Meeting to address
intergenerational issues

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By Helen Altonn
haltonn@starbulletin.com

Marc Freedman, executive director of Civic Ventures and author of the book "Prime Time," will be among speakers at an intergenerational conference Wednesday to Aug. 17 at Tokai University and the state Capitol.

The Hawaii Intergenerational Network is sponsoring the conference, its second aimed at bridging generations.

The three-day meeting is open to people and organizations interested in creating or working in programs bringing children, youth and seniors together for mutual benefit.

Other speakers include Dr. Matt Kaplan, associate professor at Pennsylvania State University and former executive director of Hawaii Intergenerational Network and Hawaii Pacific University professor; Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United; and Dr. Leng Leng Thang, professor of Asian and intergenerational studies at the National University of Singapore.

Programs highlighted will be the Foster Grandparents Program; the Waialae Senior Fellows Program at Waialae Elementary School; substance abuse prevention programs called Youth Connect and Across Ages, created at Temple University; child care center-based programs at the University of Findlay; the Institute for Intergenerational Studies in Ohio; and the Seagull Schools' shared adult- and child-care centers at Kapolei.

Conference participants can learn how to recruit seniors, build collaborative partnerships and design and fund effective intergenerational programs and visit two school-based programs.

Results of a statewide survey, Senior Volunteers as Assets, will be presented at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at Tokai University. The survey was conducted by the Center on Aging's Office of Public Health Studies at the University of Hawaii School of Medicine.

Sponsors of the conference also include the Executive Office on Aging, the Honolulu Mayor's Office, the Waikiki Community Center, the Corporation for National Service and RSVP of Helping Hands Hawaii, the University of Findlay, Seagull Schools and the Office of Youth Services.

All events Wednesday will be at Tokai University, with a registration fee of $15. Events next Thursday will be at the Capitol, with a registration fee of $40. The fees cover lunch and all written materials.

For more information or to register, call 261-8534 or visit http://www.hingeneration.org.