An Intergenerational Community Engagement Project: Legacy Books for Tellegacy Participants
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Abstract
Students in GRN 101 engaged in intergenerational conversations throughout the fall, 2021 semester, communicating with older adults who live in a variety of independent and assisted living facilities. The program, called Tellegacy, is run by Dr. Jeremy Holloway of the University of Toledo, who is a Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion leader and curriculum specialist with 20 years of professional and global experience. He developed the program to address social isolation among older adults during the COVID pandemic. Student participants, called Legacy Builders, engage in weekly conversations with their parnter, capture key information about their partners' legacies, and provide that information to Tellegacy staff. Tellegacy staff then create beautiful legacy books that are provided to the older adult participants. Students learn about aging and the lifecourse, develop listening and perspective-taking skills, and contribute to older adults' well-being. Older adults share wisdom and insights, have meaningful social interactions, and enjoy the process.
