Intergenerational Community Engagement & Planning – Values & Practices

Approved for 1.25 CM credits 

As individuals grow apart in today’s society, communities need to come together. Communities not only provide a geographic location where people live, they also offer social interaction and common ties that bind people together. Ideally, these community features and related opportunities should be available to benefit all within a community, including the very young as well as elderly residents. Many communities would like to engage citizens in an all-age inclusive planning process, but do not have the knowledge, staffing, or experience to develop such assessments and strategies to capture information for use in a decision-making process. This creates the opportunity for “Intergenerational Contact Zones”,  which serve as spatial focal points for different generations to meet, interact, build relationships (e.g., trust and friendships), and, if desired, work together to address issues of local concern. The webinar will discuss “Intergenerational Contact Zones” and the importance of these civic gathering places, where people can meet comfortably, and where there is a welcoming environment for newcomers

The webinar will highlight One Community – Many Generations, an inter-generational community engagement guide and online community assessment tool developed by Penn State Extension through a community challenge grant funded by AARP. A One Community – Many Generations pilot program conducted in rural Susquehanna Depot, Susquehanna County during 2020 resulted in an action plan that addressed priorities of concern identified by the community and resulted in quick implementation steps that community leaders and volunteers have already begun implementing.

Register Here: https://extension.psu.edu/land-use-webinar

For more information contact Peter Wulfhorst (ptw3@psu.edu or 570-296-3400 ext. 1445)