Northland Foundation and 12 AGE to age sites launch innovative programming in northeast Minnesota with AmeriCorps Seniors Demonstration grant funding

(NE Minnesota) — The Northland Foundation’s Age to age network of intergenerational  programs is benefitting from the American Rescue Plan funding, a boon to underserved and disproportionately impacted communities.

$500k, an american rescue plan/ARP Americorps Seniors senior demonstration grant, will be awarded over a two year period to encourage and support programs that bring older adults together with teens & children for mentoring. Age to age groups participate in tutoring, reading programs, arts, crafts, and skills projects, fitness activities, a well as several other areas of learning. Adult volunteers over 55 share what they’ve learned throughout their lives with children & youth, forming friendships across  generations. The skills and knowledge older adults bring to the intergenerational activities contributes to ensuring the success of younger people in work , school, and life. 

12 age to age sites, together with Northland foundation, are launching innovative programming thanks to the grant funding. Children, who have missed out on so many social and educational opportunities over the past 3 years, benefit from the social-emotional support of the programs. Adults get something out of it, too, with a growing body of research showing there are numerous physical and mental health benefits to volunteering.

To get involved in Aitkin, contact Lara Parkin at lparkin@isd1.org. In Mcgregor, Cheryl Meld is the local program coordinator. Contact her at cmeld@isd4.org. For further information visit northlandfdn.org.

FULL RLEASE FROM NORTHLAND FOUNDATION:

Northeast MN – The Northland Foundation was recently awarded an American Rescue Act/ARP AmeriCorps Seniors Senior Demonstration grant of $500,000 over two years to support intergenerational programming in northeast Minnesota, leveraging the Foundation’s well-established AGE to age: bringing generations together network of sites across the region.

Engaging older adults with children and youth is a winning combination. Twelve AGE to age communities have launched innovative programming that will tap the skills and experience of 500 older adult volunteers to support children and youth in tutoring, out-of-school time, and summer enrichment activities.  Examples of activities include reading programs, homework help, art clubs, sewing projects, fitness activities, holiday gatherings, and much more.

“AGE to age sites are in a perfect position to use this new federal funding to build on their existing programs and continue to reduce social isolation across generations.”   Tony Sertich, President. 

The new grant is made possible by the historic $1 billion investment in AmeriCorps through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide immediate relief from the pandemic, with a specific focus on support for underserved and disproportionately impacted communities.

AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers stay healthy and active through service, improving their own lives as they improve the lives of others. A growing body of research affirms the numerous mental and physical health benefits of volunteering, including lower mortality rates, decreased rates of depression, and increased strength and energy.

“The covid 19 pandemic has caused separation from school and community and contributed to learning loss and increased the need for social-emotional supports for students. We are excited about ramping up our programming to ensure students get the help they need with the support of caring older adult volunteers so they can thrive in and out of school,” stated Cheryl Meld, AGE to age coordinator in McGregor.

Anyone in the following areas aged 55+ interested in becoming an AGE to age/AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer is encouraged to contact the local program coordinator:

Aitkin – Lara Parkin   lparkin@isd1.org    218-927-7736

Barnum – Roxy Olsen-Hurst rolsen@isd91.org   218-389-0108

Bigfork – Sandra LeBlanc-Boland  sleblanc-boland@bigforkvalley.org  218-743-4home356

Chisholm – Cristina Myers – myers_cristina@yahoo.com  218-966-3788

Cloquet – Erin Bates – ebates@isd94.org  218-879-1261

East Range – Rachel Doherty – rdoherty@isd2711.org – 218-229-5318

Ely – Julie Hignell – julie@elycommunityresource.org – 218-365-5254

McGregor – Cheryl Meld – cmeld@isd4.org – 218-768-5139

Moose Lake – Vicki Radzak – vicki.radzak@isd97.org  218-485-4435 X 1602

North Shore Area – Colleen Wallin – cowallin@gmail.com  218-226-3418

Proctor/Hermantown – Drew Jensen – djensen@isd700.org – 218-626-6029

Two Harbors – Bruce Remme – bremme@isd381.org – 834-8201 X 8227

The AGE to age program was originally created by the Northland Foundation in 2008. Since then, the program has provided new opportunities to bring generations together in participating communities across the region. AGE to age has received numerous state and national awards including being recognized as a Program of Distinction by the Washington D.C.-based Generations United.

The Northland Foundation is a publicly supported foundation serving the northeast Minnesota counties of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis and all or parts of five Tribal Nations in the region: the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, and Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe  Through grantmaking, small business assistance, KIDS PLUS Program, Maada’ookiing, and special initiatives, the foundation invests in people and communities for a thriving northeast Minnesota.