Following the success of its first intergenerational dialogue in December, Naperville’s “Connecting Across the Generations” returns Saturday to Nichols Library.
The event brings together senior residents and young people — primarily college students — to share stories and life advice. December’s gathering brought together dozens of people, including 25 students from North Central College in Naperville.
“We got very, very positive feedback,” said Geneace Williams, Naperville’s diversity, equity and inclusion manager. “The seniors enjoyed it immensely. And, surprising or not surprising, many of the students really enjoyed the opportunity, and some of them created connections that they were planning to continue with some of the seniors.”
For the students, some of the biggest topics included advice on navigating the early phases of a career and asking the older generation if they could redo life, what they would do differently and why, Williams said.
Some of the senior residents, on the other hand, expressed initial fear about handing the world over to the next generation, but those fears disappeared as they felt comforted by the students’ enthusiasm, aspirations and accomplishments, she said.
Williams was particularly surprised and pleased to hear that the students enjoyed the conservations, she said, since she previously believed that some among the younger generations “don’t necessarily see the value in the conversation and dialogue with older members of the community” and can feel “disconnected from us and disconnected from the way we live life now.”
“It also made me feel really good that people understand that every generation — and that’s sort of my philosophy in life — that every generation has something that they can bring to the table,” she said. “We just have to be open to hearing that.”
The first iteration of “Connecting Across the Generations” was intended to help Naperville’s senior population feel more integrated into the community, officials said. Williams tasked intern Sara Sterner from North Central College to create an event that would bring people of various ages together.
While the first event took on a format similar to speed dating, this time another NCC intern, Mallorie Clifton, helped create a format that incorporates a game called Slingo — a reimagined version of bingo that incorporates music.
“She’s done a great job of just sort of figuring out what music we use, how we put that on, and she built the Slingo card,” Williams said. “And so this is really kind of her baby … she found this game and said, ‘I think we should try this.’ And she built every piece of it and I’m so excited about the opportunity to engage.”
Participants will be paired off into teams, which will listen to music from the 1960s and 1970s through the early 2000s and work together to identify the song and mark it off on their Slingo card.
In between each round, organizers will ask questions to spark thoughtful conversations between team members. Students will also be asked to rotate groups before the start of each round to allow for different conversations between younger and older generations.
Williams said that events like “Connecting Across the Generations” are important because they help build a stronger, more inclusive community in Naperville.
“When we look at the idea of diversity, often we’re thinking about race or gender, and there is a great amount of diversity well beyond race and gender, and one of the things that I’m working on uncovering is all of the different aspects of diversity that are present in Naperville,” she said. “So engaging the young folks with those who are a little bit older gives us an opportunity to bring two diverse groups together that can learn from one another, that can grow together.”
In the fall, Williams expects to work with a new intern to help build upon this event and find new ways to bring together the older and younger generations.
“Connecting Across the Generations: Continuing the Conversation” will be held from 1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 25, at Nichols Library, 200 W. Jefferson Ave.
The event is open to North Central College students and other young adults in Naperville. Older residents who are retired and still working also are welcome to participate. Attendees must register at bit.ly/NapervilleGenerations2.
cstein@chicagotribune.com
