The city of Naperville will host its first intergenerational dialogue event Saturday at Nichols Library.
Aptly titled “Connecting Across the Generations,” the event brings together senior residents and young people from North Central College and the community to share stories and discuss navigating life.
“One of the things I have been wanting to do since last year or the year before is to really see how we can work the senior community into what it is that we’re doing,” said Geneace Williams, Naperville’s diversity, equity and inclusion manager. “I am a firm believer in intergenerational growth, that it takes all generations for us to achieve whatever it is that we’re trying to achieve in life.”
Naperville has an active Senior Task Force, which was created to “address the unique needs of Naperville’s growing senior population,” according to the city’s website. However, in a municipality with more than 150,000 people, there are still many seniors who have not been reached and could be more actively involved in the broader community, Williams said.
To help reach those people, Williams tasked an intern working in her office to come up with an intergenerational activity. The intern, a North Central College student-athlete named Sara Sterner, suggested bringing together students from her college and senior citizens from across Naperville to exchange stories and share wisdom.
Sterner put up flyers on her campus and included the event in a student newsletter to encourage her peers to participate. To reach the older population, Williams reached out to the Senior Task Force and other groups to held spread the word.
“It really is just about building community across ages,” Williams said. “(Sterner) has done just a phenomenal job of coming up with the idea of, ‘Let’s have conversations. Let’s put together seniors with members of either the athletic department or other students on campus who are interested in participating.’”
The event is similar to speed dating. Participants will engage in a round robin of conversations, with each lasting about five minutes. Stations will be set up with a variety of questions and other conversation starters to spark dialogue, allowing for people to cover all different kinds of topics as they move from group to group.
While Williams said they’re seeking senior citizens who are retired, people in their 50s and 60s who are not retired are welcome to participate as well. Similarly, while the event is drawing on North Central College students for its younger age group, those who are of college age but not necessarily enrolled at the school may also participate.
When asked why senior citizens and students should participate in this event, Williams said the goal is for everyone to gain knowledge and insight.
For the elderly population, that may be a lesson on how to use certain kinds of technology. If an older person has grandchildren in their life, hearing a perspective on life from a young person may help that older person better connect with their grandchildren.
As for the younger population, it is a great opportunity to receive a perspective on different aspects of life, such as career and relationships, from the people who have gone through much of it.
“I’m just a firm believer that both sides will get something out of this,” Williams said. “But certainly the older persons are going to want to share wisdom. And wisdom doesn’t always come easy so I’m really hoping that students will learn the value and understand the value of having some wise words shared with them about life from people who’ve already lived it.”
“Connecting Across the Generations” will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave. Registration is required at bit.ly/Napervillegenerations.
cstein@chicagotribune.com
