of fun. Oh, and don't forget to get your tickets for our Red Sox Raffle!

The Dumbest Generation?

According to Mark Bauerlein's new book, today's generation of under 30 is the dumbest generation yet. They do not read, visit museums, or vote. They don't know about politics and they don't care. Instead they spend their time playing video games and posting on Myspace.

I am 59 years old and a proud member of the Baby Boomer generation. I rocked and rolled; marched in small towns and Washington DC for civil rights, womens' rights and human rights; opposed the Vietnam War; and served for two years in the Peace Corps. I am sure that my parents thought my generation was pretty dumb. They and their generation surely stood against everything my generation represented. It seems to me that the only persons who should judge a generation are the members of that generation itself. Maybe even the ones who birthed them. If we are the 30UGeners' (30 and under generation) parents and teachers, what does that say about us?

I am surrounded by members of this generation daily and thank goodness because if it wasn't for them, I would be really dumb. I am challenged and invigorated by this generation, they make me think and expect me to be a role model. I see compassionate, sharply intelliegent, and service-minded individuals every day here in Boston-- people of all ages and plenty of 30UGeners. Mark Bauerlein should take the time to visit any AmeriCorps program and observe what thousands of young adults are doing in this one sector alone. The Dumbest Generation? No. Are there dummies in the 30UGen? Of course. More than any other generation? I hope not, but who's counting?

Native Americans for centuries would make all major tribal decisions with consideration of how such a decision could affect the following seven generations. They knew each successive generation would lead the future. Imagine our world if today's leaders held that same practice. It is time that we look to the younger generations as individuals whom we can teach and mentor - and in the process, we'll learn a thing or two ourselves.

Part of the Solution

When Peter Wieler, 63, retired from his career as a software engineer, he began searching for an opportunity give something back. As a result, he found a new friend, Ruben, now a 6^th grader in Roxbury. Peter has been mentoring Ruben for 3 years. He says that although he and Ruben come from very different backgrounds, Ruben has been remarkably tolerant of him and they have fun playing chess, shooting hoops or just chatting.

“At the end of last year, I asked him how the year had been for him.” Peter said. “Ruben gave a long pause and responded, ‘Well, I like hanging out with you, you’re funny, and you’re a good man.’”

“His perspective on the world is so much different than mine… and that has helped keep my mind open,” Peter said. “It’s wonderful because he doesn’t hesitate to tell me when he thinks I’m dressing funny or things like that.”

While Ruben still has some problems at school, Peter and Ruben’s relationship has certainly progressed and Peter has had a positive effect on Ruben’s attitude. “During a particularly tough day, Ruben looked right at me and said, ‘Mr. Peter, you’re not part of the problem, you’re part of the solution.’”

Thank you Volunteers!

April is National Volunteer Month and this week specifically is National Volunteer Week. Today, President Bush spoke to all volunteers: "today we commemorate your work and the work of volunteers all across the country... I appreciate the lasting legacy that you've helped create in the hearts of our fellow citizens. I thank you for what you do."

At Generations Incorporated our success is possible only through the efforts of our many volunteers: 350 Experience Corps members, 20 AmeriCorps members, 11 AmeriCorps *VISTAs, and hundreds of one time volunteers who help us with various projects.

On behalf of all of us at Generations Incorporated - Thank You!

Johnny Pesky, Experience Corps Member?

Today Fenway Park opened with the 2007 World Series championship ceremonies. What an amazing show.

As I watched Johnny Pesky come forward to receive his ring, a bell went off in my head. Why was Johnny Pesky the lone Red Sox legend to receive a ring with the team? Because Pesky is much more than ‘just’ a Red Sox legend.

At 88 years old, Johnny Pesky knows a bit about baseball. He played in the majors for ten years, seven and half of which were with the Sox. Ever since, he’s served the Red Sox in one way or another, as a commentator, coach, manager, and most recently dispensing advice in the dugout.

Apparently the Red Sox know a thing or two about intergenerational mentoring. Pesky has provided dugout counsel, sharing his long experience with active Red Sox players throughout the years.

Today he was rightly honored for that awesome commitment.

Good Luck, Tom...

Whoever said “No employee is indispensable” hasn’t met Tom Hamel. After spending 7 years with the organization, first as a part time accounting manager and more recently as a senior level manager, Tom is leaving to take an exciting new position with another exceptional organization.

Tom will become Associate Director of Outdoor Explorations, a position that was created for him. Outdoor Explorations is a non-profit organization that makes the outdoors a welcoming place to people with disabilities through innovative programs that break down barriers preventing people from living life to the fullest.

Tom has been such a major contributor to our success, creating strong systems and partnerships, taking on more and more responsibility each year. We have worked side by side for 6 years (yes, he's been here longer than me!) and it has been an honor to do so.

While we are losing a very talented staff member, Tom’s friendship is permanent, and that is most meaningful to me. We are very excited for him and wish him the very best...

Good luck Tom, but not goodbye. You know we'll still be calling you!

As we ponder expansion, I've been visiting new elementary schools on a regular basis. This morning I entered a large chaotic school and was immediately lost. A first grader, I think, was in the hall and I asked if he could show me where the Principal’s office was.

He nodded his head yes, not looking at me but at the floor.

I asked his name, “Eddie” he told me. We walked down a long hall together, very slowly.

“Are you in trouble?” he asked. He knew exactly where to lead me.

National Mentoring Month

Today, to celebrate National Mentoring Month, our mentors, along with AmeriCorps members and staff, got up and started dancing with local author Irene Smalls.

Smalls gave an exhilarating and interactive performance that wove together stories about her own experiences with her mentor, her children and black history. A former Miss Black New York State, Smalls is the author of 12 children’s books, including Don’t Say Ain’t, My Pop Pop and Me, and others that we use in our programs.

The morning proved to be a huge success, and most importantly gave us a special chance to thank our Experience Corps members for the important work they do as mentors.

National Mentoring Month marked its seventh year in 2008. Through various celebrations and activities, organizations across the country celebrated the success of mentoring, spreading the word to recruit more mentors and promote growth of mentoring programs nationwide.

This year at Generations Incorporated, 350 older adults will serve as academic mentors to approximately 2,500 Boston youth.