Hilltown Families on Mass Appeal: Value of Intergenerational Community Engagement
Hilltown Families on Mass Appeal: March Segment
Intergenerational Connections Through Community Engagement
Hilltown Families and Mass Appeal (a weekday, hour-long lifestyle program on NBC) have teamed up to offer a live monthly segment on WWLP 22News! Each month, Hilltown Families’ Founder & Executive Director, Sienna Wildfield, joins Mass Appeal hosts to talk about ways to engage in your community while supporting the interests and education of your children (and yourselves!).
This monthly segment continued on Monday, March 14, 2016 with Sienna and Seth talking about the value of intergenerational connections made through engaging in the community:
View the video above to learn about the value of intergenerational community engagement.
Value of Intergenerational Engagement
Children learn to appreciate their older community members while strengthening their sense of community through new relationships. Older adults feel valued and benefit from improved health. And the community benefits from the sharing of cultures and traditions between different generations, ultimately creating more sustainable and resilient communities.
Intergenerational Community Engagement Ideas
- Gardening
- Library Story Hours
- Volunteering
- Playgroups
- Botanical Gardens
- Museums
- Arts & Crafts
Ongoing Support Groups for Older Kin
- Mondays 4pm-5:30pm
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren group meets Monday evenings at The Bridge Family Resource Center. Meet with others in a safe place to talk and be heard. Dinner served. No registration required. Childcare provided. 413-549-0297. 101 University Drive Suite A3, Amherst, MA. (FREE)
- Tuesdays 11:00am – 12:00pm
Grandparents of all backgrounds and parenting styles are invited to the Amherst Family Center to discuss their experiences related to raising grandchildren, or supporting their own children in their parenting. Childcare provided up to age 4. This group will not meet when public schools are closed or delayed. 413-256-1145. 1200 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA. (FREE) - Tuesdays 11:30am-1pm
Grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and other relatives who are raising their young relatives can attend a support group every second and fourth Tuesday in Turners Falls. Come to the group to learn about resources, meet others, share experiences, and seek support. Run by United Arc. 413-563-1981. 294 Avenue A. Turners Falls, MA. (FREE) - Tuesdays 5:15pm-6:45pm
Grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others who are raising young relatives can attend a support group every first Tuesday Come to the group to learn about resources, meet others, share experiences, and seek support. Run by United Arc. 413-563-1981. 90 Federal Street. Greenfield, MA. (FREE)
- Wednesdays 10:15am-11:45am
Grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others who are raising their young relatives can attend a support group every fourth Wednesday in Huntington. Come to the group to learn about resources, meet others, share experiences, and seek support. Run by United Arc. 413-563-1981. Hilltown Family Center, 9 Russell Street (Route 9), Huntington, MA. (FREE) - Wednesdays 12:30pm-2pm
Grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts, uncles, and others who are raising young relatives can attend a support group every third Wednesday Come to the group to learn about resources, meet others, share experiences, and seek support. Run by United Arc. 413-563-1981. 90 Federal Street. Greenfield, MA. (FREE) - Wednesdays 1pm-2:30pm
Parents, caregivers, and grandparents are invited to attend a Parents Supporting Parents Support Group every Wednesday at the Salasin Center. 413-775-0010. 474 Main Street. Greenfield, MA. (FREE)
- Thursdays 11am-12pm
Mothers, fathers, grandparents, and all others providing care for a child age 0-9 months are invited to Welcome Baby, a support group that meets on Thursdays, sponsored by Community Health Programs of Berkshire County. Learn how to address the needs of infants and yourself, and address feeding concerns and other topics. Childcare is provided. 413-644-0104 x 1159. 442 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington, MA. (FREE)
Mass Appeal is a live weekday program that airs at 11am on 22News (Springfield, MA).
Our next visit to the Mass Appeal studios will be Monday, May 9th, 2016!