AGE to age: Bringing Generations Together

AmeriCorps Seniors
Senior Demonstration Project

The Northland Foundation is partnering with AmeriCorps Seniors to engage older adult volunteers, ages 55+ to support children and youth in tutoring, out-of-school time, and summer learning activities in 12 AGE to age communities across the region.

The two-year AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration Program grant is made possible by the historic $1 billion investment in AmeriCorps through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to serve communities hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. AGE to age communities are using this federal funding to build on their existing programs and continue to help children and youth thrive and reduce social isolation across generations. Examples of activities include reading programs, homework help, art clubs, environmental projects, service learning, and more. 

If you are interested in getting involved as a participant or volunteer in AGE to age and/or the AmeriCorps Seniors Demonstration Project, please email Taylor Holm or call her at 218-740-7306.

• The Northland Foundation operates in accordance with federal and program requirements on non-discrimination. Northland Foundation’s programs are available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. 
• This material is available in alternate formats. To request an alternate format, please email Taylor Holm or call her at 218-740-7306. 
• Northland Foundation’s and AmeriCorps Seniors’ compliance history with civil rights requirements is also available. Please email Taylor Holm or call her at 218-740-7306 for more information.
• AmeriCorps’ Program Civil Rights and Non-Harassment Policy can be found here.

AGE to age Community Engagement Project

The Northland Foundation’s AGE to age communities, like many other communities across the region, state, and nation, have identified the need to re-build, re-ignite, and strengthen intergenerational social engagement and volunteer opportunities due the disruption that occurred from the COVID-19 global pandemic.  

With funding support from state and national initiatives, the Wallace Foundation’s Advancing Adolescent Opportunities and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation’s Building Healthy Connections, the AGE to age Community Engagement Project is designed to strengthen social connections, reduce isolation, and improve the well-being of children, youth, older adults/elders, and the generations in between through intergenerational programming.

Participating AGE to age sites will engage community members of all ages in planning meetings and listening sessions to help ensure intergenerational activities and programs are meaningful and relevant to participants, especially young people and older adult volunteers. Following the planning sessions, each AGE to age community will receive funding to implement new and/or improved intergenerational efforts that address local needs. Throughout this project, the Northland Foundation provides training and support to help communities share ideas with one another, as well as tap into the expertise and resources provided by both the Wallace Foundation and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation. 

AGE to age Reading Pals

AGE to age Reading Pals engages AGE to age sites in the region to invite older adult volunteers to read with children during the school year and summer enrichment activities. The program provides reading and literacy support and connections with caring adults for the children participating, and a sense of purpose and opportunity to give back to community for the older adult volunteers. Reading Pals continues today as part of the AGE to age/AmeriCorps Seniors Demonstration Project.

AGE to age Fellows Program

AGE to age Fellows program grew out of the AGE to age College Intern Program which was launched in 2012 to provide summer internships to college students. This experiential learning opportunity was reimagined in 2020 as the AGE to age Fellows Program where undergraduate students were paired with older adults for paid work opportunities in their home communities, focusing on intergenerational projects and programming. This initiative helped both younger and older generations enhance their leadership skills, increase their knowledge of community building, and contribute fresh ideas and energy to the participating sites. While this program was formally completed in 2022, a number of AGE to age sites are continuing to engage fellows to support their local intergenerational programming.