One of the persistent preoccupations I've had for the past several years has to do with fostering opportunities for collaborative human development. I'm provoked by the strong idea that we can come together for mutual learning, support, and praxis as whole human beings traveling through the life-course. Aging is a profoundly intense lived experience we are all having, no matter where we happen to be in our travels in terms of chronological age and life-course stage. How can we share our experiences related to the aging journey? What connections can we make, those of us who are working in the field of gerontology, between our personal and professional experiences related to aging? And what are ways into understanding the aging experiences of others--whether those "others" are our family members, friends, clients, or our own "inner elders"? These are just a few of the questions I've been asking myself, my students, my colleagues, my gramma, random people I meet...there are certainly many more questions to be asked. I wonder what your questions are?
I'll have an opportunity to explore some of these questions tomorrow, Wednesday September 16th, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. at Summerplace Assisted Living (15727 NE Russell, PDX, Oregon) as part of their Education and Empowerment Series.
I will kick off the series by presenting a seminar entitled "Intergenerational Inquiry—Thinking Together." I can't wait! Maybe I'll see you there?
2 comments:
I am a fan of intentional intergenerational multicultural aging, including talking about individual experiences on this big life course path of discovery, reading about same, learning from others who've done research (formal or informal, qualitative, mixed method, or quantitative. Although if there's a story with characters involved that's my favorite and mostmeaningful form of research.
Soon enough, I'd like to invite all of you who are following intergenertional inquiry to also follow Creative Aging NW (blog soon to be 'live'). Inspired by the local efforts of Cheryl Rogers-Tadevich, world travler, artist and gerontology student (and intern at Idealist). Cheryl's interest in Art and Aging led her to several informational interviews with Susan Perlstein, founder and Education Director of the NCCA (national center on creative aging). After meeting Susan in Port Townsend during spring break (and a raft of amazing artful musicians, et al) we couldn't stop talking about the logical next step . . . a chapter of NCCA here in our Gero-Portlandia-land and voila! As of today, September 23, 2009, Creative Aging NW is a reality. As a nonprofit dedicated to all aspects of aging and the arts we welcome any and all. Contact Cheryl -- cheryl@designbycheryl.net or Cat Zimmerman (catherine.zimmerman@pcc.edu for more information!
Life, love, and the pursuit of artful, mindful creative aging across the life course is our wish for each and every one of you! -- Cat and Cheryl
Cat and Cheryl, welcome to our blog and congratulations! Perhaps we could discuss becoming partner organizations? As well, perhaps Marylhurst University and Oregon Gerontological Association could be of help in some way as you get your organization launched out into the world. I can't wait to hear more!
--jenny
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