How one Prince George's County community is gaining strength by creating intergenerational connections.

According to the American Psychological Association, multigenerational connections can improve mental health, decrease social isolation, and strengthen marginalized communities. Arch of Knowledge is finding new ways to bring those advantages to the Prince George's County community. 

John Bailey remembers that lightbulb moment back in 2012 when the concept for Arch of Knowledge first hit him. His community was hosting a neighborhood cleanup when he saw an older woman having a conversation with a young man in middle school. They seemed to really be enjoying each other’s company and John thought, “this needs to happen more often.”

That moment stayed with him for years. During those years, he was keenly aware of how the older and younger generations communicated with each other in his community. While he saw plenty of positive interactions, there were also some negative stereotypes that were shared on both sides about the other. So in 2018 he started Arch of Knowledge with the goal of strengthening connections between youth and older adults in the Camp Springs Community of Prince George’s County.

When speaking of the value of intergenerational connections, Bailey explains, “It was a basis of our society years ago," noting that the distance between the generations has only gotten worse since COVID. "I believe that what you are not familiar with, you are sometimes afraid of,” he added.

Arch of Knowledge aims to bridge those gaps by providing a variety of social, civic, and educational opportunities to bring generations together. They host shred events, school supply and food collection drives, and a range of educational workshops on topics such as financial and computer literacy, fitness, and health. It’s a great way to get different generations to come together over a common cause, and make connections in an authentic way.

But even as the program curriculum is expanding, Bailey remains steadfast to the underlying goal of providing opportunities for younger and older generations to simply have a conversation.

“They have to learn from each other,” Bailey said. “We put the issues on the table, work those issues out, and through those dialogs, they see they are more alike than anything. And they see that they need each other.”

Arch of Knowledge recently engaged in a six-week program between a local senior living community and youth in foster care. The get-togethers included social visits, guided discussions, brunch, games, and many conversations around shared interests and concerns. He recalls there were plenty of discussions that ended in tears and laughter. 

“Once you have that kind of dialog with intergenerations, it’s amazing because the youth actually see what our seniors have gone through, and then our seniors are learning what our youth are going through today.”

Looking ahead, Bailey has big plans for Arch of Knowledge. A partnership with MedStar Health has become a popular forum for exchanging intergenerational health-related concerns. “Mental health is one of the biggest challenges we have now,” he explains. And a new agricultural program aims to bring generations together to plant and cultivate healthy food in their community. 

But as the personal enrichment programs continue to expand, Bailey insists that the more rewarding underlying goal is when personal relationships emerge from the connections made.

“If we bind together, I believe we can walk forward as a community, stronger,” Bailey declares. “No one in front, no one lagging, no one feeling left out. All of us walking together.”

If you want to learn more about Arch of Knowledge, visit their YouTube page where much of their programming is posted.

Looking Ahead…

As we advance service and longevity readiness, there are ways Marylanders of all ages can help pave the way for a Longevity Ready Maryland while giving back to their community. Next month we will discuss ways the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation is encouraging younger generations to explore careers within the aging sector, benefitting all Marylanders. 

Maryland Corps Service Year Option deadline is approaching! The next deadline for applications to the second cohort of Maryland Corps/Service Year is July 22, 2024. The cohort will launch on September 11, 2024. Candidates can apply at serve.maryland.gov.

AARP connects older adults and younger students to improve reading skills.

The AARP Foundation Experience Corp is training adults aged 50 and above to help students learn to read in 20 communities across the United States. The Baltimore-based sector of the program is offered in partnership with Elev8Baltimore and AmeriCorp, an initiative to promote volunteerism across the country, administered in Maryland through the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation. The program will take place through the academic school year (September - May). If you would like to make a difference in the life of a child, please fill out an application. 

MDOA funds multigenerational programs in Maryland.

In FY 24 MDOA allocated $11,500 to Link Generations, a program that educates middle and high school students about aging and connects them with older adults through interactive activities. 

In FY25, MDOA allocated $7,770 to Bradley Hills Village to fund several intergenerational programs. When I was Ten is a program where youth and older people conduct interviews with each other, contrasting and comparing their mutual histories. Shaded with Care: Honoring our Heritage Trees promotes interactivity among generations by linking historic trees in the community with shared history and experiences. Threading Intergenerational Experiences through Routine BHV Activities organizes social events and activities bringing older and younger community members together over social experiences.

Maryland counties are trading in senior centers for shared spaces where all community members can connect.

To name just a few, Anne Arundel County's Severn Center, Queen Anne County's Active Aging Center at the Family YMCA, and Howard County's East Columbia 50+ Center all offer programs that bring community members of all ages together. 

MDOA seeks Work Group participation to help Inform LRM's multisector plan for aging.

This is your chance to make an imp​act on how Maryland enables healthy longevity. Participants will help identify solutions, shape priorities, and​​​​ inform the Maryland State Plan on Aging.  Representation from from all Maryland communities is important, and we are currently in need of participants from Caroline, Kent, Somerset, Talbot, Washington, Wicomico, and Worcester counties to participate. Sign up to be a part of the conversation.